SCEA108 August 2021 SN74HCS08 , SN74HCS125 , SN74HCS14 , SN74LVC1G125 , SN74LVC1G14 , SN74LVC2G125
Green energy has become a critical component of the overall energy strategy for governments, corporations, and individuals. At the heart of green energy is the growing impact of solar power generation. Solar panel installations have increased dramatically in recent years as advancements in technology has significantly reduced the cost of photovoltaic cells that make up solar panels. One technology that has contributed to the increase in solar installations is the availability of low cost and efficient String and Micro inverter technologies. Solar inverters help address efficiency and scalability concerns often associated with investing in solar power generation. Solar Inverter technology is essential for synchronizing a solar installation with the grid so that maximum utility can be realized from the generated power.
Solar inverters perform the critical function of converting the Direct Current (DC) generated by solar panels to usable Alternating Current (AC). Converted alternating current can be used on site for home and commercial uses or synchronized back to the grid enabling cost savings through net metering. As solar power generation continues to grow, string and micro inverters have become enabling technologies. Robust and efficient inverter designs have become critical to the solar ecosystem. Inverter system designers face multiple design challenges such as enabling robust solutions that can support high temperatures as well as efficient operation and compact implementation size. To help with overcoming common design challenges in their inverter designs, system designers can leverage robust multi-gate logic and level translations solutions. One of those challenges is implementing the power stage subsystems. Power stage subsystems are often comprised of gate drivers and associated FETs and Power Transistors (Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistors).
The power stage implementations of inverter designs need robust logic buffers and gate logic to implement control logic for coordinating the gate drive functionality. Logic gates and buffers become indispensable in helping designers connect and scale microcontroller unit (MCU) GPIO to Gate Driver links See Figure 1-1. Often MCUs are selected for their cost effectiveness and low power at the expense of drive strength. Inverter system designers can use robust single and multi-channel logic buffers in between the MCU outputs and gate driver inputs to ensure sufficient input signaling levels at the gate driver input. Buffers are especially important in larger implementations such as central and string inverters where the MCU may be located farther from the gate drivers of the power subsystems.
The example, Figure 1-1 can serve as a common implementation approach for buffering signals between the MCU and gate drivers for solar inverters. Component selection can be critical when selecting buffers for a solar inverter design. Criteria such as drive strength, channel count, voltage range, temperature range, and package size can all play a critical role in a design. Table 1 provides a guide for selecting buffers and other commonly used logic devices based on a matrix of these key criteria. As solar inverter designers continue to drive designs to be lower cost, higher performance, and more robust, they will need to leverage simple logic devices like buffers and gate logic. Simple logic building blocks can enable designers to not only bring their systems together but also scale them to the requirements of larger and more complex solar power installations that are expected in the future.
Device | Voltage | Type | Channels | Drive Strength | Temp Range | Multi-Sourced foot prints | Small Package Options | Suitable For | Q100 Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SN74LVC1G125 | 1.65 V to 5.5 V | Buffer | One | 24ma | -40C to 125C | Yes | uQFN | Micro & String Inverters | Yes |
SN74LVC2G125 | 1.65 V to 5.5 V | Buffer | Two | 24ma | -40C to 125C | Yes | BGA | Micro & String Inverters | Yes |
SN74HCS125 | 2 V to 6 V | Buffer | Quad | 7.8ma | -40C to 125C | Yes | uQFN | String & Central Inverters | Yes |
SN74HCS08 | 2 V to 6 V | AND Gate | Quad | 7.8ma | -40C to 125C | Yes | uQFN | String & Central Inverters | Yes |
SN74LVC1G14 | 1.65 V to 5.5 V | Inverter | One | 24ma | -40C to 125C | Yes | uQFN | Micro & String Inverters | Yes |
SN74HCS14 | 2 V to 6 V | Inverter | Six | 7.8ma | -40C to 125C | Yes | uQFN | String & Central Inverters | Yes |
TI PROVIDES TECHNICAL AND RELIABILITY DATA (INCLUDING DATASHEETS), DESIGN RESOURCES (INCLUDING REFERENCE DESIGNS), APPLICATION OR OTHER DESIGN ADVICE, WEB TOOLS, SAFETY INFORMATION, AND OTHER RESOURCES “AS IS” AND WITH ALL FAULTS, AND DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS AND IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. |
These resources are intended for skilled developers designing with TI products. You are solely responsible for (1) selecting the appropriate TI products for your application, (2) designing, validating and testing your application, and (3) ensuring your application meets applicable standards, and any other safety, security, or other requirements. These resources are subject to change without notice. TI grants you permission to use these resources only for development of an application that uses the TI products described in the resource. Other reproduction and display of these resources is prohibited. No license is granted to any other TI intellectual property right or to any third party intellectual property right. TI disclaims responsibility for, and you will fully indemnify TI and its representatives against, any claims, damages, costs, losses, and liabilities arising out of your use of these resources. |
TI’s products are provided subject to TI’s Terms of Sale (www.ti.com/legal/termsofsale.html) or other applicable terms available either on ti.com or provided in conjunction with such TI products. TI’s provision of these resources does not expand or otherwise alter TI’s applicable warranties or warranty disclaimers for TI products. |
Mailing Address: Texas Instruments, Post Office Box 655303, Dallas, Texas 75265
Copyright © 2021, Texas Instruments Incorporated |