How To Design Reliable Multilevel Bridgeless Totem-pole PFC

We are proud to share that our latest technical article, co-authored by Dr. Trong Tue Vu and Rytis Beinarys, has been published in Bodo’s Power Systems via EE Power.

“How To Design Reliable Multilevel Bridgeless Totem-Pole PFC” explores the practical design of a multilevel bridgeless totem-pole power factor correction (PFC) topology using standard 150V MOSFETs. This approach offers significant advantages over traditional 2-level solutions. The article covers these aspects in detail, including:

• >99.2% efficiency with lower BOM cost
• Smaller magnetics and reduced switching losses
• Enhanced reliability through active voltage balancing and protection
• Optimised PCB layout to minimize overshoot and parasitics
• Thermal design insights ensuring <50°C device temperatures at full load

The article includes design waveforms, layout examples, and thermal imaging from a tested 3 kW prototype to demonstrate real-world performance and robustness.