International Rectifier USA, a division of Infineon Technologies, announced the launch of the HiRel HTB28 series

     IR HiRel, a Us-Based international rectifier company owned by Infineon Technologies, announced the introduction of the HiRel HTB28 series - the industry's first thick-film DC-DC power supply rated at 185 ºC in a 1-inch wide, airtight package. This new equipment is specifically designed for downhole tools for oil and gas exploration and can withstand the high temperature and high impact environments common in these applications. With oil and gas increasingly difficult to find, exploration is often conducted in challenging, high-temperature environments.

     With a wide range of output voltage variants, this shelf product family enables downhole tool manufacturers to accelerate the time to market of products with challenging designs requiring operating temperatures up to 185 ºC. The HTB28 series provides high reliability through a conservative and rigorous design approach, while using the airtight package thick film circuit technology to achieve a highly compact package 1 inch wide, 3.82 inches long (including flanges) and 0.41 inches high, which takes up approximately 20% less space than board-based products. Thanks to its small width, the HTB28 series can be fitted into the smallest downhole drilling tools available on the market or under development.

     Odile Ronat, Marketing Director at IR HiRel, said: "DC-DC power supplies typically use optocoupler feedback, but it does not work at high temperatures of 185 ºC. "By leveraging its proprietary magnetically coupled feedback topology and developing a unique IC to do this, IR HiRel has created a highly reliable, compact solution that reduces component count and size for downhole tools operating at high temperatures."

     This 5 W, 28 V input isolated DC-DC power supply achieves output efficiency of at least 69% at temperatures up to 185 ºC and features built-in input and output filters, low input static current and overcurrent protection. Most downhole equipment is required to operate for less than 1000 hours at 185 ºC. The HTB28 series has a service life of up to 1200 hours, exceeding the highest requirements.

     In addition, IR HiRel uses components that have been screened and certified to operate at high temperatures and is designed around them to maintain excellent performance over the entire operating temperature range.