Revolutionizing AI Data Centers with 12kW Power Supply Design

Infineon Technologies has made a significant breakthrough in the realm of power supply technology with the development of a groundbreaking 12kW reference design tailored specifically for AI data centers. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the industry, positioning Infineon as a pioneer in addressing the escalating energy demands driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence.

The growing influence of artificial intelligence is undeniably reshaping the landscape of data centers across Europe, as evidenced by a recent report in eeNews Europe. The demand for power in data centers is on the rise, fueled by the increasing adoption of high-level GPUs that now require up to 1 kW per chip, with projections reaching 2 kW and beyond by the end of the decade. This surge in power requirements necessitates the development of higher efficiency designs to meet the evolving needs of data centers.

To address this pressing need, Infineon has introduced 12kW and 8kW power supply designs that complement the existing 3 kW and 3.3 kW units available in the market today. These new generation power supplies boast an impressive efficiency rating of 97.5 percent, meeting the most stringent performance standards. The 8kW PSU, in particular, is designed to support AI racks with an output of up to 300 kW and beyond, offering a remarkable power density of 100 W/in³ compared to the 32 W/in³ found in the current 3 kW models.

Infineon attributes the exceptional performance of these new power supplies to the innovative combination of silicon, silicon carbide, and gallium nitride devices. The 8kW reference design board integrates a Complete Power Supply Unit (PSU) featuring single-phase PFC and DC-DC converter with a digital control Interleaved Bridgeless totem-pole PFC + Full-Bridge high frequency GaN LLC. This design surpasses the ORv3 data center power specification and OCPv3 form factor for servers, offering enhanced efficiency and reliability.

The 12 kW design, on the other hand, leverages a multi-level topology and a holistic digital control scheme, utilizing two 6 kW modules. This design is centered around 400V CoolSiC MOSFETs, 100V CoolGaN Transistors, and a range of other cutting-edge components to deliver optimal performance. Adam White, Division President Power & Sensor Systems at Infineon, emphasizes the company's commitment to powering AI and addressing the critical energy demands of data centers.