Data center power consumption increases 6% annually
48V Power Distribution, Improved Server Efficiency and Deployment Flexibility
MHEV, 12V-48V system reduces CO2 emissions
<Continued from " Why 48V Power Replaces 12V Power ">

Heat generated by I2R losses can adversely affect system efficiency and can also impede power flow through cables, connectors, PCBs, etc.

Recently, the processor power of servers has increased to 100W, 200W, and even 300W or more. When this increased power is distributed to multiple server processors, more I2R loss occurs than before. If higher voltage is distributed here, I2R loss can be reduced.

Power loss is proportional to the square of the current and the resistance of the medium. Therefore, 48V distribution has 1/16th the power loss of 12V distribution and the capacitor volume can be reduced to 1/4, making it superior in terms of energy efficiency.

48V is widely adopted today in areas such as data centers, automotive, LED lighting, and power tools. 48V is the new 12V.


Power-eating hippopotamus data centers go on a 48V diet
In major countries around the world, including the United States, the number of data centers is increasing exponentially due to the increased use of cloud services, big data, and AI. The amount of electricity consumed by data centers is also increasing by 6% every year. In 2006, data centers in the United States consumed 60 trillion kWh of electricity, but it is estimated that they will consume 190 trillion kWh of electricity by 2020.
This is why data centers are actively applying 48V power distribution. Since data centers and supercomputers require power equivalent to that of a small country, power efficiency is extremely important.

Google is a representative company that has applied 48V power distribution to its data servers. Google software engineers Xin Li and Shuai Jang publicly preached the benefits and cost savings of using 48V distribution in data centers at the Applied Power Electronics Conference 2017 and the Open Compute Project 2017.

Google introduced 48V power distribution to more efficiently supply power to data servers and improve server deployment flexibility.


48V, Powering Eco-Friendly Cars
The automotive industry is also increasingly adopting 48V. Cars are now moving electronic devices. 12V alone is not enough to operate various electrical systems inside the car.

Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) is the most representative vehicle type that has adopted 48V. Because it uses a 48V voltage system, it is also called a 48V hybrid vehicle.

MHEV is an eco-friendly vehicle in which one motor only serves as an engine assistant. It is different from a hybrid vehicle (HEV) in which two motors, a drive motor and a generator, are used, and the motor replaces the engine in certain sections. The 48V system can provide additional power to the engine and use regenerative and braking energy, reducing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
“European automakers are replacing diesel vehicles, the main culprit of air pollution, with MHEVs,” said Jeong Gi-cheon, CEO of Byco Korea. “The industry estimates that MHEVs that use both 12V and 48V systems will account for 16% of all vehicles sold by 2030.”

Additionally, Delphi's automotive engineers used the MHEV's 48V system to power accessories when the vehicle is stationary, thereby reducing the load on the internal combustion engine.


Companies in various fields adopting 48V
The size and power consumption of outdoor LED screens have increased rapidly over the past decade. LED panel designers are reducing the size and weight of power cables while improving efficiency by implementing 48V distribution.
“When passing 3A of current at 48V, the diameter of the power cable can be significantly reduced compared to passing 10A of current at 12V,” said Jeong Gi-cheon, CEO of Byco Korea. “Because the amount of current is reduced, power efficiency can be improved.”

Amateur and professional battery tools are also adopting higher voltages. The higher the power, the longer the tool can run and the more torque it can produce. De Walt, a well-known tool manufacturer, has already commercialized a number of 60V battery tools.

In addition, 48V adoption is increasing for power supply of robots and industrial equipment.


If you want to reduce BOM by using power efficiently
If you want to use more power efficiently, 48V is an alternative.

Improved 48V converters and regulators are more efficient than their 12V counterparts.

Many current power designs take advantage of the additional benefit of replacing regulated, 12V power supplies with a single regulator that converts directly from 48V to the load voltage.
“Recently, the industry is adopting 48V distribution, which can do more work, instead of 12V distribution due to the increasing requirements for application products,” said Jeong Gi-cheon, CEO of Byco Korea. “As power increases, more I2R loss occurs, but that loss can be reduced by distributing higher voltage.”

He continued, “48V distribution is the most reliable way to reduce I2R losses due to increased power,” and explained, “Bycor pursues better efficiency through zero voltage switching using 48V DC/DC regulators and isolated converters and SM-ChiP package design.”

Also, "Byco was founded in 1981 as a company He added, "Since its establishment, we have been able to drastically reduce power loss when the FET is in operation by using zero-voltage switching and zero-current switching topologies instead of the general PWM method."