Exploration of Steinmetz Parameter Variability in High Frequency Transformer Design Spaces

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of high frequency effects in the design space of transformers for power converters. A holistic overview of the impact of winding losses has previously been studied in the literature, but such an analysis is missing for the high frequency effect of the core. This work will address this issue by using variable Steinmetz parameters to model the nonlinear behavior of core losses at high frequencies, while retaining a holistic view of the transformer design. Classical transformer scaling laws and high-frequency winding loss models are reviewed and combined with the improved non-linear core loss model. To demonstrate the improved model the optimal (minimum losses) solution for a case study is identified and compared against solutions from simplified core loss models.