LIQUID-COOLED GROUNDED HEATSINK FOR DIODE RECTIFIER SYSTEM

• US 20090052134A1
• Filed: 11/28/2007
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Bittner, John E., Casteel, Jordan B., Freeman, Melissa, Lindholm, Brian E., Monclova, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US11/946,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20090052134A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/699
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/473 by flowing liquids H01L23/4332, H01L23/4338 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/05 Rectifiers associated with casings, enclosures or brackets
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20 Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

A diode rectifier system for generator excitation includes a plurality of diode modules mounted on a heatsink and a coolant tube provided in the heatsink. The heatsink is electrically grounded. A method of cooling a diode rectifier system for generator excitation comprises providing a flow of liquid coolant in the coolant tube and electrically grounding the heatsink.

Claims

1. A diode rectifier system for generator excitation, comprising:

a plurality of diode modules mounted on a heatsink; and

a coolant tube provided in the heatsink, wherein the heatsink is electrically grounded.

2. A diode rectifier system according to claim 1, wherein the coolant tube comprises a single pre-formed tube.

3. A diode rectifier system according to claim 2, wherein the single pre-formed tube comprises a stainless steel tube.

4. A diode rectifier system according to claim 3, wherein an inner surface of the stainless steel tube is coated with PTFE.

5. A diode rectifier system according to claim 1, wherein the coolant tube is embedded in the heatsink.

6. A diode rectifier system according to claim 1, wherein the heatsink comprises a machined aluminum block.

7. A diode rectifier system according to claim 1, wherein each diode module comprises a diode, a bracket, and an insulating layer between the diode and the heatsink.

8. A diode rectifier system according to claim 7, wherein the heatsink is electrically grounded through the bracket.

9. A diode rectifier system according to claim 7, wherein the insulating layer comprises alumina or aluminum nitride or a combination thereof.

10. A diode rectifier system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of diode modules comprises at least six diode modules.

11. A method of cooling a diode rectifier system for generator excitation, the diode rectifier system comprising a plurality of diode modules mounted on a heatsink and a coolant tube provided in the heatsink, the method comprising:

providing a flow of liquid coolant in the coolant tube; and

electrically grounding the heatsink.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the liquid coolant comprises water.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the water comprises deionized water.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein electrically grounding the heatsink comprises insulating diodes of the diode modules from the heatsink.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the diodes are insulated from the heatsink by alumina or aluminum nitride or a combination thereof.

16. A method according to claim 11, wherein the coolant tube comprises a single pre-formed tube.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the single pre-formed tube comprises a stainless steel tube.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein an inner surface of the stainless steel tube is coated with PTFE.

19. A method according to claim 11, wherein the heatsink comprises a machined aluminum block.

20. A method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of diode modules comprises at least six diode modules.