Power supplies

In March 2018 the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC) took place in San Antonio (Texas). APEC is the world’s largest convention dedicated to applied power electronics, and the place where research laboratories, universities, market analysts and companies showcase the latest and often ‘industry first’ technologies that make power supplies more efficient, reliable and safer. This year’s event was definitely the real ‘kick-off’ point for the wide bandgap semiconductors and especially the ones based on Gallium Nitride (GaN). It was also a symbolic milestone for a technology called ‘Digital Power’ that emerged in 2003 as a promising technology. As it was for digital power 15 years ago, GaN started its journey five years ago, and following a similar path is moving gradually from a ‘technical curiosity’ to a ‘commercial product’. Digital power and GaN are both technologies that have been highly debated and challenged when introduced to the market and it is interesting to link both of them in this way, especially when the outcome of combining the best of the two technologies will result in truly outstanding commercial products.

Powerbox’s Patrick Le Fèvre provides valuable insights to some perplexing and interesting questions regarding power supplies for railway applications, in each case addressing the question, “Where are we now?”