Fundamental examination of multiple potential passive component technologies for future power electronics

Efficient and compact high-power high-frequency passive components are required for miniaturization of power converters and remain a challenging obstacle in power electronics. Multiple energy storage mechanisms are analyzed on an order-of-magnitude basis to identify potential alternatives for passive components. The high energy density of mechanical storage methods presents an attractive alternative to the widely-used LC resonance. Piezoelectric transduction is explored and the performance of a piezoelectric resonator is compared to an LC resonator in terms of efficiency and power handling capability in a switched-capacitor type circuit. The analysis provides a basis for exploring potential passive component technologies and comparing their performance limits with those of electrical passive components.