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Powering modern rail systems

Railway products

The need for more power

The need for more power

Modern rail infrastructure presents new challenges for designers of both freight and commuter solutions. Commuter rail systems require mobile office communication capabilities with the infotainment capabilities of home.  Freight rail systems require monitoring and control capabilities to assure the safe and timely delivery of all goods onboard.  Both commuter and freight systems demand reliable and high-performance power systems for the necessary safety and security measures (onboard and at station).  A new class of DC-DC power converters is required to meet these new demands, ones that are more power dense, more efficient, cost-effective, and robust enough to meet the rigors of onboard rail applications.

Meeting the demands of modern rail applications

Meeting the demands of modern rail applications

Vicor modular power components and complete power systems are used by customers throughout the world to create solutions for a wide variety of railway applications. Our long, successful record supporting customers in this demanding market, along with our understanding of rail standards and regulations, have inspired us to design the next evolution design the next generation in onboard rail power: the comprehensive Vicor family of isolated, regulated DC-DC converters, the DCMTM.

Advantages of Vicor solutions

Advantages of Vicor solutions

Efficiency

High efficiency

Density

Power density

Reliability

Reliability

Competitive cost

Competitive cost

Watch the Digi-key video describing how the DCM2322 powers modern rail systems

Vicor ChiP DCM is the next step in the evolution of rail power

The Vicor ChiP DCM family of isolated, regulated DC-DC converter modules addresses the requirements of modern rail applications while building on our 20+ years proven track record in the rail industry. The ChiP DCM comes in two different packages sizes, 22 x 23 x 7mm and 36 x 23 x 7mm, and input voltages that match up well with all global rail standards, including a wide range 43 – 154VIN, and a low range18 – 36VIN. The family has offerings that are optimized for power levels from 60 – 320W, at power densities up to 653W/in3, and generates isolated DC outputs as required by the applications. Utilizing a high-frequency zero-voltage switching (ZVS) topology, the DCM converter delivers efficiencies of up to 93% across its entire input voltage range. 

DCM2322

Vicor DCMs for rail applications

Nominal Input Voltage
Input Voltage Range
Maximum Power
Output Voltages

100V

43 – 154V

240W

3.3 ‑ 48V

Example Applications

Train LED signage and information display

Information displays

Rail door openers

Electric door openers

Rail interior lighting

Lighting

Nominal Input Voltage
Input Voltage Range
Maximum Power
Output Voltages

24V

18 ‑ 36V

320W

3.3 ‑ 48V

28V

16 ‑ 50V

320W

3.3 ‑ 48V

30V

9 ‑ 50V

160W

3.3 ‑ 48V

Example Applications

Rail engine controls

Engine controls

Rail motor drive controllers

Motor drive controllers

Rail braking systems

Braking systems

Nominal Input Voltage
Input Voltage Range
Maximum Power
Output Voltages

48V

36 ‑ 75V

320W

3.3 ‑ 48V

270V

160 ‑ 420V

500W

3.3 ‑ 48V

275V

120 ‑ 420V

375W

3.3 ‑ 48V

Example Applications

Rail embedded systems

Embedded computer systems

Rail ticketing systems

Ticketing machines

Power System Designer

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Input specifications

Min input: Minimum input:
Nom input: Nominal input:
Max input: Maximum input:

Output specifications

Output
Min output: Minimum output:
Nom output: Nominal output:
Max output: Maximum output:
Vicor Power System Designer

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