JP2003336953A - Control device for motor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent semiconductor elements from being heated beyond a heat resisting temperature by efficiently cooling the elements in a hot atmosphere. <P>SOLUTION: A cooling passage for passing refrigerant is provided in a radiating body 4 formed of a conductor having the semiconductor elements 6 installed on the surface thereof so that the refrigerant can be fed from a refrigerant supply source into the cooling passage. A cooling plate 2 formed of a conductor is installed in the radiating body 4 in fitted state, and a cooling passage for flowing cooling water is provided in the cooling plate 2 so that the cooling water can be fed from a cooling water supply source into the cooling passage. At least either of the refrigerant supply source and the cooling water supply source is operated to cool at least either of the radiating body 4 and the cooling plate 2 so as to efficiently cool the semiconductor elements 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device for an electric motor, and more particularly to a control device for an electric motor used for a drive system of an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, an air conditioning system, or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various electric motors are used in drive systems, air conditioning systems, etc. of electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, etc., and various inverter control devices (hereinafter referred to as "control devices") are used to control the drive thereof. It is used. In recent years, AC motors (for example, induction motors, permanent magnet motors, reluctance motors, etc.) are becoming mainstream because of the development of downsized and inexpensive control devices.

AC motors used in drive systems of electric vehicles, air conditioning systems, etc. are often used at high currents.
Therefore, it is necessary to suppress the temperature rise of semiconductor elements (hereinafter referred to as “semiconductor elements”) such as FET transistors of the control device and prevent them from exceeding the heat resistant temperature (85 to 125 ° C.).

As a means for suppressing the temperature rise of a semiconductor element, conventionally, the semiconductor element is attached to a heat radiator made of aluminum,
A method of suppressing a temperature rise of a semiconductor element by radiating heat via a radiator is adopted.

[0005]

However, when the control device having the above-mentioned configuration is provided in the engine room in a high temperature atmosphere, the temperature rise of the semiconductor element can be sufficiently suppressed only by the heat radiation by the radiator. If this is not possible, the semiconductor element will exceed the heat resistant temperature, causing failure and malfunction.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and the semiconductor element can be efficiently cooled even when it is provided in an engine room in a high temperature atmosphere. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control device for an electric motor, which can prevent them from exceeding a heat-resistant temperature and can stably control the driving of an electric motor such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

[0007]

The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems. That is, the invention according to claim 1 is a control device for an electric motor, which has a radiator made of a conductor provided in a state where a semiconductor element is in close contact with a surface thereof, wherein a cooling path for circulating a refrigerant is provided inside the radiator. It is characterized by that. According to the electric motor control device of the present invention, the coolant circulates in the cooling passage of the radiator, so that the radiator is cooled and the semiconductor element is also cooled through the radiator.

The invention according to claim 2 is the control device for an electric motor according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant is a refrigerant circulating in a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner driven by the electric motor. To do. According to the electric motor control device of the present invention, by driving the air conditioner, the refrigerant circulates in the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner, and the refrigerant is guided to the cooling path of the radiator and circulates in the cooling path. The semiconductor element is cooled via the heat radiator.

The invention according to claim 3 is the control device for the electric motor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a cooling plate made of a conductor is provided in close contact with the radiator, and cooling is provided inside the cooling plate. It is characterized in that a cooling passage for circulating water is provided.
According to the control device for an electric motor of the present invention, the coolant flows through the cooling passage of the radiator, so that the semiconductor element is cooled through the radiator and the cooling water flows through the cooling passage of the cooling plate. As a result, the cooling plate is cooled, and the radiator and the semiconductor element are cooled via the cooling plate.

The invention according to claim 4 is the control device for an electric motor according to claim 3, wherein the cooling water is circulated in a cooling water circuit of a cooling water circulation device provided separately from the air conditioner. Is characterized in that. According to the electric motor control device of the present invention, the cooling water circulating in the cooling water circuit of the cooling water circulation device is guided to the cooling passage of the cooling plate and circulates in the cooling passage to cool the cooling plate. .

The invention according to claim 5 is the control device for an electric motor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the radiator is provided inside a casing. According to the motor control device of the present invention, by cooling the heat radiator with the refrigerant, the semiconductor element is cooled via the heat radiator and the inside of the housing is cooled.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electric motor control device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein a cooling circuit for cooling the regenerator material with the refrigerant is provided, and the regenerator material cooled by the cooling circuit is provided. It is characterized in that the cooling water is cooled by the above. According to the electric motor control device of the present invention, the regenerator material is cooled by the cooling circuit, the cooling water is cooled by the regenerator material, and the cooling water is guided to the cooling passage of the cooling plate and circulates in the cooling passage. As a result, the cooling plate is cooled.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described below. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an electric motor control device according to the present invention. The electric motor control device 1 is a so-called inverter control device, and includes a cooling plate 2 and an upper part of the cooling plate 2. A radiator 4 provided, a semiconductor element 6 (hereinafter referred to as “semiconductor element”) such as a FET transistor provided on the surface of the radiator 4, a radiator 7 and a housing 7 for housing the semiconductor element 6, and a housing. 7, a control board (not shown) and the like provided inside 7.

The cooling plate 2 has a plate-like shape made of a conductor such as aluminum or copper, and is provided with a cooling passage (not shown) for circulating cooling water therein. Both ends of the cooling passage are open to the end surface of the cooling plate 2, and the water cooling pipes 3 are connected to both openings.

The water cooling pipe 3 is connected to a cooling water circulation circuit of a cooling water circulation device (not shown), and a part of the cooling water flowing through the cooling water circulation circuit is passed through the water cooling pipe 3 to cool the cooling plate 2 through the cooling passage. Is introduced into the cooling passage.
When the cooling water flows through the cooling passage, heat is exchanged between the cooling water and the cooling plate 2, so that the cooling plate 2 and the radiator 4 described later are cooled.

The cooling water is provided with a cooling circuit (not shown) for cooling a regenerator material (not shown) with a refrigerant circulating in a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner (not shown), and the cold storage cooled by this cooling circuit. The material may be cooled. And by providing such a cooling circuit,
The cooling plate 2 can be cooled more efficiently.

The radiator 4 has a prismatic shape made of a conductor such as aluminum or copper, and is integrally provided on the cooling plate 2 by means such as screwing or welding. In this embodiment, a pair of radiators 4 and 4 are provided on the cooling plate 2.

A cooling path (not shown) for circulating a refrigerant is provided inside each heat radiator 4, and both ends of this cooling path are open to the end face of the heat radiator 4, and both openings are for refrigerant. Tube 5,
5 are connected to each other.

The refrigerant pipe 5 is connected to the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner, and a part of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit is part of the refrigerant pipe 5.
It is guided to the cooling path of the radiator 4 via the and is circulated in the cooling path. Then, when the refrigerant flows through the cooling passage, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and the radiator 4, and the radiator 4 and the semiconductor element 6 described later are cooled.

A plurality of semiconductor elements 6 are integrally provided on both side surfaces of each radiator 4 at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction by means such as screwing, and the terminals of each semiconductor element 6 are control boards (not shown). No)).

A box-shaped housing 7 is integrally attached to the upper part of the cooling plate 2, and a closed space is formed in the upper part of the cooling plate 2 by the housing 7, and the radiator 4 and the surface thereof are formed in this space. The components such as the semiconductor element 6 and the control board are housed.

Then, the control device 1 configured as described above.
Is installed in the engine room of an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, etc., the input unit (not shown) is connected to the power supply side, and the output unit (not shown) is connected to, for example, the electric motor side of the air conditioner, It is possible to control the drive of the electric motor of the harmony device.

In the electric motor control apparatus 1 according to this embodiment configured as described above, when the electric motor of the air conditioner is driven, the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner is cooled by the cooling passage of the radiator 4. When the semiconductor element 6 is cooled through the heat radiator 4, the inside of the housing 7 can be cooled through the heat radiator 4. Therefore, the semiconductor device 6
It is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the above, and it is also possible to cool the other electronic components, the control board, etc. provided inside the housing 7.

Further, the cooling water circulating device is driven to guide the cooling water circulating in the cooling water circuit to the cooling passage of the cooling plate 2 so as to circulate in the cooling passage, so that the radiator 4 is passed through the cooling plate 2. Also, the semiconductor element 6 can be cooled, and the inside of the housing 7 can be cooled.
Therefore, the temperature rise of the semiconductor element 6 can be suppressed, and other electronic components, control board, etc. provided inside the housing 7 can be cooled.

Therefore, for example, when the engine of an electric vehicle or the like is under a low load (running at a low speed), the radiator 4 is cooled by the refrigerant from the air conditioner,
Alternatively, by cooling the cooling plate 2 with the cooling water from the cooling water circulation device, it is possible to efficiently suppress the temperature rise of the components such as the semiconductor element 6 of the control device 1, and to stably control the driving of the electric motor. You can

Further, when the engine of the electric vehicle is in a high load state (high speed running), the control device 1 is exposed to the high temperature atmosphere in the engine room, so that the refrigerant from the air conditioner is used. By cooling the radiator 4 with the cooling water and the cooling plate 2 with the cooling water from the cooling water circulation device, the semiconductor element 6 of the control device 1 is cooled.
It is possible to efficiently suppress the temperature rise of components such as
The drive of the electric motor can be stably controlled.

Further, when the engine of the electric vehicle is suddenly stopped from the high load state, the cooling plate 2 is cooled by the cooling water from the cooling water circulation device, so that the control device 1
The temperature rise of the components such as the semiconductor element 6 can be efficiently suppressed, and the driving of the electric motor can be stably controlled.

[0028]

As described above, according to the motor control device of the first aspect of the present invention, the cooling medium is circulated in the cooling passage of the heat radiator, so that the semiconductor element is interposed through the heat radiator. Will be able to be cooled. Therefore, since the temperature rise of the semiconductor element can be efficiently suppressed, the temperature of the semiconductor element does not rise above the heat resistant temperature, and it is possible to prevent the failure or malfunction of the semiconductor element due to the temperature rise of the semiconductor element. It is possible to stably control the driving of the.

Further, according to the motor control device of the second aspect, since the refrigerant for cooling the radiator is the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner, it is necessary to newly supply the refrigerant to the radiator. It is not necessary to provide such a device, and it is effective for an electric vehicle or the like that requires downsizing, weight reduction, and cost reduction.

Further, according to the electric motor control device of the third aspect, the cooling plate is cooled by circulating the cooling water in the cooling passage of the cooling plate, and the radiator and The semiconductor element on the surface of the radiator is cooled. Therefore, it is possible to select and use one of the methods of cooling the semiconductor element with the radiator, cooling the semiconductor element with the cooling plate, or cooling the semiconductor element with the radiator and the cooling plate. When used, it is possible to efficiently suppress the temperature rise of the semiconductor element under all conditions by properly using them according to the load state of the electric motor of the electric vehicle, and the failure or malfunction due to the temperature rise of the semiconductor element Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of such problems and to stably control the driving of the electric motor.

Further, according to the electric motor controller of the present invention, the cooling water is the cooling water circulating in the cooling water circuit of the cooling water circulating device provided separately from the air conditioner.
Even when the air conditioner is stopped, the radiator and the semiconductor element can be cooled through the cooling plate by driving the cooling water circulation device. Therefore,
Since the temperature rise of the semiconductor element can be efficiently suppressed, the temperature of the semiconductor element does not rise above the heat-resistant temperature, and failure or malfunction does not occur due to the temperature rise of the semiconductor element. It will be possible to control stably.

Further, according to the motor control device of the fifth aspect, the inside of the casing can be cooled by cooling the radiator, so that the components provided inside the casing can be efficiently used. It will be able to cool well.

Further, according to the motor control device of the sixth aspect, the cooling water can be cooled by the regenerator material cooled by the cooling circuit. In this case, the regenerator material is an air conditioner for circulating a refrigerant. Since it will be cooled in a part of the refrigerant circulation circuit of, the temperature rise of the semiconductor element can be efficiently suppressed, the semiconductor element does not rise above the heat resistant temperature, It is possible to stably control the driving of the electric motor without causing a failure or malfunction due to the temperature rise.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a motor control device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 control device 2 cooling plate 3 cooling tubes 4 radiator 5 Refrigerant tubes 6 Semiconductor element 7 housing

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A control device for an electric motor having a radiator made of a conductor having a semiconductor element provided on the surface thereof, wherein a cooling passage for circulating a refrigerant is provided inside the radiator. apparatus. 2. The electric motor control device according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant is a refrigerant circulating in a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner driven by the electric motor. 3. The motor control device according to claim 1, wherein the radiator is provided with a cooling plate made of a conductor in close contact with the radiator, and a cooling passage for circulating cooling water inside the cooling plate. An electric motor control device comprising: 4. The electric motor control device according to claim 3, wherein the cooling water is cooling water circulating in a cooling water circuit of a cooling water circulation device provided separately from the air conditioner. Control device for electric motor. 5. The motor control device according to claim 1, wherein the radiator is provided inside a housing. 6. The electric motor control device according to claim 1, further comprising a cooling circuit for cooling the regenerator material with the refrigerant, wherein the cooling water is cooled with the regenerator material cooled by the cooling circuit. A control device for an electric motor, which is configured to