Energy-Recovery Circuit Enables Ultra-High Efficiency

STMicroelectronics has released a patented high-efficiency circuit and dedicated optimized power components that promises both cost savings help in complying with the highest power-efficiency standards. Called the Back-Current Circuit (BC2), the technology allows competitively-priced silicon diodes to be used in preference to SiC devices in boost or buck converters inside solar inverters or SMPS applications. Where the low recovery current of an SiC boost diode helps to minimize the MOSFET switching-on losses, BC2 allegedly removes these losses and recycles the energy linked to the recovery of the boost diode. Compared to a standard circuit, the new topology requires one additional inductor and three optimized diodes. This approach increases the efficiency by as much as 2% at approximately half the price of a solution using SiC devices. To implement BC2 in emerging power supply designs, the company offers a family of six silicon-based rectifiers and free-wheel diodes optimized for this application: STTH8BC060D/STTH8BC065DI, STTH10BC065CT and STTH16BC065CT 600V and 650V rectifier diodes with current ratings of 8A, 10A, and 16A, respectively and the STTH3BCF060U and STTH5BCF060 600V free-wheel diodes offering current ratings of 3A and 5A, respectively. Prices begin at $1.70 each/1,000 for an 8A kit. STMICROELECTRONICS, Lexington, MA. (888) 787-3550.