Radiation-Tolerant, High-Power Density GaN Drop-On Point-of-Load Converters

Modern space missions push the limits of on-board power processing making high current output, power dense converters increasingly more crucial for mission success. Increasing power density and efficiency while reducing the converter size, weight, thermal dissipation, and overall cost has become increasingly more difficult with the radiation-hardened converters that are available. Designers are forced to operate at slower switching speeds in comparison to their commercial counterparts. This paper will present the design, development, and testing of three synchronous buck converter drop-on modules which utilize the EPC 2030, 2218, and GaN Systems GS61008T Gallium Nitride (GaN) High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMT), inductor DC resistance current sensing, thermal dissipation techniques, and an Analog Devices LTC7800 controller to ensure the success of future small-satellite applications.