Powering AI processors – 48V vertical power delivery changes the game
AI models demand huge current, driving legacy multiphase designs past 50 phases—causing space, thermal, and control limits Vicor addresses
Customer’s challenge
When drilling for ore at shallower sites complexity and cost can be significantly reduced using a motor driven helical screw drill bit. New sensors and on-board processing of the power demands of the drill’s motor allows automatic logging information on the changing composition of the soil that the drill passes through. This allows faster and more accurate prioritization of follow-on site surveys, saving manpower and costs. The key goals were:
- Automate the data logging of motor data
- Distribution of power to motor over 20m away
- Reliable operation in a harsh environment (temperature and vibration)
The Vicor solution
Logging the motor’s load condition allowed precise control of drill rotation speed, improving the integrity of the recovered soil samples. This was simplified through the use of the BCM bus converter modules built-in PMBus ports. These rugged converters operate over wide temperature ranges and offer excellent resistance to shock and vibration improving system reliability. Key benefits were:
Key benefits
Key benefits
Bus Converter digital interface simplified logging of motor speed and torque data
The wide input voltage range of the BCM converters compensated for the long power cable
91.5% conversion efficiency simplified heat management as fan cooling was not permitted
Vicor modules provide simple interfacing in a harsh environment
The truck-based AC generator output was rectified to provide a 330VDC bus that remotely powered the drive motor via a long cable. At the drill head, four BCM VIA Bus converters with their outputs in series transformed and isolated the 330V rail, providing the drill’s motor drive electronics with a 2.5kW 160VDC rail. Two DCM DC-DC converters provided regulated 28V rails from the 330V DC bus to power instrumentation and processors. To analyze this power chain, go to Vicor Whiteboard online tool.
The power delivery network
Isolated regulated
Input: 9 – 420V
Output: 3.3, 5, 12, 13.8, 15, 24, 28, 36, 48V
Power: Up to 1300W
Peak efficiency: 96%
As small as 24.8 x 22.8 x 7.21mm
Isolated fixed-ratio
Input: 36 – 800V
Output: 2.4 – 55.0V
Current: Up to 150A
Peak efficiency: 98%
As small as 22.0 x 16.5 x 6.7mm
Resources
Resources for the design engineer
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48V Factorized Power Architecture™ slashes thermal losses and outperforms multiphase approach when powering AI
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