EP2070401A1

EP2070401A1 - Switched mode power supply

Info

Publication number: EP2070401A1
Application number: EP07787313A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bernhard Eichhorner; Harald Schweigert
Original assignee: Siemens AG Oesterreich
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 2006-10-04
Filing date: 2007-07-10
Publication date: 2009-06-17
Also published as: US8106567B2; CN101524010B; KR20090086398A; JP2010505375A; US20100038994A1; WO2008040578A1; JP4878388B2; RU2400951C1; CN101524010A

Abstract

The invention relates to a switched mode power supply with a transformer (1), which comprises at least one primary winding, which can be connected to a DC voltage via a switching element (4) and which comprises at least one secondary winding, which can be connected to a load via a rectifier circuit comprising at least one diode (2), wherein the switched mode power supply comprises at least one piezoelectric fan (8), which brings about an air flow at the transformer (1) and/or at the switching element (4) and/or at the diode (2). The air flow produced can be guided in a targeted manner onto the components to be cooled, with the air throughflow in total remaining low and therefore also no contamination by means of air particles arising.

Description

Switching Power Supply

description

The invention relates to a switching power supply with a transformer, which comprises at least one primary winding which is connectable via a switching element to a DC voltage and which comprises at least one secondary winding which is connectable via a least one diode comprehensive rectifier circuit to a load.

Switching power supplies are known in various forms and serve to connect electrical loads to a power grid or to a power source. For example, a distinction is made between switched-mode power supplies which operate as flyback converters, as push-pull converters or as flux converters, etc. Electrical energy is transferred from a primary side to a secondary side via a transformer. In this case, the voltage applied on the primary side is clocked by means of a switching element, wherein the clock frequency is a multiple of the

Mains frequency corresponds. Due to the high clock frequency of the transformer can be designed to be correspondingly small.

It should be noted that heat is generated in the components of a switching power supply, which must be dissipated by suitable means, so that the temperatures of individual components does not reach a critical value. In addition, the power transferable with a switching power supply depends on the temperature of individual components.

In particular, the heat generation in the transformer, in the switching element and in the secondary-side rectifier diode is to be observed.

The prior art knows different

Methods to heat the resulting in a switching power supply derive. In this case, the energy to be expended for operating any intended cooling devices is to be observed.

For example, US 2003/0107907 describes a switching power supply that uses the parasitic energy of the switching element to drive a fan.

However, the known use of fans to increase the cooling air flow rate in housings of switched mode power supplies has the disadvantage that the components arranged in the housing quickly become contaminated by various particles in the air. This can affect the functionality, which is why a dust filter is usually arranged at the ventilation inlet of the housing. However, this leads to increased maintenance, since these dust filters must be replaced regularly.

According to the state of the art, switching-mode power supplies usually use natural air convection for cooling. In this case, ventilation openings are arranged in the switching power supply housing, escape through the heated air up and fresh air can flow from below. The arrangement of the heat-generating components within the housing usually depends on the prevailing flow conditions. In JP 2001 095 233, for example, the arrangement of several converter modules is described within a switching power supply unit housing. The higher power converter modules are better cooled by this arrangement than the lower power converter modules.

In addition, heat sinks may be arranged which are thermally connected to components to be cooled and deliver heat to the environment. For example, JP 2005 033 088 describes the arrangement of cooling fins that protrude from a housing, thus dissipating heat from switching power supply components to the environment. Other known measures for cooling of switching power supplies relate to the design of individual heat-generating components. Thus, US 2004/0080393 discloses a ring transformer for use in switching power supplies, in which the winding material is arranged favorably for heat dissipation.

Also in JP 2006041314 Al a special expression of the winding material for transformers in a switching power supply is described. Here is the secondary winding of

Transformers designed as a heat pipe, which is to be achieved even at low convection good heat dissipation. In this case, however, the design effort and the restriction in the design of the transformer must be observed.

The invention has for its object to provide a solution for cooling power generating components for switching power supplies, the design effort, the maintenance and energy consumption should be low and with no pollution due to excessive cooling air flow.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a switching power supply of the type mentioned, wherein the

Switching power supply comprises at least one piezoelectric fan, which causes an air flow at the transformer and / or on the switching element and / or on the diode.

The advantage of a piezo fan for use in a switched-mode power supply lies in the mode of operation; The generated air flow is directed to the components to be cooled, the air flow remains low overall and thus no pollution caused by dirt particles in the air. In addition, a piezo fan consumes only very little energy, whereby the effect on the efficiency of the switching power supply is negligible. In contrast to a fan, there are no life-limiting bearings in a piezo fan and also no need for air filters, which is why a switching power supply according to the invention is essentially maintenance-free. The simple design of a piezo fan also allows a simple structural arrangement within a switching power supply.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a microcontroller is provided for driving the switching element and the at least one piezoelectric fan. This microcontroller can then be used in a simple manner to implement various control requirements.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the at least one piezoelectric fan is formed from a substantially strip-shaped wing, wherein one end of the wing is arranged freely oscillating and a second end of the wing is held in a holder and wherein the wing electrically conductive one

Control unit is connected. Such piezo fans are already available in reliable quality on the market and can be mounted in a simple manner.

It is also advantageous if the switching power supply comprises an even number of piezo fans, which are arranged in such a way that cancel the inertial forces of the free-swinging ends of the wings at the same synchronous excitation of the wings. The design requirements for the attachment of a piezo fan within a

Switching power supply are thus further reduced, since the necessary body to prevent vibration body mass of the holder with an odd number of vanes.

It is also advantageous if the holder of the at least one piezoelectric fan is rigidly connected to the transformer. Thus, on the one hand, the mass of the transformer to Avoiding vibration used and on the other hand, the air flow passed directly to the transformer as one of the predominantly heat-critical components.

In the same way, it is advantageous to rigidly connect the holder of the at least one piezoelectric fan with a heat sink arranged in the switched-mode power supply. In this embodiment, the heat sink serves as a counterweight for the piezo fan and is cooled directly by the generated air flow. Likewise, the circuit elements which are in thermal contact with the heat sink are cooled.

For a method for operating a switching power supply according to the invention, it is advantageous if the at least one piezoelectric fan is set into oscillation by means of a drive signal having a predetermined excitation frequency. In this way it is ensured that the air flow generated by the piezo fan is always adaptable to the thermal conditions in the switching power supply.

It is advantageous if the drive signal is formed by means of microcontroller. Switched-mode power supplies usually have a programmable microcontroller which can be used without additional hardware expenditure for generating a suitable drive signal of the piezoelectric fan.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if a sinusoidal signal is generated as a drive signal. Due to its function as a control unit for the switched-mode power supply, with the requirement of a sinusoidal current drain, the microcontroller of a switched-mode power supply is particularly suitable for generating sinusoidal signals, e.g. using D / AWandler or as a smoothed or filtered PWM signal. The mechanical vibration form of the wing is essentially sinusoidal, which is why a sinusoidal

Control signal the mechanical stress of the wing keeps low. Switching power supplies are therefore particularly suitable for the use of piezo fans.

An advantageous embodiment of the method also provides that the power consumption of the at least one piezoelectric fan is detected as a function of the excitation frequency by means of microcontrollers, so that a resonance frequency is detected at maximum power consumption. Since the resonance frequency for each individual piezo fan can vary slightly, this method ensures that the resonance frequency of the piezo fan installed in the switched-mode power supply is available as a control variable.

It is advantageous if during operation by stepwise variation of the excitation frequency due to environmental influences such. the ambient temperature changing resonant frequency is reset at predetermined intervals and that when commissioning the switching power supply, the last set resonant frequency is specified as the excitation frequency. The default

Time intervals for adjusting the resonance frequency can be very short, so that the piezo fan is constantly operated with changing maximum environmental conditions under changing environmental conditions.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the microcontroller for predetermined excitation frequencies and associated tolerance values (to take into account changed environmental conditions) those power values are programmed, which are detected at undamaged, free-swinging wing of the at least one piezoelectric fan and that during operation, the frequency of the control signal is changed at predetermined intervals, so that changed resonance frequencies are detected. This is immediately recognized in the microcontroller when the

Resonance frequency of the piezo fan changes beyond the tolerance limits, which is usually due to a crack of the wing or due to foreign body contact. There are thus created the conditions to turn off the switching power supply in critical condition of the piezoelectric fan before components of the switching power supply damage and the event can be signaled to a maintenance or operating personnel.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In a schematic representation:

Fig. 1 arrangement of switching power supply elements with respect to a piezoelectric fan. 8

Fig. 2 Arrangement of a piezoelectric fan 8 on a heat sink 5a Fig. 3 Arrangement of a piezoelectric fan 8 to a transformer. 1

Fig. 4 view A to the arrangement shown in Figure 3

Fig. 5 bobbin 12 according to the arrangement shown in Figure 3 Fig. 6 first alternative arrangement of a piezoelectric fan 8 to a transformer. 1

Fig. 7 bobbin 12a according to the arrangement shown in Figure 6

8 second alternative arrangement of a piezoelectric fan 8 to a transformer. 1

Fig. 9 bobbin 12b according to the arrangement shown in Figure 8

FIG. 10 Arrangement of two piezo fans 8 on a block-shaped heat sink 18 FIG. 11 Transformer 1 with a plurality of piezo fans 8

In Figure 1, the spatial arrangement of the heat generating elements of a switching power supply is shown greatly simplified. On a circuit carrier 7, a transformer 1, a primary-side switching element 4, a capacitor 3 (eg, an electrolytic capacitor) and a secondary-side diode 2 are arranged. The secondary-side diode 2 is thermally connected to a first heat sink 5 and the primary side

Switching element 4 is coupled to a second heat sink 6. The first heat sink 5 additionally serves as a receptacle for the holder 9 of a piezoelectric fan 8.

The vane 10 of the piezoelectric fan 8 has with its freely oscillating end in the direction of transformer 1. The transformer 1 is thus in the main flow direction of the air flow generated by the piezoelectric fan 8. Since the piezoelectric fan 8 generates a widely scattering air flow, the elements arranged laterally of the piezoelectric fan 8 are also ventilated and thus cooled.

When designing the housing of the switched-mode power supply, not shown, it must be ensured that the desired air flow can be established by means of a suitable arrangement of ventilation slots for the supply and exhaust air.

The supply voltage for the piezo fan is, for example, derived directly from the output voltage, if the potential position on the secondary side does not represent an insulation problem. Alternatively, provision should be made by means of a primary auxiliary supply.

To generate the excitation signal is either a separate circuit, for example, provided on an integrating into the holder 9 circuit carrier or

Excitation signal is generated by microcontroller. In general, the switching power supply has a suitable microcontroller for controlling the primary-side switching element 4. It is important to ensure that the wing 10 is operated within the elastic limit to avoid material fatigue. The use of the microcontroller has the advantage that a sinusoidal excitation signal can be generated in a simple manner (for example by means of a D / A converter or as a smoothed PWM signal), whereby the mechanical load of the piezo-buffer 8 is reduced compared to an example trapezoidal excitation signal. Thus, the life of the piezo-blower 8 is increased. The noise is also lower with sinusoidal excitation. The control by microcontroller also allows the storage of the slightly varying for each piezoelectric 8 resonant frequency. This is determined for example for each device in such a way that the piezoelectric fan is operated over a predetermined frequency range and then the frequency with the highest power consumption is stored as the resonance frequency.

Even during regular operation, the resonant frequency can then be determined at predetermined time intervals in this manner and compared with the stored value. A change in the resonant frequency over predetermined

Tolerance limits (to account for small changes due to changed environmental conditions) indicate a disturbance, such as a crack in the wing 10 or a foreign body collision. The switching power supply can then be switched off automatically and the error corrected.

Alternatively, a separate circuit for generating the excitation signal may be integrated in the piezo fan, but as a rule a trapezoidal signal is provided.

Figure 2 shows a trained as an angle profile Kuhlelement 5a. With an angle leg, the Kuhlelement 5a is attached to the circuit carrier, not shown. Thermally coupled to the second, orthogonal away from the circuit carrier angle leg is for example the diode 2 at. This angle leg also has a rectangular opening into which the piezo fan 8 in the Way is used, that the wing 10 largely fills the breakthrough and has the free-swinging end of the blade 10 in the direction of the diode 2. In this arrangement, the diode 2 and the region of the heat sink 5 a directly in contact with it are ventilated directly by the piezo fan and thus cooled. In the same way, an embodiment of the switching element 4 or a combined arrangement is possible.

In order to avoid vibrations caused by the piezoelectric fan 8 in the case of a heat sink 5 a, an optional stiffening 11 is provided on the front side.

FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of a piezo fan 8 on a transformer 1. The transformer 1 consists of a bobbin 12, windings 13 - usually a primary winding and a secondary winding - and a mostly three-legged core 14. The bobbin 12 is for example an injection molded part made of plastic as shown in Figure 5. The essentially spindle-shaped

Bobbin 12 for wrapping the windings is formed of a hollow square tube with rectangular flanges on the end faces. In the cavity of the square tube, the middle leg of the core 14 is arranged, whereas the two outer legs of the core 14 rest laterally on the bobbin 12.

On the rectangular flanges of the bobbin 12 also two extensions are arranged, which point on the exposed side of the composite transformer 1 of the windings 13 away. These extensions are slightly longer than a provided for cooling the transformer 1 piezoelectric fan 8 and are used to attach a bridge-shaped element 11 for receiving the holder 9 of the piezoelectric fan 8. The connection of the bridge-shaped element 11 with the two extensions can thereby with at the end faces of Fortsätze arranged plastic rivets 15 or by means Screw connections take place. The piezoelectric fan 8 is then arranged parallel to the projections in the middle of the free space formed by the extensions, the bridge-shaped element 11 and the windings 13, wherein the free-swinging end of the blade 10 points in the direction of the windings 13. In Figure 4, the bridge-shaped element 11 are shown with the attached piezoelectric fan 8 in a drawn in Figure 3 view direction A.

The windings 13, in which most of the heat generated within the transformer 1 are ventilated directly by means of piezoelectric fan in this arrangement, so that an efficient cooling of the transformer 1 is given.

Another embodiment of an attachment of the piezoelectric fan 8 to the transformer 1 is shown in FIG. In this case, a coil body 12a designed as an injection molded part, as shown in FIG. 7, is provided. On a flange of the bobbin 12a an angled extension is arranged, which has a rectangular opening for receiving the piezoelectric fan 8 and is angled at its end again, so that with this end a support on the circuit carrier 1 not shown here is given. The extension of the bobbin 12a thus essentially forms a bridge pointing away from the transformer, wherein further circuit elements to be cooled can be arranged in the free space under this bridge on the circuit carrier.

The piezoelectric fan 8 is arranged in such a way that the wing 10 largely fills the rectangular opening of the extension, with the freely oscillating end of the wing 10 pointing in the direction of windings 13. It is important to ensure that in the assembled state, a distance between the free-swinging wing end and the windings 13 surrounding core 14 is present. In this embodiment, in addition to the windings 13 and the core 14 is mitgekühlt amplified. The additional support of the Fortsatzes on the circuit board prevents it in conjunction with the stabilizing mass of the transformer 1 disturbing vibrations due to the piezoelectric oscillations. In addition, the cooling effect is not limited to the transformer 1, but also aims at other in the region of the piezoelectric fan 8 can be arranged circuit elements.

Another embodiment of an attachment of the piezoelectric fan 8 to the transformer 1 is shown in FIG. The arrangement corresponds essentially to that illustrated in FIG. 5 with the difference that the extension of the bobbin 12b, as shown in FIG. 9, has no fold for support on the circuit carrier 7. By such a shaped extension obstructions when winding the windings 13 on the bobbin 12b are avoided. In order nevertheless to ensure sufficient stability, the end of the extension is connected to the circuit carrier 7 by means of a support element 16. Under the extension thus again a free space is available, which is available for the arrangement of further circuit elements to be cooled.

The support member 16 is connected for example in a simple manner by means of plastic clips 17 to the circuit carrier.

To minimize vibrations, a fastening variant of two piezo fans 8, shown in FIG. 10, is provided. On a fastening element 18, which may also be designed as a cooling element, two piezoelectric fans 8 are arranged laterally in such a way that the

Inertial forces of the two oscillating wings 10 cancel in the opposite excitation. The free ends of the two wings 10 thus move synchronously to each other and away from each other during a swing cycle.

With strong heat development of the transformer 1, the arrangement of multiple piezoelectric fan 8 makes sense. These are like in Figure 11 shown to be arranged in such a way that the free-swinging ends of the wings 10 are directed to the windings 13 of the transformer 1. In this case, an even number of piezo fans 8 makes sense to minimize vibrations by gegengleiches swinging the wings 10.

Claims

claims

1. Switching power supply with a transformer (1), which comprises at least one primary winding which is connectable via a switching element (4) to a DC voltage and which comprises at least one secondary winding, which comprises a least one diode (2) comprehensive rectifier circuit to a load is connectable, characterized in that the switching power supply comprises at least one piezoelectric fan (8), which has a

Air flow to the transformer (1) and / or on the switching element (4) and / or on the diode (2) causes.

2. Switching power supply according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching element and the at least one piezoelectric fan is controlled by means of a microcontroller.

3. Switching power supply according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one piezoelectric fan (8) in the manner of a substantially strip-shaped wing (10) is formed, that one end of the wing is arranged swinging freely and a second end of the wing is held in a holder (9) and that the wing is electrically conductively connected to a drive unit.

4. Switching power supply according to claim 3, characterized in that the switching power supply comprises an even number of piezo fans (8), which are arranged in such a way that the inertial forces of the freely oscillating ends of the wings (10) in gegengleicher synchronous excitation of the wings ( 10).

5. Switching power supply according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the holder of the at least one Piezo fan (8) is rigidly connected to the transformer (1).

6. Switching power supply according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the holder (9) of the at least one piezoelectric fan (8) is rigidly connected to a switching power supply arranged in the cooling body (5, 5 a).

7. A method for operating a switched mode power supply according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one piezoelectric fan (8) is set in vibration by means of a drive signal with a predetermined excitation frequency.

8. The method according to claim 7 for operating a

Switching power supply according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the drive signal is formed by means of microcontroller.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a sinusoidal signal is generated as a drive signal.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the power consumption of the at least one piezoelectric fan (8) is detected in response to the excitation frequency by means of microcontroller, so that at maximum power consumption, a resonant frequency is detected.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that by stepwise variation of the excitation frequency due to environmental influences such as the ambient temperature changing resonant frequency is reset at predetermined intervals and that when commissioning the switching power supply, the last set resonant frequency is set as the excitation frequency.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the microcontroller for predetermined excitation frequencies and associated tolerance values those power values are programmed, which are detected at undamaged, free-swinging wing (10) of the at least one piezoelectric fan (8) and that during operation the frequency of the drive signal is changed at predetermined time intervals, so that changed resonance frequencies are detected.