Power converter module with cooled busbar arrangement

• US 8,432,694 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Hentschel, Stefan, Ponath, Harald
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, GREGORY D
• Application Number:
  US13/133,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20110249402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 361/699
• 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: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1432 specially adapted for power drive units or power converters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14329 specially adapted for the configuration of power bus bars
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20218 using a liquid coolant without phase change in electronic enclosures in cabinets of standardized dimensions H05K7/20536; in server cabinets H05K7/20709; in vehicle electronic casings H05K7/20845; in power control electronics H05K7/2089; in displays H05K7/20954
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

A power converter module includes at least two power semiconductor modules, which are mechanically connected to a liquid-cooled heat sink and electrically connected to terminals of the power converter module by a busbar arrangement having at least two busbars. The busbars are insulated from one another by an insulation layer. The insulation layer is composed of two insulating layers, which are materially connected with one another so as to form therebetween a cavity having a predetermined shape and an entrance side and an exit side disposed on least one side face of the insulation layer. A connector is provided on the entrance side and the exit side and fluidly connected to the liquid-cooled heat sink. The rectifier module is thus able to sustain relatively high electrical loads compared to conventional rectifier modules, while maintaining a permitted temperature for the insulation layer and the lamination material of the busbar.

Claims

1. A power converter module, comprising:

a liquid-cooled body;

a busbar arrangement having at least two busbars;

an insulation layer comprising two insulating layers which are materially connected with one another so as to produce between the two insulating layers a cavity of a predetermined shape, said insulation layer providing insulation between the at least two busbars;

an entrance side and an exit side disposed on least one side face of the insulation layer;

a connector arranged on the entrance side and the exit side and fluidly connected to the liquid-cooled body; and

at least two power semiconductor modules, which are mechanically connected to the liquid-cooled body for thermal conduction and are electrically connected to terminals of the power converter module by the busbar arrangement.

2. The power converter module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two insulating layers is embodied as a shaped part comprising a groove shaped in a predetermined manner.

3. The power converter module of claim 1, wherein the two insulating layers are constructed mirror-symmetrically.

4. The power converter module of claim 1, wherein the at least two busbars and at least one of the two insulation layers are laminated with one another.

5. The power converter module of claim 1, wherein the cavity has a hose-like shape.

6. The power converter module of claim 1, wherein the cavity has a meander shape.

7. The power converter module of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a ring-shaped flange.

8. The power converter module of claim 7, wherein the ring-shaped flange is arranged between two ends of the connector and the connector is tapered toward the respective ends.

9. The power converter module of claim 1, wherein the cavity is connected for fluid conduction in parallel with a cooling circuit of the liquid-cooled body.

10. The power converter module of claim 1, wherein the cavity is connected for fluid conduction in series with a cooling circuit of the liquid-cooled body.

11. The power converter module of claim 1, wherein the cavity has a circular cross-sectional area.

12. The power converter module of claim 1, wherein the cavity has a rectangular cross-sectional area.

13. The power converter module of claim 2, wherein the groove has a V-shape in cross-section.

14. The power converter module of claim 2, wherein the groove has a semicircular shape in cross-section.

15. The power converter module of claim 2, wherein the groove has a U-shape in cross-section.

16. The power converter module of claim 2, wherein the cavity is constructed in sections, with different sections having different cross-sectional areas.