JP2008294128A - Liquid-cooled type cooler and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reliable liquid-cooled type cooler that decreases the number of types of components, is mass-produced with simple machining to reduce expenses, for easy manufacturing and managing, and to provide a manufacturing method of the liquid-cooled type cooler. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid-cooled type cooler 10 is composed so that a body 50 to be cooled is cooled by mounting the body 50 to be cooled on one surface of a cooling member 11, where a channel is formed by two separated headers 1, 2 in which a cooling liquid C is circulated and the cooling member 11 having a channel for circulating the cooling liquid C while being arranged between the headers 1, 2. In the liquid-cooled type cooler 10, two rectangular saucer-shaped plates are arranged oppositely for formation in the headers 1, 2, the rectangular saucer-shaped plates comprise junction edges overlapping in both rectangular saucer-shaped plates and cutout sections 1e, 2e for inserting the edges including the channel edge of the cooling member 11 at the outer-periphery edge, and the junction edges and the cutouts 1e, 2e, and the edges are joined. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid cooling type cooler for cooling an object to be cooled and a method for manufacturing the same.

Conventionally, as a liquid cooling type cooler, what was described, for example in patent documents 1 is known. This is a multi-channel pipe (cooling member) having two headers formed in parallel to each other in the cooler body and a plurality of fine water channels arranged between the headers and communicating with the water channels of each header. And a cover plate that covers the upper surface of the multi-channel pipe and forms the outer peripheral surface of the liquid-cooled cooler together with the cooler body. In addition, one end of each header is provided with each piping port for allowing the coolant to flow in or out. And a to-be-cooled body is attached to the outer surface of the lid plate of the liquid-cooled cooler to form a power module, and the heat generated from the to-be-cooled body is cooled by heat exchange with the coolant flowing through the water channel. ing. The coolant flows into the header from the inflow side piping port, passes through the header channel, and is sent to the outflow side header channel through the plurality of fine channels of the multi-channel pipe connected to the header. The heat emitted from the object to be cooled is recovered in the path flowing out from the piping port provided in the header, and the object to be cooled is cooled.
JP-A-2005-274120

  By the way, in such a liquid cooling type cooler, there are several kinds of constituent members such as a cooler main body, a cover plate, a multi-channel pipe and a piping port as described above, and the shape of each member is complicated. In addition, since the process is manufactured through multiple processes such as post-casting cutting and post-extrusion cutting, the production efficiency is never good, and the cost is not low. In addition, management of each member tends to be complicated even during the machining process. In order to increase the production efficiency and reduce the cost of such a liquid-cooled cooler, how to reduce the types of these parts, simplify the mass production, reduce the cost, and make production and management easy. The question was whether to do it.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, reducing the number of components, mass-producing by simple processing, reducing costs, facilitating production and management, and having high reliability. It aims at providing a cold-type cooler and its manufacturing method.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention proposes the following means. That is, according to the present invention, a water channel is formed by two spaced headers through which a coolant flows and a cooling member provided between the headers and provided with a flow path through which the coolant flows. In a liquid-cooled cooler configured to attach a body and cool the object to be cooled, the header is formed by two rectangular dish-shaped plates facing each other, and the rectangular dish-shaped plate is The outer peripheral edge includes a joining edge portion that is overlapped between both rectangular dish-shaped plates, and a notch portion for fitting an end portion including a flow path end of the cooling member. A notch part and the said edge part are joined, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

 According to the liquid-cooled cooler according to the present invention, since the header is formed by two rectangular dish-shaped plates, if the header is formed by forming these rectangular dish-shaped plates as common parts as possible, The number of types of members can be reduced, and production and management can be easily performed. Further, if the rectangular dish-shaped plate is formed by press working or the like, its production becomes simple and mass production is possible at a low cost.

 In the liquid-cooled cooler according to the present invention, the two rectangular dish plates arranged opposite to each other may be formed to be plane-symmetric with respect to the joining position as a symmetry plane. Can be reduced as much as possible. Further, the joining edge portion may be formed of a flange-like rib portion, whereby the joining edge portion is joined over a wide range, and the joining strength and the body strength are enhanced, thereby improving the reliability. Can be made.

 Further, the present invention is a method for manufacturing a liquid-cooled cooler, wherein the joining is performed by interposing a brazing material at least on a surface to be joined and heating the brazing material to braze. These may be performed simultaneously. Thereby, since these joining can be performed collectively in one process, the number of processes is reduced and productivity improves. In addition, an oxide film may be formed in advance on the end surface formed at the end, and thereby, the oxide film may be flown at the end of the flow path of the cooling member by brazing during brazing joining. Can be prevented, and good bonding can be performed.

  According to the liquid-cooled cooler and the manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention, the number of components is reduced, mass production is simplified by simple processing, the cost is reduced, production and management are facilitated, and a highly reliable liquid A cold cooler and a method for manufacturing the same can be provided.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a power element mounting unit including a liquid cooling type cooler according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The power element mounting unit 20 includes a liquid-cooled cooler 10 having a water channel for circulating the coolant C and a ceramic insulating layer (hereinafter referred to as a ceramic insulating layer) joined to one surface of a cooling member 11 provided in the liquid-cooled cooler 10. 52) and a circuit layer 51 bonded to one surface of the insulating layer 52. A power module is formed by bonding a power element 53 such as an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) to one surface of the circuit layer 51. The insulating layer 52, the circuit layer 51, and the power element 53 constitute a cooled object 50 and is cooled by the liquid cooling type cooler 10.

 As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid-cooled cooler 10 is disposed between two headers 1 and 2 that are spaced apart in parallel, and between these headers 1 and 2, and is disposed in parallel in the direction of the arrow D1 in the figure. Two cooling members 11 are provided. The headers 1 and 2 have a flattened rectangular parallelepiped shape, are extended in the direction of arrow D1, and are formed in such a manner that the taper gradually decreases in a plan view as they approach one end in the longitudinal direction. Are provided with piping ports 3 and 4 for allowing the coolant C to flow in or out, respectively. The shape of the cooling member 11 is flat and flat in the direction of the arrow D1 and the direction of the arrow D2 in the figure. Both ends of the cooling member 11 in the direction of arrow D2 are joined and supported by the headers 1 and 2, respectively.

 FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the headers 1 and 2 are formed so that their tips gradually become thicker as they approach one end in the longitudinal direction. The cross-sectional shape of the body portion is formed so as to gradually change from a flat, substantially rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 3 to a substantially cylindrical shape as it approaches the one end side.

 The header 1 is a rectangular dish-shaped plate 1a formed by press-molding an aluminum brazing sheet of a clad material having a brazing material layer on each side of the base material, and the rectangular dish-shaped plate 1a formed of the same material and an arrow. The rectangular dish-shaped plate 1a and the rectangular dish-shaped plate 1b, which are opposed to each other in the direction D3 and have a plane-symmetric shape with respect to the symmetry plane O, are formed in close contact with each other at the position of the symmetry plane O. The outer peripheral edges corresponding to the close contact portions of the rectangular plates 1a and 1b are respectively provided with flange-shaped rib portions 1d, and the rib portions 1d are joined together to form the hollow header 1. ing.

 The header 2 has the same configuration as the header 1 described above. A rectangular dish-shaped plate 2a formed by press-molding the aluminum brazing sheet, and a rectangular dish-shaped plate 2b formed of the same material and disposed opposite to the rectangular dish-shaped plate 2a are in close contact with each other, and joined together. This hollow header 2 is formed by joining flange-shaped rib portions 2d provided on the outer peripheral edges thereof. The headers 1 and 2 thus formed have the same shape and size. That is, the rectangular dish-shaped plate 1a and the rectangular dish-shaped plate 2b, and the rectangular dish-shaped plate 1b and the rectangular dish-shaped plate 2a are formed of the same parts. Then, the rectangular plate-like plates arranged opposite to each other are formed so as to be symmetrical with respect to the joining position as the symmetry plane O.

 Further, two notches 1e and 2e for supporting and joining the two cooling members 11 are formed on the inner portions of the headers 1 and 2 facing each other. These notches 1e and 2e are opened at positions corresponding to the two cooling members 11, and the sizes of the openings are substantially the same as those of the end face 13 described later of the cooling member 11. . These two cooling members 11 are supported by being joined to both headers 1 and 2 by inserting the end face 13 into the notches 1e and 2e, respectively. These cooling members 11 are formed in the same part by cutting extruded products processed by extrusion molding into the same dimensions.

 As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling member 11 is provided with a plurality of fine water channels 12 penetrating the cooling member 11 in the direction of arrow D2. At both ends of the fine water channel 12, end surfaces 13 that form a plane orthogonal to the fine water channel 12 are formed. This end face 13 is previously subjected to wire electric discharge machining, and an oxide film is formed on the surface at the time of machining. As shown in FIG. 2, the fine water channel 12 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape, and is arranged in parallel with each other in the direction of the arrow D <b> 1 in parallel with the same vertical direction of the cross section.

 The pipe port 3 having a substantially cylindrical outer shape is provided with a substantially cylindrical hole 3a for fitting the tip of the header 1 at the end on the header 1 side, and is joined to the tip. Yes. Similarly, the pipe port 4 having a substantially cylindrical outer shape is provided with a substantially cylindrical hole 4a for fitting the tip of the header 2 at the end on the header 2 side. It is joined. These piping port 3 and piping port 4 are also formed of the same parts.

 In addition, header water channels 1c and 2c for circulating the coolant C are formed inside the headers 1 and 2, respectively. The shapes of the header water channels 1c and 2c are substantially the same except for the rib portions 1d and 2d, which are smaller than the headers 1 and 2 that form the outer peripheral surfaces thereof. The water channel forming direction in which the header water channels 1c and 2c extend and the water channel forming direction of the plurality of fine water channels 12 are arranged so as to be substantially vertical in a plan view as shown in FIG. The pipe opening water passages 3c and 4c formed inside the pipe opening 3 and 4 are substantially circular in cross section, and are substantially circular formed at one end of the header water passages 1c and 2c. It has the same dimensions as the cross-section and is connected so that it is smoothly connected. Moreover, the water channel is obstruct | occluded at the edge part of the other side of the longitudinal direction of both said header water channels 1c and 2c, respectively.

 As shown in FIG. 3, the header water passages 1c and 2c are formed in a substantially rectangular shape in which the cross-sectional shape of the header body portion is long in the direction of arrow D2 and short in the direction of arrow D3. The cooling member 11 is joined by fitting the end face 13 into the notches 1e and 2e of the headers 1 and 2, respectively. Here, the end face 13 is disposed so as to constitute one side of the short side of the rectangular cross section of the header water channel 1c, 2c. That is, since these end faces 13 are arranged so as not to protrude into the header water passages 1c, 2c, when the coolant C flows, it is possible to prevent as much as possible from generating a pressure loss at the joint portion. It has become.

 Moreover, although not shown in figure, the said piping port 3 is formed so that the cooling liquid inflow tube which flows in the cooling liquid C and the edge part on the opposite side to the said header 1 side can be connected. The piping port 4 is also formed so as to be able to connect a cooling liquid outflow pipe through which the cooling liquid C flows out and an end opposite to the header 2 side. The external pipe line connecting the cooling liquid inflow pipe and the cooling liquid outflow pipe includes a cooling means for cooling the cooling liquid C and a circulating means such as a pump for circulating the cooling liquid C. Thus, the coolant C is cooled and circulated.

 Then, the coolant C flows into the liquid-cooled cooler 10 from the piping port 3 on the coolant inflow side, passes through the fine water channel 12 provided in a plurality through the header water channel 1c, and passes through the header water channel 2c. Is sent out from the piping port 4 on the coolant outflow side.

 Here, each water channel is set so that the cross-sectional area calculated from the corresponding equivalent diameter is the same from the inflow to the outflow of the coolant C. That is, the cross-sectional area calculated from the equivalent diameter of each of the pipe opening channels 3c and 4C, the cross-sectional area calculated from the corresponding diameter of each part of the header water channels 1c and 2c, and the equivalent diameter of the fine water channel 12 are calculated. The total sum of the cross-sectional areas is set to be equal and constant. That is, the liquid cooling type cooler 10 can minimize the pressure loss of the cooling liquid C resulting from the change in the cross-sectional area calculated from the equivalent diameter in each cross section of the water channel.

Moreover, in the said structure, all the headers 1 and 2, the two cooling members 11, and both the piping ports 3 and 4 are formed by brazing and joining mutually. This joining can be performed simultaneously in one process because both the headers 1 and 2 are formed of an aluminum brazing sheet. The hermeticity and strength were tested by applying an internal pressure and found to be able to withstand an internal pressure of 20 kgf / cm ² at a minimum, and thus can be said to have sufficient strength. Further, the flow path end of the fine water channel 12 formed on the end surface 13 is blocked by brazing from the inner wall portions of the headers 1 and 2 joined so as to sandwich the surfaces formed above and below the flow channel end, respectively. However, since an oxide film is previously formed on the surface by wire electric discharge machining, these brazings are repelled to prevent clogging.

On one surface of the cooling member 11, a plurality of the insulating layers 52 and circuit layers 51 cooled by the liquid-cooled cooler 10 are continuously provided in the directions of the arrows D1 and D2. .
The insulating layer 52 may be formed of any ceramic as long as the required insulating properties, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength are satisfied. For example, the insulating layer 52 is formed of aluminum nitride, silicon nitride, or aluminum oxide. Is done. The circuit layer 51 is a layer made of a conductive material, and is formed of, for example, silver (Ag), gold (Au), copper (Cu), or aluminum (Al) based conductive material. And brazing is used for each joining means of the circuit layer 51, the insulating layer 52, and the cooling member 11. When the power element 53 is provided in the power element mounting unit 20 to form a power module, soldering is used as a joining means with the circuit layer 51. In this embodiment, illustration of these brazing layers and soldering layers is omitted.

 As described above, according to the power element mounting unit 20 including the liquid cooling type cooler 10 according to the present embodiment, the cooling liquid C circulates through the plurality of fine water channels 12 and is disposed on one surface of the cooling member 11. Heat generated from the object 50 to be cooled is recovered.

 The rectangular dish-shaped plate 1a and the rectangular dish-shaped plate 2b, and the rectangular dish-shaped plate 1b and the rectangular dish-shaped plate 2a constituting the headers 1 and 2 are formed into the same part by press molding using the same mold. Therefore, it can be easily mass-produced. The two cooling members 11 are formed into the same component by cutting an extruded product. The piping ports 3 and 4 are also formed of the same parts. Accordingly, the number of types of component members is small and the manufacture is simple, and mass production is possible at a low cost. The management is also easy.

 The headers 1 and 2, the cooling member 11, and the piping ports 3 and 4 are brazed to each other. This joining is performed in one step by forming the headers 1 and 2 with an aluminum brazing sheet. Since the steps are simultaneously performed, the number of steps can be reduced and productivity can be improved while being performed easily and reliably.

 In addition, since the rib portions 1d and 2d are formed in a flange shape, this improves the joint strength and body strength of the edges of both headers 1 and 2 and durability against thermal cycling, and improves the reliability of the device. Can be made. Further, since an oxide film is formed on the end face 13 before the brazing, the end face of the fine water channel 12 is prevented from being blocked by brazing during brazing and joining. Can be joined.

 Further, if the brazing is performed by nocolok brazing in which an open furnace for brazing is put in a nitrogen atmosphere and flux is applied, the joining process can be performed continuously. Thereby, it is possible to further improve productivity. Moreover, according to Nokolok brazing, the sealability of the fillet formed at the joint can be further enhanced.

 Also, the cross-sectional area calculated from the equivalent diameter of each of the pipe opening channels 3c and 4C, the cross-sectional area calculated from the corresponding diameter of each part of the header water channels 1c and 2c, and the equivalent diameter of the fine water channel 12 are calculated. The total sum of the cross-sectional areas is set to be all equal and constant, so that the pressure loss generated in the coolant C flowing through each water channel is minimized. Therefore, the pump output for conveying the coolant C can be minimized, and power loss can be reduced.

 The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in this embodiment, the water channel of the cooling member 11 is formed by a multi-hole tube. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the water channel is formed by a rectangular corrugated fin, a triangular inner fin, a pin fin, or an offset. You may form using any form, such as a fin.

  In addition, the rectangular plate-like plates 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b constituting the headers 1 and 2 are made of clad aluminum brazing sheets having brazing material layers on both sides of the base material. Alternatively, an aluminum brazing sheet in which the brazing material layer is formed only on the inner surface forming the water channel side surface may be used. Moreover, it is good also as brazing joining by apply | coating what mixed the powder and the flux of the brazing | wax material on the surface to be joined, without using an aluminum brazing sheet.

 As shown in FIG. 3, the other surface of the cooling member 11 may be provided with outer fins 5 for cooling the coolant C flowing through the fine water channel 12. The outer fin 5 can be manufactured by bending a very thin metal strip into a corrugated shape, and its ridgeline is formed in the direction of arrow D1 in FIG. If the outer fin 5 is made of, for example, a strip-shaped material of an aluminum brazing sheet, one surface of the outer fin 5 and the other surface of the cooling member 11 can be easily brazed and joined.

 When the outer fin 5 is provided, the heat recovered from the cooling target 50 by the coolant C can be efficiently released into the air. Therefore, the coolant C boils in each fine water channel 12 due to the heat recovered from the cooled object 50 and bubbles are generated, and a film is formed between the water channel forming surface and the coolant C so that heat exchange is performed well. It is possible to prevent heat from being lost as much as possible, and to efficiently perform heat exchange. Further, the outer fin 5 is not limited to the shape as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as long as it has a heat dissipation effect. For example, the shape of the other surface of the cooling member 11 is made uneven in place of the outer fin 5. It is good also as a structure which gives the heat dissipation effect by forming. The outer fin 5 and the uneven shape may be used in combination.

It is a top view which shows the unit for power element mounting provided with the liquid cooling type cooler which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line shown in FIG. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Header 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b Rectangular dish-shaped board 1c, 2c Header water channel 1d, 2d Rib part 1e, 2e Notch part 10 Liquid cooling type cooler 11 Cooling member 12 Fine water path 13 End surface 50 Cooled body 51 Circuit layer 52 Ceramic insulating layer 53 Power element C Coolant O Symmetric plane

Claims (5)

A water channel is formed by two spaced apart headers through which the coolant flows, and a cooling member having a flow path disposed between the headers and through which the coolant flows, and an object to be cooled is attached to one surface of the cooling member. In a liquid-cooled cooler configured to cool an object to be cooled,
The header is formed by two rectangular dish-shaped plates facing each other.
The rectangular dish-shaped plate includes, on its outer peripheral edge, a joining edge portion that is overlapped between the two rectangular dish-shaped plates, and a notch portion for fitting an end including the flow path end of the cooling member,
The liquid-cooled cooler, wherein the joining edges and the notch and the end are joined. The liquid-cooled cooler according to claim 1,
The two rectangular dish-like plates arranged opposite to each other are formed symmetrically with respect to the joining position as a symmetry plane. In the liquid cooling type cooler according to claim 1 or 2,
The liquid-cooled cooler, wherein the joining edge portion is formed by a flange-like rib portion. A method for producing a liquid-cooled cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The method for manufacturing a liquid-cooled cooler is characterized in that the joining is performed at the same time by interposing a brazing material at least on the surfaces to be joined, and heating and brazing the brazing material. It is a manufacturing method of the liquid cooling type cooler according to claim 4,
A method for manufacturing a liquid-cooled cooler, wherein an oxide film is formed in advance on an end face formed at the end.

Images