Power converter arrangement and method for producing a power converter arrangement

• US 10,021,816 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2014
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Limited & Company KG (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Geisler, Stephan, Jarausch, Wolfgang, Kaspar, Michael, Kiefl, Stefan, Kriegel, Kai, Neumeister, Matthias, Seidel, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Matey, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/888,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20160088778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

A three-dimensional arrangement for a power converter device, e.g., an inverter or a rectifier, is provided. The switching elements, activation electronics, the load connections of the power converter device are arranged on a carrier device in such a way that defines especially short conduction paths. The components of the power converter device (e.g., all required components), such as switching elements, control electronics, and load connections, are arranged on a common carrier device. The carrier device is simultaneously used as a cooling device for the entire switching device. The power converter device may thereby achieve particularly efficient performance.

Claims

1. A power converter arrangement comprising:

a three-dimensional carrier arrangement having a trapezoidal cross section with four sides;

a plurality of switching elements arranged on a non-parallel pair of opposing sides of the carrier arrangement;

a cooling element arranged along with the plurality of switching elements on the two non-parallel pair of opposing sides of the carrier arrangement;

a control device that controls the plurality of switching elements, the control device arranged on a longer of the two parallel sides of the carrier arrangement connecting the non-parallel pair of opposing sides of the carrier arrangement.

2. The power converter arrangement of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of switching elements comprises at least one of a semiconductor switch and a diode.

3. The power converter arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of switching elements are arranged on an exterior surface of the non-parallel pair of opposing sides.

4. The power converter arrangement of claim 1, wherein the carrier arrangement has a hollow interior.

5. The power converter arrangement of claim 4, wherein a coolant fluid flows through the hollow interior of the carrier arrangement.

6. The power converter arrangement of claim 1, wherein:

the switching elements are arranged on an upper surface of at least one substrate, and

a lower surface of each substrate, opposite said upper surface of the respective substrate, is arranged on a respective cooling element.

7. The power converter arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a connection device configured to provide at least one of D.C. voltage connections and A.C. voltage connections,

wherein the connection device is arranged on a side of the carrier arrangement that connects the pair of opposing sides of the carrier arrangement with the plurality of switching elements.

8. The power converter arrangement of claim 7, further comprising a capacitor arrangement connected to the connection device.

9. The power converter arrangement of claim 8, further comprising:

the connection device configured to provide the at least one of D.C. voltage connections and A.C. voltage connections; and

the capacitor arrangement connected to the connection device;

wherein the plurality of switching elements are bonded to at least one of the control device and the connection device by spring contacts.

10. A method for the production of a power converter arrangement, the method comprising:

providing a three-dimensional carrier arrangement having a trapezoidal cross section;

arranging a plurality of switching elements on a pair of non-parallel opposing sides of the carrier arrangement;

arranging a cooling element along with the plurality of switching elements on the two non-parallel pair of opposing sides of the carrier arrangement; and

controlling the plurality of switching elements with a control device arranged on a longer of the two parallel sides of the carrier arrangement connecting the pair of non-parallel opposing sides of the carrier arrangement with the plurality of switching elements.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising flowing a coolant fluid flows through a hollow interior of the carrier arrangement.

12. A power converter arrangement comprising:

a three-dimensional carrier arrangement having a hollow interior and a trapezoidal cross section;

a plurality of switching elements arranged on first and second sides of the carrier arrangement that face outwardly and away from each other, wherein each switching element includes at least one of a semiconductor switch and a diode;

a cooling element arranged along with the plurality of switching elements on the two non-parallel pair of opposing sides of the carrier arrangement; and

a control device that controls the plurality of switching elements, the control device arranged at a longer of the two parallel sides of the carrier arrangement.

13. The power converter arrangement of claim 12, wherein a coolant fluid flows through the trapezoidal hollow interior of the carrier arrangement.

14. The power converter arrangement of claim 12, wherein:

the switching elements are arranged on an upper surface of at least one substrate, and

a lower surface of each substrate, opposite said upper surface of the respective substrate, is arranged on a respective cooling element.

15. The power converter arrangement of claim 12, further comprising a connection device arranged on a side of the carrier arrangement and connecting the pair of opposing sides of the carrier arrangement with the plurality of switching elements.

16. The power converter arrangement of claim 12, wherein the plurality of switching elements is bonded to at least one of the control device and the connection device by spring contacts.