High-frequency power loss investigation of a planar ferrite core transformer

Nowadays, due to the magnetic materials technology progress new design solutions are provided to engineers in order to develop new supply systems using power converters with high power density and high operating frequency. Planar magnetic structures have multiple advantages as compared to conventional wound technology, being used in supply systems that require low profile magnetic components and high power density. Over time, literature has shown that the losses in planar structures working at high frequency may conduct to important power losses. This paper performs a thorough analysis regarding power losses due to high frequency operation, leading to multiple levels of optimization for a given virtual model represented by a planar ferrite core transformer. Using computational methods a planar transformer model with E+PLT core has been designed to operate at 1MHz. The analysis will be made using the Finite Element Method (FEM) provided by Ansys Maxwell 3D in order to investigate the magnetic density flux distribution in the core and current density in the windings.