Switching power supplies are omnipresent in our daily life, may it be in households, offices, or industry. They convert the alternating current supplied into direct current for smartphones, laptops, charging stations of e-cars, and logistics and computing centers.

However, conventional power supplies usually have to be exchanged after nine years of permanent operation. Digital Power Systems (DPS), a spinoff of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), has now developed and tested power supplies with a lifetime of 50 years.

Conventional switching power supplies are light and compact, but highly susceptible to failure due to the electrolyte capacitors they contain. Film capacitors are far more long-lived. So far, however, they have needed up to ten times more space.

"We have now developed a digital control process, by means of which film capacitors can be used on smaller space," DPS Director Michael Heidinger says. Compared to conventional power supplies, maintenance expenditure is much smaller. "This technology is a game changer wherever reliability is important. These may be computing or logistics centers or flight safety lamps." Work of service staff to replace damaged power supplies costs much more than the device itself, Heidinger adds.

Lifetime Is Five Times that of Power Supplies with Electrolyte Capacitors
Joint tests with KIT's Light Technology Institute proved that the new power supplies have a lifetime of 50 years at an ambient temperature of 40 degrees. "This is about five times that of established power supplies," Heidinger says. So far, no power supply has failed and tests are being continued. "We have not yet reached the limit."

Digital Control Saves Space
The novel digital control process allows for the use of film capacitors with a slightly increased space requirement only. For control purposes, a microprocessor is integrated in the power supply. It detects disturbing ambient impacts and balances large voltage fluctuations of the film capacitor. As a result, storage capacitors of smaller capacity are sufficient. Heidinger explains that powerful microprocessors have made this possible.

Use in the Air Safety Sector
The power supply is already used for air safety illumination. It is installed in lamps on stacks, wind turbines, or radio masts to warn airplanes. Replacing damaged power supplies there is often tedious and costly, as industrial climbers are needed. (mex)

Related Links
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com

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