Cooling element for a power electronic device and power electronic device comprising same

• US 6,236,566 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2000
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alstom Transport SA (Alstom SA)
• Original Assignee: Alstom Transport SA (Alstom SA)
• Inventors: Regnier, Bernard, Cettour-Rose, Jacques, Luscher, Patrick, Fellmann, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERVINSKY, BORIS LEO
• Application Number:
  US09/622,672
• Time in Patent Office: 229 Days
• Field of Search: 361/688-690, 361/696-704, 361/707, 361/712, 361/715, 361/716, 361/719-721, 257/714, 257/726, 257/727, 257/718, 257/719, 174/15.1, 174/15.2, 174/16.1, 174/16.3, 165/80-- 8, 165/104.33, 165/104.34, 165/185
• US Class Current: 361/699
• 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 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

A cooling element (2) for power electronic devices comprises heat-exchange fluid inlet and outlet apparatus (29) and an interior volume in which said fluid circulates. The element (2) is made from an electrically insulative material and comprises at least one opening (28) connecting the internal volume (V) to the exterior of the element, a perimeter (24) of the at least one opening (28) forming a seat receiving at least one base (38A) of the power electronic device (36) to be cooled with sealing apparatus (43) between them. The element has a small volume compared to those of the prior art.

Claims

1. A power electronic device, comprising a cooling element (2), a plurality of power modules (38) fixed to said cooling element and starters (40), said cooling element (2) being made from an electrically insulative material and comprising heat-exchange fluid inlet and outlet means (29), an interior volume (V) in which said fluid circulates, and at least one opening (28) connecting said internal volume (V) to the exterior of said element, a perimeter (24) of each opening (28) forming a seat receiving a base (38A) of each power module (38);

the device wherein the power modules (38) are fixed in pairs at corresponding openings (28) disposed symmetrically with respect to the median plane (P) of the cooling element (2).

2. A power electronic device according to claim 1, wherein an insert (46) is immobilized between the adjacent ends of the facing modules (38) of each pair.

3. A power electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the end (144) of a first module (138) extends towards a second module (138′

) facing it at or beyond the end (144′

) of the latter.

4. A power electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each base (38A) received on the perimeter (24) of each opening (28) is integral with one of said power modules (38).

5. A power electronic device according to claim 4, wherein said base (38A) has fins (44) extending in the fluid flow direction.

6. A power electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said power modules (38) are fixed to said cooling element by a clamp (48) on their face opposite the interior fluid circulation volume (V).

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein said clamp (48) is electrically conductive and is common to two power modules (38) which are adjacent in the fluid flow direction.

8. An electronic device according to claim 6, wherein said cooling element (2) comprises two half-bodies (2A, 2B) assembled together and said clamp member (48) is fixed to said cooling element (2) by fixing means (9) which also fasten said two half-bodies (2A, 2B) together.

9. A power electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling element (2) is made from a material that can be molded.

10. A power electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling element (2)comprises two identical half-bodies (2A, 2B) assembled together.

11. A power electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate space between two openings (28) which are adjacent in the fluid flow direction includes at least two passages (30) extending in the fluid flow direction and separated by at least one rib (32) on said cooling element (2).

12. A power electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the longitudinal axis of said rib (32) is inclined to the fluid flow direction.