Benefits of Interleaved SMPS?

[ShaunAndFRED]

Hey EEVForumers,

I'm currently designing a relatively high power (~1.5kW) SMPS for a weekend project. I was wondering if anyone had input on the benefits of interleaving 'n' converters. I'm assuming one of the major benefits is the distribution of heat through multiple inductors and MOSFETS, and a more sable output voltage, but I can't seem to find too much material on the subject. Any wisdom or pitfalls to avoid would be much appreciated!

[rbola35618]

There are two advantages that I can think of. If you interleace a SMPS and run then each at 100KHz, then your output filter does not have to be so large because at the output the frequency will double to 200 KHz.

You get the same benefit at the input filter. The current spikes the you try to suppress and keep way from getting into the inout bus will be attenuated becuase they are at double the frequency. Therefore, you inout filter can be smaller.

Robert

[bfritz]

Believe it or not, this wikipedia article item on multiphase bucks captures the ideas well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_converter#Multiphase_buck