Electric Power Conversion Apparatus

• US 20110228479A1
• Filed: 06/03/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: HORIUCHI, Keisuke, SAITO, Ryuichi, SATOH, Toshiya, TOKUYAMA, Takeshi, MIYAZAKI, Hideki, NAKATSU, Kinya
• Granted Patent: US 8,416,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/699
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/16 of differential gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/429 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/36 Structure, shape, material or disposition of the strap connectors prior to the connecting process
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/40 of an individual strap connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/40137 the bodies being arranged next to each other, e.g. on a common substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45099 Material
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/3121 a substrate forming part of the encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/36 Selection of materials, or shaping, to facilitate cooling or heating, e.g. heatsinks H01L23/28, H01L23/40, H01L23/42, H01L23/44, H01L23/46 take precedence; heating H01L23/345
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/3675 characterised by the shape of the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/473 by flowing liquids H01L23/4332, H01L23/4338 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/492 Bases or plates or solder therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/49517 Additional leads
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 24/40 : of an individual strap connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 24/45 : of an individual wire connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/072 : the devices being arranged next to each other
• 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 2924/00012 : Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 : the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 : Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/1203 : Rectifying Diode
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13055 : Insulated gate bipolar transistor [IGBT]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13091 : Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/14 : Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 : Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 : Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/537 : using semiconductor devices only, e.g. single switched pulse inverters
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/06 : using dc to ac converters or inverters H02P27/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0262 : Arrangements for regulating voltages or for using plural voltages
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14329 : specially adapted for the configuration of power bus bars
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2089 : for power electronics, e.g. for inverters for controlling motor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 : Liquid coolant without phase change
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 : Motor or generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 : Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/909 : Gearing

Abstract

An electric power conversion apparatus includes: a channel case in which a cooling water channel is formed; a double side cooling semiconductor module that comprises an upper and lower arms series circuit of an inverter circuit; a capacitor module; a direct current connector; and an alternate current connector. The semiconductor module comprises a first and a second heat dissipation metals whose outer surfaces are heat dissipation surfaces, the upper and lower arms series circuit is disposed tightly between the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal, and the semiconductor module further comprises a direct current positive terminal, a direct current negative terminal, and an alternate current terminal which protrude to outside. The channel case is provided with the cooling water channel which extends from a cooling water inlet to a cooling water outlet, and a first opening which opens into the cooling water channel.

Claims

1. An electric power conversion apparatus, comprising:

a channel case in which a cooling water channel is formed;

a double side cooling semiconductor module that comprises an upper and lower arms series circuit of an inverter circuit;

a capacitor module;

a direct current connector; and

an alternate current connector, wherein;

the semiconductor module comprises a first and a second heat dissipation metals whose outer surfaces are heat dissipation surfaces, the upper and lower arms series circuit is disposed between the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal, and the semiconductor module further comprises a direct current positive terminal, a direct current negative terminal, and an alternate current terminal which protrude to outside;

the channel case is provided with the cooling water channel which extends from a cooling water inlet to a cooling water outlet, and a first opening which opens into the cooling water channel through which the semiconductor module is inserted into the cooling water channel;

the channel case is further provided with a second opening through which the capacitor module is placed;

the first opening for the semiconductor module is disposed on both sides of the second opening for the capacitor module; and

the semiconductor module and a plurality of other semiconductor modules are arranged through the first opening provided on the both sides so that a long side of the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal of each of the semiconductor modules is set along a direction along which cooling water flows.

6. An electric power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

in addition to the first opening provided on the both sides of the second opening for the capacitor module, a return opening is provided to link the first opening on one side and the first opening on another side with each other, and the cooling water channel is configured so that the cooling water makes U-turns at three locations throughout the cooling water channel.

7. An electric power conversion apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the cooling water inlet and the cooling water outlet are provided on a front side surface of the channel case, with one of the cooling water inlet and the cooling water outlet disposed on either right or left side of the front side surface, and the return opening is provided on a front side of the channel case;

the semiconductor module comprises a first semiconductor module disposed on the one side of the second opening for the capacitor module, and a second semiconductor module disposed on the another side of the second opening for the capacitor module, with the second heat dissipation metal of each of the first and second semiconductor modules facing toward the capacitor module; and

the cooling water channel is configured so that the cooling water flows in order from the cooling water inlet, a first heat dissipation metal of the first semiconductor module, a second heat dissipation metal of the first semiconductor module, a path formed by the return opening on the front side, a second heat dissipation metal of the second semiconductor module, a first heat dissipation metal of the second semiconductor module, to a cooling water outlet section.

8. An electric power conversion apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the cooling water inlet and the cooling water outlet are provided on a front side surface of the channel case on one of a right side and a left side of the front side surface, and the return opening is provided on a side opposite from the front side surface of the channel case;

the semiconductor module comprises a first semiconductor module disposed on the one side of the second opening for the capacitor module, and a second semiconductor module disposed on the another side of the second opening for the capacitor module, with the second heat dissipation metal of each of the first and second semiconductor modules facing toward the capacitor module; and

the cooling water channel is configured so that the cooling water flows in order from the cooling water inlet, a first heat dissipation metal of the first semiconductor module, a path formed by the return opening on the opposite side, a first heat dissipation metal of the second semiconductor module, a second heat dissipation metal of the second semiconductor module, the path formed by the return opening on the opposite side, a second heat dissipation metal of the first semiconductor module, to the cooling water outlet.

9. An electric power conversion apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the semiconductor module further comprises a third semiconductor module disposed in the path formed by the return opening on the opposite side, in addition to the first semiconductor module disposed in a path on the one side and the second semiconductor module disposed in a path on the another side; and

the first semiconductor module, the second semiconductor module and the third semiconductor module each correspond to one of three phases.

10. An electric power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

a first semiconductor module group comprising a first inverter circuit constituted with first upper and lower arms series circuits for U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase is arranged through the first opening provided on one of the both sides of the second opening for the capacitor module; and

a second semiconductor module group comprising a second inverter circuit constituted with second upper and lower arms series circuits for U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase is arranged through the first opening provided on the other of the both sides of the second opening for the capacitor module.

11. An electric power conversion apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a driver board, disposed on an upper surface of the capacitor module, that drives an inverter circuit of each semiconductor module, and that bridges between the first semiconductor module group and the second semiconductor module group to be used for both the first semiconductor module group and the second semiconductor module group.

13. An electric power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the semiconductor module comprises an upper arm IGBT chip, an upper arm diode chip, a lower arm IGBT chip, and a lower diode chip; and

the upper arm IGBT chip and the lower arm IGBT chip are arranged on a same level surface along a direction of the cooling water flowing through the first and second heat dissipation metals.

14. An electric power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the second opening comprises an accommodating portion to house the capacitor module; and

a thermal conduction resin is filled between an inner wall of the accommodating portion and an outer wall of the capacitor module.

15. An electric power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the second opening comprises an accommodating portion to house the capacitor module; and

a thermal conduction grease is applied to an inner wall of the accommodating portion and an outer wall of the capacitor module.

2. An electric power conversion apparatus, comprising:

a channel case in which a cooling water channel is formed;

a double side cooling semiconductor module that comprises an upper and lower arms series circuit of an inverter circuit;

a capacitor module;

a direct current connector; and

an alternate current connector, wherein;

the semiconductor module comprises a first and a second heat dissipation metals whose outer surfaces are heat dissipation surfaces, the upper and lower arms series circuit is disposed between the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal, and the semiconductor module further comprises a direct current positive terminal, a direct current negative terminal, and an alternate current terminal which protrude to outside;

the channel case is provided with the cooling water channel which extends from a cooling water inlet to a cooling water outlet, and a first opening which opens into the cooling water channel through which the semiconductor module is inserted into the cooling water channel;

the channel case is further provided with a second opening through which the capacitor module is placed;

the first opening for the semiconductor module is disposed on both sides of the second opening for the capacitor module; and

a driver board, on which a drive element for driving the inverter circuit constituted with the upper and lower arms series circuit is mounted, is provided on an upper surface of the capacitor module, and a control board, on which a control element for controlling the inverter circuit is mounted, is provided on the driver board.

12. An electric power conversion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the channel case is formed at least with a lower case and an upper case;

a direct current connection member that connects terminals of the capacitor module and the semiconductor module with each other, an alternate current connection member that connects an alternate current terminal of the semiconductor module and the alternate current connector, the driver board, and the control board are provided in this order on the upper surface of the capacitor module which is placed through the second opening provided in the lower case; and

the upper case is fitted on the lower case so as to house the direct current connection member, the alternate current connection member, the driver board, and the control board.

3. An electric power conversion apparatus, comprising:

a channel case in which a cooling water channel is formed;

a double side cooling semiconductor module that comprises an upper and lower arms series circuit of an inverter circuit;

a capacitor module;

a direct current connector; and

an alternate current connector, wherein;

the semiconductor module comprises a first and a second heat dissipation metals whose outer surfaces are heat dissipation surfaces, the upper and lower arms series circuit is disposed between the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal, and the semiconductor module further comprises a direct current positive terminal, a direct current negative terminal, and an alternate current terminal which protrude to outside;

the channel case is provided with the cooling water channel which extends from a cooling water inlet to a cooling water outlet, and a first opening which opens into the cooling water channel through which the semiconductor module is inserted into the cooling water channel;

the channel case is further provided with a second opening through which the capacitor module is placed;

the first opening for the semiconductor module is disposed on both sides of the second opening for the capacitor module; and

each of the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal of the semiconductor module comprises, in its outer surface, a fin-shaped part with recesses through which the cooling water flows, and the semiconductor module is inserted through the first opening.

4. An electric power conversion apparatus, comprising:

a channel case in which a cooling water channel is formed;

a double side cooling semiconductor module that comprises an upper and lower arms series circuit of an inverter circuit;

a capacitor module;

a direct current connector; and

an alternate current connector, wherein;

the semiconductor module comprises a first and a second heat dissipation metals whose outer surfaces are heat dissipation surfaces, the upper and lower arms series circuit is disposed between the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal, and the semiconductor module further comprises a direct current positive terminal, a direct current negative terminal, and an alternate current terminal which protrude to outside;

the channel case is provided with the cooling water channel which extends from a cooling water inlet to a cooling water outlet, and a first opening which opens into the cooling water channel through which the semiconductor module is inserted into the cooling water channel;

the channel case is further provided with a second opening through which the capacitor module is placed;

the first opening for the semiconductor module is disposed on both sides of the second opening for the capacitor module; and

a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the capacitor module are connected to the direct current positive terminal and the direct current negative terminal of the semiconductor module, respectively, through a connecting member of the capacitor module.

5. A power conversion device according to claim 4, wherein:

the capacitor module houses a plurality of capacitor blocks; and

a positive terminal and a negative terminal of each of the capacitor blocks are connected to the direct current positive terminal and the direct current negative terminal of the semiconductor module, respectively, through connecting members identical to one another in shape and in length.