An inductively coupled contactless dc connector has been proposed for the next-generation 380-V dc distribution system in data centers. A LLC resonant dc-dc converter topology with gallium nitride (GaN) power transistors has been applied to realize the short-distance highly efficient contactless power transfer. A prototype of a 1.2-kW 384-to 192-V connector has been fabricated and the conversion efficiency of over 95% with the power density of 8.1 W/cm 3 has been confirmed experimentally under 1000-kHz operation. The design consideration has been carried out and the potential to achieve 10.0 W/cm 3 has been also shown taking the feature of the GaN power device and the characteristics of the magnetic core material for the transformer into account. The contactless dc connector integrates the functioning of an isolated dc-dc converter into a connector for space saving, and the dc current can be cut off without arc because of the inductive coupling. The proposed connector contributes to realizing a highly efficient, space saving, and reliable future 380-V dc distribution system.
Index Terms-Contactless power supply, dc power distribution, dc-dc power converters, gallium nitride (GaN).0093-9994 , he has been with Osaka University.He is engaged in research and development of power converter control in distribution systems and the design methodology for high power density converter using SiC and GaN power devices. Currently, he is mainly engaged in the development of high power density dc power supplies for 380-V dc distribution systems. His research concerns dc power connectors using LLC resonant circuits.Toshifumi Ise was born in 1957. He received the B.Eng., M. Eng., and Doctor of Engineering degrees in electrical engineering