Power conversion apparatus

• US 9,735,700 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2016
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Tetsuya, Takeuchi, Kazuya, Tanabe, Ryota
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoa C
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEPEW, KEITH A
• Application Number:
  US15/013,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20160241155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20263 Heat dissipaters releasing heat from coolant
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

A power conversion apparatus includes a capacitor and a heat dissipation member for cooling the capacitor. The capacitor and the heat dissipation member are pressed in an arranging direction in which the capacitor and the heat dissipation member are arranged. The capacitor includes a capacitor element which includes a dielectric body and a metal layer formed on a surface of the dielectric body, an electrode part connected to the metal layer and a bus bar connected to the electrode part. Part of the bus bar is interposed in the arranging direction between the heat dissipation member and the capacitor element.

Claims

1. A power conversion apparatus comprising:

a capacitor including;

a capacitor element including;

a dielectric body; and

a metal layer formed on a surface of the dielectric body;

an electrode part connected to the metal layer, the electrode part having a narrow face and a broad face broader than its narrow face; and

a bus bar connected to the electrode part; and

a heat dissipation member for cooling the capacitor, the heat dissipation member having a narrow face and a broad face broader than its narrow face, the broad face of the heat dissipation member being arranged to face the broad face of the electrode part, the capacitor and the heat dissipation member being pressed in an arranging direction in which the capacitor and the heat dissipation member are arranged, and part of the bus bar being interposed in the arranging direction between the broad face of the heat dissipation member and the capacitor element.

2. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the bus bar includes a connection part connected to the electrode part, and an extension part extending from the connection part, and

the connection part is interposed between the heat dissipation member and the capacitor element.

3. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the capacitor includes a moisture resistant member which covers the capacitor element, the electrode part, and part of the connection part, and

a principal surface on a side of the heat dissipation member of the connection part is exposed from the moisture resistant member.

4. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the heat dissipation member includes a cooling tube formed with a flow channel through which coolant flows,

the capacitor, an electronic component, and the cooling tube are stacked on one another in the arranging direction so as to form a stacked body, and

the capacitor is electrically connected to the electronic component.

5. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the cooling tube is made of metal, an insulation member is interposed between the capacitor and the cooling tube for insulation therebetween, and the insulation member is formed with a recess in which the bus bar is fitted.

6. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the stacked body is housed in a case in a state of being pressed in the arranging direction such that the cooling tube is elastically deformed and held between wall parts of the case, and

the cooling tube and the capacitor are pressed in the arranging direction by a resilient return force of the cooling tube being deformed.

7. A power conversion apparatus comprising:

a capacitor including;

a capacitor element including;

a dielectric body; and

a metal layer formed on a surface of the dielectric body;

an electrode part connected to the metal layer; and

a bus bar connected to the electrode part;

an electronic component electrically connected to the capacitor;

a heat dissipation member for cooling the capacitor, the capacitor and the heat dissipation member being pressed in an arranging direction in which the capacitor and the heat dissipation member are arranged, part of the bus bar being interposed in the arranging direction between the heat dissipation member and the capacitor element, and the heat dissipation member including a cooling tube formed with a flow channel through which coolant flows;

a stacked body including the capacitor, the electronic component, and the cooling tube stacked on one another in the arranging direction; and

a case that houses the stacked body in a state of being pressed in the arranging direction such that the cooling tube is elastically deformed and held between wall parts of the case, the cooling tube and the capacitor being pressed in the arranging direction by a resilient return force of the cooling tube being deformed.