SiC semiconductors take the heat out of the cloud computing myth

Cloud computing is a myth. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist, doesn't work, and isn't a vital part of the global digital infrastructure. But the image of immaterial sources of on-demand, infinite computing power that the term “cloud computing” conjures does not match reality.

Cloud computing at its core is millions of sprawling data centers packed with sophisticated servers that use sophisticated cooling systems and complex power supplies to convert electrical energy into heat for computation. is. Whether you store a file in Dropbox or open a web page, every bit of data that easily moves between client and server has a direct energy cost.

Cloud computing is integral to concepts such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and the deployment of 5G networks, both for implementing network infrastructure and processing the vast amounts of data flowing over the network once it is in place. plays an important role in The low latency of 5G networks will also enable algorithms running in cloud computing data centers to work with autonomous vehicles to make real-time decisions about traffic management and routing options.

The amount of computing done in cloud data centers will grow exponentially over the next decade, with global public cloud services revenues to grow 17.5% to reach $214.3 billion in 2019, Gartner predicts However, at the same time, the amount of energy consumed is also increasing. Small improvements in overall system energy efficiency can result in significant energy savings across your data center.

A good place to start is to improve the efficiency of data center power supplies. A simple way to do this is to replace the existing silicon MOSFETs with silicon carbide parts. These parts put a strain on data center cooling systems because they can be switched at higher frequencies, allowing for more efficient power conversion, and because they can run hotter than their silicon counterparts. can be mitigated.

Designers may want to start from scratch when trying to solve complex system optimizations to build more energy efficient data centers. But the reality for many will be many small improvements to what already exists. For power supply designs, Qorvo offers a series of SiC FETs in the popular DFN8x8 package. The device's stacked cascode topology means it can be driven like a silicon MOSFET, but switches faster, handles more power, and simplifies circuit design.

For example, to build a 3kW LLC circuit using Qorvo's UF3SC065040D8S SiC FETs, two devices must be wired in parallel (to meet thermal constraints) for each theoretical device in the circuit topology. . Using two of these LLC circuits to build a half-bridge rectifier would require four devices. But building the same circuit using competing products would require at least six devices.

The advantage of SiC semiconductor technology increases with increasing power. Building a 5kW LLC circuit using the same Qorvo parts would require 3 parallel devices for each theoretical device in the topology, so only 6 devices are required for a complete half-bridge there is no. Competing solutions require 10 devices to achieve the same thing.

These optimizations will allow you to expand your use of cloud computing without straining your energy budget. A pragmatic approach to improving data center efficiency also helps take some of the heat out of the cloud computing myth.

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