POWER CONVERTER

• US 20170223859A1
• Filed: 06/08/2015
• Published: 08/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2014
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: MATSUO, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 10,264,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/14 Arrangements for reducing ripples from dc input or output
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/44 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1427 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

A power converter includes a power semiconductor module, a control circuit board, and a case. The power semiconductor module includes a switching element and a metal module case for forming a storage space to store the switching element. The case includes a resin case, a metal case, and a metal base. The resin case stores the power semiconductor module. The metal case stores the control circuit board. The metal base is disposed so as to separate a storage space of the resin case and a storage space of the metal case. The resin case forms a refrigerant flow channel. The metal base includes a first opening. The power semiconductor module is disposed such that the storage space of the module case and the storage space of the metal case are connected via the first opening of the metal base.

Claims

1. A power converter, comprising:

a power semiconductor module configured to convert DC power into AC power;

a control circuit board configured to control the power semiconductor module; and

a case configured to store the power semiconductor module and the control circuit board,

wherein the power semiconductor module comprises a switching element and a metal module case forming a storage space for storing the switching element,

the case comprises a resin case configured to store the power semiconductor module, a metal case configured to store the control circuit board, and a metal base disposed so as to separate a storage space of the resin case and a storage space of the metal case,

the resin case forms a refrigerant flow channel in which a refrigerant flows to cool the power semiconductor module,

the power semiconductor module is disposed such that the module case is projected in the refrigerant flow channel,

the metal base forms a first opening,

the power semiconductor module is disposed such that the storage space of the module case and the storage space of the metal case are connected via the first opening of the metal base, and

the metal case, the metal base, and the module case are electrically connected.

2. The power converter according to claim 1, comprising:

a smoothing capacitor configured to smooth the DC power; and

a metal capacitor case configured to store the smoothing capacitor,

wherein the smoothing capacitor is disposed in a storage space of the resin case,

a terminal of the smoothing capacitor is projected on the metal case side via a through hole different from the first opening of the metal base, and

the capacitor case is connected to the metal base.

3. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein the metal base includes a fixing portion configured to fix the power converter on a vehicle side.

4. A power converter, comprising:

a power semiconductor module in which a power semiconductor element is stored in a metal module case;

a control circuit board configured to output a control signal of the power semiconductor element;

a resin case configured to divide a refrigerant flow channel space for cooling the metal module case; and

a metal base configured to separate a space in which the control circuit board is disposed and the refrigerant flow channel space,

wherein the metal base includes a first opening configured to communicate an internal space of the metal module case in which the power semiconductor element is stored and a space in which the control circuit board is disposed, and

the power semiconductor element is connected to the control circuit board via the first opening.

5. The power converter according to claim 4, comprising:

a smoothing capacitor configured to smooth DC power; and

a metal capacitor case configured to store the smoothing capacitor,

wherein the smoothing capacitor is disposed in a storage space formed in the resin case,

a terminal of the smoothing capacitor is projected on a side of the space in which the control circuit board is disposed relative to the metal base via a through hole different from the first opening of the metal base, and

the capacitor case is connected to the metal base.