On the Size and Weight of Passive Components: Scaling Trends for High-Density Power Converter Designs

High performance power electronics design requires a firm characterization of active and passive components. This work presents a framework for quantifying passive component performance by reviewing both existing methods and robust device figures-of-merit. A comprehensive survey yields aggregated data for nearly 700,000 commercial capacitors and inductors of all types. To supplement deficiencies in this data, this work proposes and validates several empirical expressions to estimate passive component energy storage and mass. Estimation of volumetric mass density per component type allows the approximation of component mass from accessible box volume. Estimation of energy-equivalent capacitance in nonlinear Class II ceramic capacitors facilitates the evaluation of stored energy and related energy density figures-of-merit. A phenomenological analysis of the comprehensive component data produces several conclusory determinations about peak energy density capabilities—with respect to volume, mass, and cost—across capacitor and inductor technologies.