Power Conditioner Units for the Power Equipment Rack

This paper discusses the requirements within the Power Equipment Rack for a form of electronic power convertor whose function is to provide regulation of the widely varying -48V supply, for circuits intolerant, of the wide voltage limits. The requirements of cost and efficiency which must apply to such equipment are examined. The advantages offered by electronic methods of control over the traditional methods are discussed. A number of convertor circuit toplogies suitable for the purpose are examined. The special requirement of this convertor, that it must regulate an output voltage from an input voltage which may be either higher or lower in magnitude than the output, suggests circuits involving a combination of "Buck" and "Boost" stages. A single stage convertor based on an autotransformer is described. A completely new topology derived from traditional buck and boost regulators is introduced and its characteristics discussed.