Electric power conversion apparatus

• US 8,416,574 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2011
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Tokuyama, Takeshi, Nakatsu, Kinya, Saito, Ryuichi, Horiuchi, Keisuke, Satoh, Toshiya, Miyazaki, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, GREGORY D
• Application Number:
  US13/152,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20110228479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 361/699
• 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 plurality of semiconductor modules, with each of the plurality of semiconductor modules including a power semiconductor device for converting a direct current to an alternating current;

a driver board that includes a driver IC for driving the power semiconductor devices;

a capacitor module that includes a capacitor for smoothing the direct current; and

a channel forming body configured to form a first channel and a second channel through which a refrigerant flows, wherein;

the first channel is disposed at a side of the capacitor module;

the second channel is disposed at another side of the capacitor module, opposite to the first channel;

one or more first semiconductor modules among the plurality of semiconductor modules are disposed in and fixed to the first channel and one or more second semiconductor modules among the plurality of semiconductor modules are disposed in and fixed to the second channel;

the driver board is arranged above the capacitor module and extended to a region facing the first semiconductor modules in the first channel and a region facing the second semiconductor modules in the second channel; and

the driver IC is disposed in a region facing to the capacitor module.

2. An electric power conversion apparatus, according to claim 1, further comprising:

an alternating current bus bar for conducting the alternating current, wherein;

the alternating current bus bar is disposed in a space between the capacitor module and the driver board.

3. An electric power conversion apparatus, according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control board for outputting a control signal to the driver board, wherein;

the control board is disposed opposite to the capacitor module with the driver board therebetween.

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

a third channel that connects the first channel and the second channel is formed in the channel forming body; and

the capacitor module is formed in a rectangular cross-section, and three sides of the rectangular cross-section are surrounded by the first channel, the second channel and the third channel.

5. An electric power conversion apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein:

the plurality of semiconductor modules includes more than three semiconductor modules and is divided into a first unit, a second unit and a third unit; and

the first unit, the second unit, and third unit are disposed in and fixed to the first channel, the second channel and the third channel, respectively.

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

a case that is provided with a capacitor module insertion part and is formed integrally with the channel forming body.

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

each of the semiconductor modules comprises a positive terminal and a negative terminal for conducting the direct current, and a control terminal for transmitting a drive signal from the driver board;

the control terminal is extended to and fixed to the driver board; and

the positive terminal and the negative terminal are connected with terminals of the capacitor module by welding at a side of the capacitor module towards the driver board.

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

each of the semiconductor modules comprises a first heat dissipation member that faces a first electrode of the power semiconductor device and a second heat dissipation member that faces a second electrode of the power semiconductor device; and

the first dissipation member and the second heat dissipation member are arranged so that heat dissipation surfaces of the first dissipation member and the second heat dissipation member face a side of the capacitor module.

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

each of the plurality of semiconductor modules comprises a plurality of power semiconductor devices that constitute an upper arm circuit and a lower arm circuit that outputs an alternating current of one of plural phases, and a mold resin with which the plurality of semiconductor modules are sealed.