New Technology Boosts Efficiency, Cuts Costs For Inductors In Power Applications

A new inductor technology achieves a major improvement in cost and efficiency over existing technology by combining the low dc resistance of a foil-wound inductor with the low ac resistance of a Litz wire-wound inductor, according to West Coast Magnetics. For high-current, high-ripple applications at 10 kHz and above, the new technology typically cuts losses by 25% to 50% compared to conventional wire-wound devices. The technology was patented by the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College and is under exclusive license by West Coast Magnetics. The company has worked closely with Dartmouth to develop the technology for commercial use.

West Coast Magnetics has done a market forecast that concludes the global market for inductors of the class standing to benefit from the new technology will exceed $1 billion by 2010 and reach $2.5 billion by 2015. The 2015 figure includes $832 million for hybrid vehicles (including heavy commercial, passenger, and light utility), $812 million for solar, wind, and other power-generation and transmission applications, $464 million for large uninterruptible power supplies, and $359 million for other categories. If the technology is extended into lower-power applications such as PCs, desktop electronics equipment, and handheld devices, the global market will exceed $5 billion, says West Coast Magnetics.

For more information, contact the company at (800) 628-1123 or go to www.wcmagnetics.com.