IR HiRel, an Infineon Technologies company, recently announced the HiRel HTB28 series, hermetic hybrid DC-DC converters rated at 185 ºC in a 1-inch wide package. The new devices are designed specifically for oil and gas exploration down-hole tools and can withstand the high temperature as well as the high-shock environment typically found in these applications. As oil and gas are more and more difficult to find, exploration takes place in environments which are challenging and where temperatures are higher.
This off-the-shelf product family with multiple output voltage options speeds time-to-market for downhole tool manufacturers in designs requiring operating temperature up to 185 ºC. The HTB28 series provides high reliability using hermetic hybrid packaging technology that also enables a highly compact package 1 inch wide, 3.82 inch long (including the flange) and 0.41 inch high, saving approximately 20 percent of space compared to a PCB-based product. With its narrow width, the HTB28 series can fit in extremely small downhole drilling tools.
The 5 W, 28 V input isolated DC-DC converters offer 69 percent minimum efficiency up to 185 ºC and feature internal input and output filters, low input quiescent current and overcurrent protection. Most downhole applications require no more than 1000 hours of life at 185 ºC. The HTB28 Series passed 1200 hours to exceed the maximum requirement.
