Power conversion apparatus

• US 10,461,657 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Keihin Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kazuki, Sasaki, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Mukundbhai G
• Application Number:
  US15/823,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20180219488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 361698
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20936 Liquid coolant with phase change

Abstract

A power conversion device includes a first cooler configured to cool a power module, a second cooler configured to cool at least one electronic component, and a housing configured to house the first cooler and the second cooler. The power conversion device also includes a connecting coolant passage formed in an inner wall of the housing such that the connecting coolant passage connects the first cooler to the second cooler. The power conversion device can have the connecting coolant passage formed in the housing, without enlarging a size of the housing. The strength of a side wall of the housing is enhanced because the connecting coolant passage is formed in the inner wall of the housing.

Claims

1. A power conversion apparatus comprising:

a first cooler configured to cool a power module;

a second cooler configured to cool at least one first electronic component provided therein;

a housing configured to house the first cooler and the second cooler, the housing comprising a main body, a compartment plate which divides the main body to define a first room housing at least one second electronic component and a second room in which the second cooler is provided, and a coolant jacket which has the first cooler therein and is mounted on the main body so as to cover an open end of the first room; and

a connecting coolant passage entirely defined within an inner wall of the main body, the connecting coolant passage being directly connected to each of the first cooler and the second cooler so as to connect the first cooler to the second cooler,

wherein the first room and the second room are interposed between the first cooler and the second cooler.

2. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second cooler has a groove portion provided in the housing, and a lid portion fixed to the housing to cover the groove portion, and

said at least one first electronic component is mounted on the lid portion.

3. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lid portion has at least one cooling fin on a face opposite to a mounting face of the lid portion, on which said at least one first electronic component is mounted.

4. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said at least one first electronic component includes a plurality of first electronic components, and the lid portion is divided into a plurality of pieces and fixed such that the plurality of pieces correspond to the plurality of first electronic components, respectively.

5. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of pieces of the lid portion includes two pieces, one of the two pieces has a through hole, and the other is placed and fixed over the through hole to close the through hole.

6. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet are formed in a same face of the housing and in fluid communication with the first cooler and the second cooler.

7. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the connecting coolant passage connects the first cooler to the second cooler in series, wherein coolant supplied to the coolant inlet passes in order through the first cooler, directly to the connecting coolant passage, directly to the second cooler, and a coolant outlet.

8. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting coolant passage connects the first cooler to the second cooler in series, wherein coolant supplied to a coolant inlet passes in order through the first cooler, directly to the connecting coolant passage, directly to the second cooler, and a coolant outlet.

9. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a coolant lid mounted to the compartment plate and configured to close a through hole defined in the compartment plate.

10. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a sealing member fixed at an interface between the compartment plate and the coolant lid.