Supporting the Shift to 48V AI Power Architectures
ZL Series hybrid capacitors support high-density AI racks with high capacitance, high ripple current and 135°C endurance
As 48V becomes the rack-level DC power backbone for high-density AI infrastructure, Panasonic Industry’s ZL Series hybrid capacitors support efficient, compact and reliable 48V and 54V power conversion.
The shift toward 48V architectures is reshaping power delivery in high-density AI infrastructure. As GPU performance and rack power requirements increase, 48V is becoming the standard rack-level DC power backbone for efficient GPU power delivery, integrated battery backup and future high-voltage DC architectures.
This transition also raises the requirements placed on components in the power conversion stages. Capacitors must handle high ripple current, stabilize voltage and maintain reliable performance in compact, high-temperature environments.
Panasonic Industry’s ZL Series conductive polymer hybrid aluminum electrolytic capacitors are designed to support these 48V and 54V AI server power architectures. Panasonic’s high-precision electrode-foil winding process and electrolyte design technology combine high capacitance, low ESR and high ripple current capability in compact surface-mount packages.
The ZL Series covers rated voltages from 25V to 63V and capacitance values from 47µF to 1,200µF. Rated ripple current reaches up to 5.5A at 125°C. The series offers endurance of 4,000 hours at both 125°C and 135°C, supporting reliable operation in thermally demanding AI server environments.
Within the rack power chain, the ZL Series can be used as a 48V input capacitor in 48V-to-12V DC/DC converters and as a 54V output capacitor in 800V-to-54V DC/DC converters. In these positions, the capacitors help reduce ripple current and stabilize voltage for downstream power conversion.
Higher capacitance per component can also help reduce component count and board space. In a representative Panasonic comparison, replacing the previous ZUU Series 63V 180µF model with the ZL Series 63V 220µF model reduces the required capacitor count from 31 to 25, providing approximately 20% board-space savings.
By combining high capacitance, high ripple current capability, high-temperature endurance and a compact footprint, the ZL Series helps designers meet the power-density and reliability demands created by the shift to 48V AI rack architectures.
Features
- Designed to support 48V and 54V AI server power conversion
- Rated voltage range: 25V to 63V
- Capacitance range: 47µF to 1,200µF
- Rated ripple current: up to 5.5A at 125°C
- Endurance: 4,000 hours at 125°C and 135°C
- Low ESR and compact surface-mount packages
- AEC-Q200 compliant
Applications
- 48V input filtering for 48V-to-12V DC/DC converters
- 54V output filtering for 800V-to-54V DC/DC converters
- Power distribution boards for high-density AI racks
- Hybrid switched-capacitor power stages
- AI server power supplies and battery-backup power paths
Benefits
- Supports the transition to 48V rack-level power distribution
- Helps reduce ripple current and stabilize voltage
- Supports high-current operation at elevated temperatures
- Combines high capacitance with a compact footprint
- Approximately 20% board-space savings in the representative comparison with the previous ZUU Series
- Reduced component count can support smaller power circuits and lower material usage
