Design and optimization of high frequency (250 kHz) planar transformer for micro solar converter application

With increasing demand of renewable energy, it is need of the hour to get highly efficient, low profile, light weight and high power density converters. High switching frequency in power converters results in high power density and reduction in magnetic components size. These benefits incorporate with additional losses and parasitics. Hence, conventional technology and magnetic components have been failed to meet the requirements of the future converters. Therefore, a technology is needed to provide a compact design solution with minimum losses. Recently planar technology emerged as a solution of this problem. In this paper an optimized design and modelling of a high frequency (kHz) planar power transformer for micro solar converters (200W) application has been presented. Power losses calculation, design optimization and modelling have been carried out through ANSYS 2D Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulation. Finite element analysis shows that energy efficiency of designed transformer is 97% for a power level of 200W at 250 kHz frequency.