Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by magicalhippo 1040 days ago
For "normal" DC-DC converters it's the losses in the semiconductor switches and diodes that dominate[1], unless cheap inductors or capacitors are used.

High-efficiency DC-DC converters often use a resonant tank circuit[1], which supports high-frequency operation and zero-current or zero-volt switching, which together significantly reduces switching losses.

In such a circuit I imagine superconducting inductors/transformers and superconducting capacitors could be beneficial to improving efficiency further.

Keep in mind though that resonant DC-DC converters can reach 98% (or higher) efficiency already[3] with current tech.

[1]: https://www.analog.com/en/technical-articles/an-efficiency-p...

[2]: https://www.monolithicpower.com/understanding-llc-operation-...

[3]: https://ietresearch.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1049/iet-... (random example)