The goal of this investigation was to evaluate the potential of the best available technology with regard to improving the efficiency and standby losses of external power. The prospects with respect to the optimal circuit topology, as well as, the most favorable semiconductor materials were evaluated. In the latter case, the focus was placed on the new wide band gap materials. Particularly, gallium nitride yields promising results, while silicon carbide offers hardly any advantage for the applications considered.
The current legislation in Europe and the United States regulating efficiency and standby losses was analyzed and served as references. The technical feasibilities were primarily evaluated analytically and complemented with some measurements. A limited number of existing products were tested against the current limits.
Particularly at low power, i.e., below approximately 10 W, the results indicate, that the currently best available technology provides a realistic potential to tighten the current legislation. This applies in particular to the standby losses. An improved performance is also possible at higher power levels, which would allow declaring the Code of Conduct, Version 5, Tier 2 as law. Currently, these limits are published as a voluntary guideline. Legislation to this effect was originally scheduled for July 2018, however, it has not been implemented as of the writing if this report.
Restricting the rules even further appears possible, but it requires the implementation of technologies, for which the suitability for series production must be validated first.
