Why do we need bidirectional power supplies?

There’s a corresponding rise in the need for bidirectional power supplies to ensure the efficient transfer of power between various smart grid elements. In this blog, we’ll examine bidirectional power supplies, their applications, and how RECOM is helping our customers meet these new demands.

What is a unidirectional AC/DC power supply?

A unidirectional AC/DC power supply designed for high efficiency uses wide bandgap (WBG) SiC or GaN power devices with a totem-pole power factor correction (PFC) front end driving a DC/DC topology such as an LLC resonant converter. Although the totem-pole PFC topology is bidirectional, the resonant LLC is not.

Do EV charging stations need bidirectional power supplies?

Scenarios that call for bidirectional power supplies in EVs and EV charging stations include: EV supplying power back to the grid or to a microgrid in the home. EV charging station supplying power to an EV either from the grid or from stored energy depending on relative electricity prices.