CN214381969U

CN214381969U - Power conversion device

Info

Publication number: CN214381969U
Application number: CN202120399333.1U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 大井启史
Original assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
Current assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
Priority date: 2021-02-23
Filing date: 2021-02-23
Publication date: 2021-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 2031-02-23

Abstract

The utility model provides a power conversion device. The power conversion device includes a power conversion circuit for controlling a vehicle-running motor, and a casing for housing the power conversion circuit, wherein the power conversion circuit includes a member that generates heat during operation, a cooling duct for cooling the member is provided in the casing, the cooling duct is configured as a rectangular tube that linearly extends, and includes an upper wall, a lower wall, and two side walls, a plurality of fins that extend toward the lower wall are formed on the upper wall, a plurality of fins that extend toward the upper wall are formed on the lower wall, a plurality of fins that extend toward the other of the two side walls are formed on one of the two side walls, and a plurality of fins that extend toward the one of the side walls are formed on the other side wall. Based on the above structure of the utility model, can improve power conversion device's cooling efficiency.

Description

Power conversion device

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a power conversion device.

Background

In the related art, a Power Control Unit (PCU) has been widely used. In general, a PCU includes a power conversion circuit that controls a vehicle-running motor, and a case that houses the power conversion circuit. Since there are components in the power conversion circuit that generate heat, a cooling duct for cooling the power conversion circuit is provided in the housing.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for higher output and smaller PCUs. In order to achieve high output and miniaturization, it is necessary to improve the cooling efficiency of the cooling device.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

To solve the above technical problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a power conversion apparatus capable of improving cooling efficiency.

As a technical solution to solve the above technical problem, the present invention provides a power conversion device including a power conversion circuit for controlling a motor for vehicle traveling and a housing for accommodating the power conversion circuit, the power conversion circuit having a component that generates heat during operation, a cooling duct provided in the housing for cooling the component, characterized in that: the cooling duct is configured as a rectangular tube extending linearly, and has an upper wall, a lower wall, and two side walls, wherein the upper wall is formed with a plurality of fins extending toward the lower wall, the lower wall is formed with a plurality of fins extending toward the upper wall, one of the two side walls is formed with a plurality of fins extending toward the other of the two side walls, and the other side wall is formed with a plurality of fins extending toward the one side wall.

The utility model has the advantages of above-mentioned structure the utility model discloses a power conversion device's advantage lies in, is formed with the fin respectively on cooling tube's upper wall, lower wall and two lateral walls, so can increase the area of contact of cooling tube and refrigerant contact to can improve cooling efficiency.

The above-mentioned electric power conversion device of the present invention preferably includes a plurality of cooling ducts extending in the same direction and spaced apart from each other in the direction perpendicular to the extending direction.

In the above-described power conversion device of the present invention, preferably, the cooling duct has a joint portion that joins the upper wall and the one side wall, a joint portion that joins the one side wall and the lower wall, a joint portion that joins the lower wall and the other side wall, and a joint portion that joins the other side wall and the upper wall.

In the above power conversion device of the present invention, preferably, the plurality of fins formed on the upper wall, the plurality of fins formed on the lower wall, the plurality of fins formed on one side wall, and the plurality of fins formed on the other side wall are disposed at intervals in the extending direction of the cooling duct.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a PCU according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the PCU in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a cooling pipe of the PCU in fig. 2.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a PCU is explained as an example of the "power conversion device" of the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of PCU100 according to the present embodiment, and fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of PCU 100. In fig. 1, a part of the side view of the housing 2 is omitted to show the inside of the housing 2. In fig. 2, the top surface of the housing 2 is not shown to show the inside of the housing 2.

As shown in fig. 1, PCU100 includes a power conversion circuit 1 that controls a vehicle-running motor (not shown), and a case 2 that houses power conversion circuit 1.

The power conversion circuit 1 is configured to convert a direct current generated by a battery (not shown) into an alternating current to drive the motor, and to convert an alternating current generated by the motor (not shown) into a direct current to charge the battery. The power conversion circuit 1 includes components 11 to 16 that generate heat, and a control board 17.

The housing 2 is formed in a box shape and has an internal space S. The components 11 to 16 and the control board 17 are disposed in the internal space S of the housing 2. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of cooling ducts 3 are also provided in the casing 2 for cooling the components 11 to 16. The plurality of cooling ducts 3 extend along the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the casing 2, and are arranged at intervals in a direction (Y direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (extending direction of the cooling ducts 3). The plurality of cooling ducts 3 are arranged at the same height. That is, the plurality of cooling ducts 3 are arranged parallel to each other on the same horizontal plane.

A flow splitting part 3a is provided at one end of the plurality of cooling ducts 3; at the other end of the plurality of cooling ducts 3, a junction portion 3b is provided. The flow dividing portion 3a is connected to and communicates with the refrigerant introduction pipe 4a, and the merging portion 3b is connected to and communicates with the refrigerant discharge pipe 4 b. A refrigerant introduction pipe 4a for introducing the refrigerant into the cooling pipe 3 and a refrigerant discharge pipe 4b for discharging the refrigerant from the cooling pipe 3 are disposed outside the casing 2, respectively. The refrigerant from the refrigerant introduction pipe 4a is branched at the branching portion 3a into the cooling ducts 3, flows through the cooling ducts 3, cools the members 11 to 16, and thereafter, the refrigerants in the cooling ducts 3 are joined at the joining portion 3b and flow into the refrigerant discharge pipe 4 b.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the members 12 to 14 are disposed above the cooling duct 3, and the lower surfaces of the members 12 to 14 are in contact with the cooling duct 3; the

members

15 and 16 are respectively disposed between the cooling ducts 3, and the side surfaces of the

members

15 and 16 are respectively in contact with the cooling ducts 3; the member 11 is disposed below the cooling duct 3, and the upper surface of the member 11 is in contact with the cooling duct 3. That is, the large components 11 to 14 are disposed above or below the cooling ducts 3, and the

small components

15 and 16 are disposed between the cooling ducts 3. Therefore, the components 11 to 16 can be compactly arranged in the internal space S, and the contact area between the components 11 to 16 and the cooling duct 3 can be increased.

The large components 11 to 14 are, for example, DC/DC converters, reactors, filter capacitors, and smoothing capacitors. The small component 15 is, for example, a power supply module. The power supply module includes an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) and is connected to the control substrate 17. The small components 16 are for example bus bars (bus bars) which enable electrical connection between the components.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the cooling duct 3. As shown in fig. 3, the cooling duct 3 is configured as a square tube having a quadrangular cross section, and has an upper wall 31, a lower wall 32, a side wall 33 (one side wall), and a side wall 34 (the other side wall). A refrigerant passage P through which refrigerant flows is surrounded by the upper wall 31, the lower wall 32, the side wall 33, and the side wall 34.

A plurality of fins 311 extending linearly downward toward the lower wall 32 are formed on the upper wall 31, the plurality of fins 311 are arranged at intervals in the lateral direction (Y direction), and the tip end of each fin 311 is positioned in the vicinity of the lower wall 32. The lower wall 32 is formed with a plurality of fins 321 extending linearly upward toward the upper wall 31, the plurality of fins 321 being arranged at intervals in the lateral direction, and the tip of each fin 321 being located in the vicinity of the upper wall 31. The side wall 33 is formed with a plurality of fins 331 extending linearly in the lateral direction toward the side wall 34, the plurality of fins 331 are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction (Z direction), and the tip of each fin 331 is located near the side wall 34. A plurality of fins 341 linearly extending in the lateral direction toward the side wall 33 are formed on the side wall 34, the plurality of fins 341 are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction, and the tip of each fin 341 is located near the side wall 33.

The plurality of fins 311 and the plurality of fins 321 are alternately arranged at laterally shifted positions. The plurality of fins 331 and the plurality of fins 341 are alternately arranged at positions shifted in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the refrigerant passages P are in a mesh shape when viewed from the extending direction of the cooling duct 3 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of fig. 3). The

fins

311, 321, 331, and 341 are provided to increase the contact area of the cooling pipe 3 with the refrigerant and promote turbulence of the refrigerant to improve the heat exchange efficiency of the refrigerant. The

fins

311, 321, 331, and 341 are disposed at different positions in the extending direction of the cooling duct 3, and thus do not interfere with each other.

The cooling duct 3 includes a joining portion 35a joining the upper wall 31 and the side wall 33, a joining portion 35b joining the side wall 33 and the lower wall 32, a joining portion 35c joining the lower wall 32 and the side wall 34, and a joining portion 35d joining the side wall 34 and the upper wall 31. That is, the upper wall 31, the side wall 33, the lower wall 32, and the side wall 34 are joined by the joining portions 35a to 35d, thereby forming the cooling pipe 3 having the refrigerant passage P.

Specifically, the coupling portion 35a couples one end portion of the upper wall 31 in the lateral direction with the upper end portion of the side wall 33; the joining portion 35b joins the lower end portion of the side wall 33 with one end portion in the lateral direction of the lower wall 32; the coupling portion 35c couples the other end portion in the lateral direction of the lower wall 32 with the lower end portion of the side wall 34; the coupling portion 35d couples the upper end portion of the side wall 34 with the other end portion of the upper wall 31 in the lateral direction.

< Effect >

In the present embodiment, as described above, the cooling pipe 3 is configured such that the fins 311 are formed on the upper wall 31, the fins 321 are formed on the lower wall 32, the fins 331 are formed on the side walls 33, and the fins 341 are formed on the side walls 34, and the refrigerant passages P are formed in a mesh shape when viewed in the extending direction of the cooling pipe 3. This increases the contact area of cooling pipe 3 with the refrigerant, and promotes turbulence of the refrigerant, thereby improving cooling efficiency, and contributing to higher output and smaller size of PCU 100.

Moreover, since heat exchange can be performed by the four wall surfaces (the upper wall 31, the lower wall 32, the side walls 33, and the side walls 34), the plurality of members 11 to 16 can be cooled. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated cooling member for each component, and it is possible to achieve downsizing of PCU100 and improve the degree of freedom of component arrangement and component cooling system. Further, since the four wall surfaces are similar in shape, the rigidity of the cooling duct 3 in the circumferential direction can be made uniform.

In the present embodiment, the upper wall 31 and the side wall 33 are joined by the joining portion 35a, the side wall 33 and the lower wall 32 are joined by the joining portion 35b, the lower wall 32 and the side wall 34 are joined by the joining portion 35c, and the side wall 34 and the upper wall 31 are joined by the joining portion 35d, so that the mesh-like refrigerant passages P can be easily configured.

In the present embodiment, the distance is provided between the tip of the tab 311 of the upper wall 31 and the lower wall 32, the distance is provided between the tip of the tab 321 of the lower wall 32 and the upper wall 31, the distance is provided between the tip of the tab 331 of the side wall 33 and the side wall 34, and the distance is provided between the tip of the tab 341 of the side wall 34 and the side wall 33, so that the allowable range of dimensional tolerance can be expanded.

< other embodiments >

The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the aspects of the present invention, and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. That is, the technical scope of the present invention is defined not only by the description of the above embodiments but also by the description of the claims of the present invention. Further, the technical scope of the present invention includes all modifications within the meaning and range equivalent to the scope of the claims.

For example, in the above embodiment, the example in which the front end of the tab 311 of the upper wall 31 is spaced from the lower wall 32 is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the front end of the tab of the upper wall may be in contact with the lower wall. The same applies to the lower wall fins and the side wall fins.

In the above embodiment, the

fins

311, 321, 331, and 341 may be spaced apart from each other in the extending direction of the cooling duct 3, or may be in contact with each other in the extending direction of the cooling duct 3. In addition, the

fins

311, 321, 331, and 341 may be arranged in any order or may be repeatedly arranged in a predetermined order in the extending direction of the cooling duct 3.

Claims

1. A power conversion device including a power conversion circuit for controlling a vehicle-running motor, the power conversion circuit including a member that generates heat during operation, and a casing that houses the power conversion circuit, the casing being provided with a cooling duct for cooling the member, the power conversion device being characterized in that:

the cooling duct is configured as a rectangular tube extending linearly, having an upper wall, a lower wall, and two side walls,

a plurality of fins are formed on the upper wall to extend toward the lower wall,

a plurality of fins are formed on the lower wall extending toward the upper wall,

a plurality of fins are formed on one of the two side walls to extend toward the other of the two side walls,

a plurality of fins extending toward the one side wall are formed on the other side wall.

2. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:

a plurality of the cooling ducts are provided, and the plurality of cooling ducts extend in the same direction and are arranged at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction.

3. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

the cooling duct has a joining portion that joins the upper wall and the one side wall, a joining portion that joins the one side wall and the lower wall, a joining portion that joins the lower wall and the other side wall, and a joining portion that joins the other side wall and the upper wall.

4. The power conversion apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that:

the plurality of fins formed on the upper wall, the plurality of fins formed on the lower wall, the plurality of fins formed on the one side wall, and the plurality of fins formed on the other side wall are arranged at intervals in the extending direction of the cooling duct.