JP2012164874A - Cooling device and cooling unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooling device and a cooling unit which have high cooling performance.SOLUTION: A cooling device comprises a first cooler 40 including an installation surface 43 to which a converter element 43 and the like are equipped, and in which a coolant for cooling the converter element 43 and the like flows; a supply tube 30 connected to the first cooler 40, and supplying the coolant to the first cooler 40; a branch tube 31 branching off from the supply tube 30; and a second cooler 41 to which the branch tube 31 is connected, in which the coolant supplied from the branch tube 31 flows, and cooling the coolant flowing in the first cooler 40. The coolant in the second cooler 41 flows along the flow of the coolant flowing in the first cooler 40. A first coolant passage in which the coolant is circulated is formed in the first cooler 40, and a second coolant passage in which the coolant is circulated is formed in the second cooler 41. A channel area of the second coolant passage on a cross-section vertical to the circulating direction of the coolant flowing in the second coolant passage is smaller than a channel area of the first coolant passage on a cross-section vertical to the circulating direction of the coolant flowing in the first coolant passage.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooling device and a cooling unit.

  Conventionally, various proposals have been made on cooling devices and cooling units for electric devices such as inverters mounted on hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles.

  For example, a semiconductor element cooler described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-140964 is provided in a casing, an insulating substrate provided on the outer surface of the casing, to which an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) is mounted, and provided in the casing. And a corrugated fin for defining the refrigerant flow path.

  The drive device described in JP 2001-238405 A and JP 2001-238406 is provided between a drive device case, an electric motor, an inverter attached to the drive device case, and the drive device case and the inverter. A cooling passage. A shielding plate provided between the drive unit case and the inverter is provided in the cooling passage. A first cooling passage is formed between the shielding plate and the inverter, and a second cooling passage is also formed between the shielding plate and the drive device case.

  A liquid-cooled power conversion device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-31413 includes a case in which a recess for accommodating an electric circuit is formed, a water jacket provided on the back side of the recess, and a bottom surface of the recess in the case. It is provided with a mounting table on which an electric circuit is mounted and a secondary cooling water channel.

  The water jacket is formed with a water storage section in which water is stored, a water inlet for supplying water to the water storage section, and a drain outlet for discharging the stored cooling water.

  The secondary cooling water channel includes a secondary cooling water storage part formed on the mounting table and a pump for supplying cooling water in the water storage part to the secondary cooling water storage part.

  An electronic device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-227150 cools a semiconductor element by a first cooling means including a cooler thermally coupled to a semiconductor device and a liquid refrigerant accommodated in a refrigerant accommodating portion. A second cooling means. The first cooling means cools the semiconductor element by supplying a refrigerant to the cooler. The second cooling means cools the electronic device by immersing the electronic device in a liquid refrigerant.

  An immersion DC-DC converter cooler described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-169039 is a sealed container that cools a DC-DC converter by immersing the DC-DC converter in a coolant, and a secondary rectifier diode that is a heat generating component. , A plurality of thin tubes connected to the cooling plate and attached to the inner surface of the sealed container, and a flow path for distributing the refrigerant supplied from the outside to each thin tube and collecting it after cooling.

JP 2010-140964 A JP 2001-238405 A JP 2001-238406 A JP 2008-312413 A JP 2008-227150 A JP-A-6-169039

  In the semiconductor element cooler described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-140964, the temperature of the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant flow path is likely to rise, and as a result, it may be difficult to cool the IGBT well.

  In the drive devices described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2001-238405 and 2001-238406, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the second cooling passage is slow, and the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the first cooling passage is high. There is a fear. As a result, the inverter may not be cooled well.

  In the liquid-cooled power conversion device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-31413, the electric circuit placed on the mounting table is cooled by the cooling water in the secondary cooling water reservoir formed on the mounting table. However, when there is a lot of heat from the electric circuit, the temperature of the cooling water rises and it may be difficult to cool the electric circuit well.

  In the electric device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-227150, since the electric device is immersed in the liquid refrigerant, the electronic device is required to have a high degree of water resistance, and the versatility is low. In the case of cooling a general element, the second cooling means cannot be adopted, and the element is cooled by the first cooling means. When the amount of heat generated from the element is large, the cooler The temperature of the refrigerant in the inside tends to rise, and there is a possibility that the element cannot be cooled well.

  Similarly, in the immersion DC-DC converter cooler described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-169039, the DC-DC converter is required to have high water resistance because the DC-DC converter is immersed in the coolant. It is not suitable for cooling a general element. For this reason, when cooling a general element, the element is cooled using the refrigerant flowing in the narrow tube. However, when the amount of heat generated from the element is large, the temperature of the refrigerant in the thin tube tends to rise, and the element may not be cooled well.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a cooling device and a cooling unit having high cooling performance.

  The cooling device according to the present invention includes a mounting surface on which a cooling object is mounted, a first cooler in which a coolant that cools the cooling object flows, and a first cooler that is connected to the first cooler. And a refrigerant supply pipe for supplying to the vessel. The cooling device includes a branch pipe branched from the refrigerant supply pipe, a second cooler to which the branch pipe is connected, the refrigerant supplied from the branch pipe flows inside, and cools the refrigerant flowing in the first cooler. Is provided. The refrigerant in the second cooler flows along the flow of the refrigerant flowing in the first cooler. A first refrigerant passage through which the refrigerant flows is formed in the first cooler, and a second refrigerant passage through which the refrigerant flows is formed in the second cooler. The flow passage area of the second refrigerant passage in a cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing through the second refrigerant passage is equal to that of the first refrigerant passage in the cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing through the first refrigerant passage. It is smaller than the channel area.

  Preferably, the first cooler includes first radiating fins disposed in the first refrigerant passage, and the second cooler includes second radiating fins disposed in the second refrigerant passage. The first heat dissipating fins extend in one direction so as to define a flow direction of the refrigerant flowing in the first refrigerant passage and are curved so as to swell toward the mounting surface, and a first peak portion 1st trough part formed between. The second radiating fins extend in one direction so as to define the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing in the second refrigerant passage and are curved so as to swell toward the first radiating fins; And a second valley formed between the peaks. The distance between the apexes of the second peak is smaller than the distance between the apexes of the first peak.

  Preferably, the cooling target includes a first element mounted on the mounting surface and a second element that generates a larger amount of heat than the first element. The plurality of second crests includes a plurality of first element crests facing the first element and a plurality of second element crests facing the second element. The distance between the apexes of the second element peak is smaller than the distance between the apexes of the first element peak.

  Preferably, the apparatus further includes a valve unit for adjusting a supply amount of the refrigerant supplied to the second cooler. The said valve part supplies a refrigerant | coolant to a 2nd cooler, when the temperature of a cooling target object becomes more than predetermined temperature. The cooling device according to the present invention includes a mounting surface on which a cooling object is mounted, a first cooler in which a coolant that cools the cooling object flows, and a first cooler that is connected to the first cooler. And a refrigerant supply pipe for supplying to the vessel. The cooling device includes a branch pipe branched from a refrigerant supply pipe, and a branch pipe connected to the second cooler for cooling the refrigerant flowing in the first cooler while the refrigerant supplied from the branch pipe flows inside. With. The refrigerant flowing in the second cooler flows along the flow of the refrigerant flowing in the first cooler, and the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing in the second cooler is the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing in the first cooler. Faster than distribution speed.

  The cooling unit according to the present invention includes a first cooling circuit in which a first refrigerant for cooling the internal combustion engine and the inverter circulates, and a second cooling circuit in which a second refrigerant for cooling the first refrigerant circulates. The first cooling circuit includes a refrigerant cooler that cools the first refrigerant, a first cooler that is disposed downstream of the refrigerant cooler in the flow direction of the first refrigerant, and that cools the inverter. A second cooler that is disposed downstream of the cooler in the flow direction of the first refrigerant and cools the inverter. The second cooling circuit includes a third cooler that cools the first refrigerant flowing in the first cooler, and a flow passage area of the second refrigerant flowing in the third cooler flows in the second cooler. It is faster than the flow rate of the first refrigerant.

  According to the cooling device and the cooling unit according to the present invention, it is possible to satisfactorily cool the refrigerant that cools the object to be cooled.

It is a block diagram of the hybrid vehicle carrying the cooling device and cooling unit which concern on this Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a circuit diagram of a cooling unit 20 mounted on a vehicle 10. 3 is a perspective view of a cooling device 24. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cooling device 24. FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 4. It is a perspective view of the cooling device 24 when the mounting surface is omitted. It is a perspective view of the 2nd cooler 41 when the partition wall 53 is abbreviate | omitted. It is a schematic diagram which shows the supply pipe 30, the branch pipe 31, the refrigerant | coolant distribution pipe | tube 28, and the member provided in the circumference | surroundings. It is sectional drawing of the cooling device 24 which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the peak part 66A and the structure of the circumference | surroundings. It is sectional drawing which shows the peak part 66B and the structure of the circumference | surroundings. It is sectional drawing which shows the peak part 66C and the structure of the circumference | surroundings. 6 is a circuit diagram schematically showing a cooling circuit of a cooling unit 20 according to Embodiment 3. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cooling device 24. FIG.

  A cooling device and a cooling unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine as an internal combustion engine will be described. However, the present invention can also be applied to an electric vehicle and a fuel cell vehicle that do not have an engine. Needless to say. That is, it can be applied to electric vehicles such as hybrid vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, and electric vehicles.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hybrid vehicle equipped with a cooling device and a cooling unit according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 includes an engine 1, motor generators MG1 and MG2, a power split mechanism 2, a battery B, a capacitor C, a reactor L, a converter 4, an inverter 5, an inverter 6, and a vehicle. An ECU (electronic control unit) 7 and an accelerator pedal 18 are provided.

  Power split device 2 is coupled to engine 1 and motor generators MG1 and MG2, and distributes power between them. For example, as the power split mechanism 2, a planetary gear mechanism having three rotating shafts of a sun gear, a planetary carrier, and a ring gear is used. These three rotation shafts are connected to the rotation shafts of engine 1 and motor generators MG1, MG2. For example, the rotor of motor generator MG1 is hollow, and the engine 1 and motor generators MG1 and MG2 are mechanically connected to power split mechanism 2 by passing the crankshaft of engine 1 through the center thereof.

  The rotating shaft of motor generator MG2 is coupled to front wheel 3 which is a driving wheel by a reduction gear and a differential gear (not shown). A power reducer for the rotation shaft of motor generator MG2 may be further incorporated in power split device 2.

  Motor generator MG1 is incorporated in vehicle 10 so as to operate as a generator driven by engine 1 and to operate as an electric motor that can start engine 1. Motor generator MG2 is incorporated in vehicle 10 as an electric motor that drives front wheels 3 that are drive wheels of vehicle 10.

  Motor generators MG1 and MG2 are, for example, three-phase AC synchronous motors. Motor generators MG1 and MG2 include a three-phase coil including a U-phase coil, a V-phase coil, and a W-phase coil as a stator coil.

  Motor generator MG1 generates a three-phase AC voltage using the engine output, and outputs the generated three-phase AC voltage to inverter 5. Motor generator MG1 generates a driving force by the three-phase AC voltage received from inverter 6 and starts engine 1.

  Motor generator MG <b> 2 generates vehicle driving torque by the three-phase AC voltage received from inverter 6. Motor generator MG2 generates a three-phase AC voltage and outputs it to inverter 6 during regenerative braking of the vehicle. The accelerator pedal 18 is provided with a sensor 17 capable of sensing the depression angle of the accelerator pedal 18.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a circuit diagram of the cooling unit 20 mounted on the vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the cooling unit 20 includes a cooling circuit unit 21 that cools the converter 4, the inverter 5, and the inverter 6, a cooling circuit unit 22 that cools the engine 1, and a radiator 35.

  The cooling circuit unit 22 includes an engine cooler 11 that cools the engine 1, a refrigerant cooler 12 that cools the refrigerant CM <b> 2 that flows in the cooling circuit unit 22, a pump 13, and refrigerant circulation pipes 14, 15, and 16. .

  The refrigerant cooler 12 and the pump 13 are connected by a refrigerant flow pipe 14, the pump 13 and the engine cooler 11 are connected by a refrigerant flow pipe 15, and the engine cooler 11 and the refrigerant cooler 12 are connected by a refrigerant flow pipe. 16 is connected. Then, the refrigerant CM2 cooled by the refrigerant cooler 12 is supplied to the engine cooler 11, and the engine 1 is cooled.

  The cooling circuit unit 21 includes a cooling device 24 that cools the converter 4, the inverter 5, and the inverter 6, a refrigerant cooler 25 that cools the refrigerant CM <b> 1 flowing in the cooling circuit unit 21, a pump 26, and a plurality of refrigerant flow pipes 27. , 28, 29.

  The refrigerant cooler 25 and the pump 26 are connected by a refrigerant flow pipe 27, and the pump 26 and the cooling device 24 are connected by a refrigerant flow pipe 28. The cooling device 24 and the refrigerant cooler 25 are connected by a refrigerant flow pipe 29.

  The cooling device 24 includes a first cooler 40 that cools the converter 4, the inverter 5, and the inverter 6, and a second cooler 41 that cools the refrigerant CM <b> 1 flowing through the first cooler 40.

  The refrigerant flow pipe 28 includes a supply pipe 30 that supplies the refrigerant CM1 to the first cooler 40, and a branch pipe 31 that branches from the supply pipe 30 and supplies the refrigerant CM1 to the second cooler 41.

  The refrigerant flow pipe 29 includes a first discharge pipe 32 through which the refrigerant CM1 discharged from the first cooler 40 flows, and a second discharge pipe 33 through which the refrigerant CM1 discharged from the second cooler 41 flows. The two discharge pipes 33 are connected to the first discharge pipe 32.

  Then, the refrigerant CM1 supplied from the supply pipe 30 flows through the first cooler 40, and cools the inverter 6, the inverter 5, and the converter 4. Further, the refrigerant CM1 supplied from the branch pipe 31 flows through the second cooler 41, and cools the refrigerant CM1 flowing through the first cooler 40.

  Then, the refrigerant CM1 discharged from the first cooler 40 and the second cooler 41 passes through the first discharge pipe 32, the second discharge pipe 33, and the refrigerant flow pipe 29 and is cooled by the refrigerant cooler 25. The The configuration of the cooling device 24 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cooling device 24. As shown in FIG. 3, a part of the outer surface of the first cooler 40 is a mounting surface 42 on which elements such as the converter 4 are mounted. In the first embodiment, the mounting surface 42 is the upper surface of the first cooler 40, but the position of the mounting surface 42 may be another peripheral surface. The second cooler 41 is disposed on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the first cooler 40 that is located on the side opposite to the placement surface 42.

  A plurality of converter elements 43 that form the converter 4, a plurality of inverter elements 44 that form the inverter 5, and a plurality of inverter elements 45 that form the inverter 6 are mounted on the mounting surface 42. .

  At least one of the plurality of converter elements 43 is provided with a temperature sensor 46. Converter element 43 is provided in a region adjacent to the connection position of supply pipe 30 and first cooler 40 on placement surface 42.

  At least one of the plurality of inverter elements 44 is provided with a temperature sensor 47. The inverter element 44 is provided in a region of the mounting surface 42 that is located on the opposite side of the connection position with respect to the region where the converter element 43 is provided.

  A temperature sensor 48 is provided in at least one inverter element 45 among the plurality of inverter elements 45. The region where the inverter element 45 is provided is located on the opposite side of the region where the converter element 43 is provided with respect to the region where the inverter element 44 is provided.

  The temperature information of each element sensed by the temperature sensor 46, the temperature sensor 47, and the temperature sensor 48 is sent to the vehicle ECU 7 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cooling device 24. As shown in FIG. 4, an insulating substrate is disposed on the mounting surface 42, and a plurality of circuit boards are provided on the insulating substrate. A converter element 43, an inverter element 44, and an inverter are provided on the circuit board. A working element 45 is provided.

  The cooling device 24 includes a casing 50 in which a refrigerant passage 51 of the first cooler 40 and a refrigerant passage 52 of the second cooler 41 are formed, and the cooling device 24 is disposed in the casing 50. And a partition wall 53 for partitioning.

  The refrigerant CM1 flowing in the refrigerant passage 51 and the refrigerant CM2 flowing in the refrigerant passage 52 both flow in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The sectional view shown in FIG. 4 shows the refrigerant passage 51 and the refrigerant passage 52. It is sectional drawing in a direction perpendicular | vertical with respect to the refrigerant | coolant which flows through the inside.

  As is apparent from FIG. 4, the flow passage area of the refrigerant passage 52 in the cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant CM <b> 1 flowing in the refrigerant passage 52 is the flow direction of the refrigerant CM <b> 1 flowing in the refrigerant passage 51. Is smaller than the flow path area of the refrigerant passage 51 in the cross section.

  Here, the refrigerant CM1 supplied into the refrigerant passage 51 and the refrigerant passage 52 is pressurized by the pump 26 shown in FIG.

  For this reason, the circulation speed of the refrigerant CM1 flowing in the refrigerant passage 52 is faster than the circulation speed of the refrigerant CM1 flowing in the refrigerant passage 51.

  The first cooler 40 includes a refrigerant passage 51 formed in the casing 50 and radiating fins 54 provided in the refrigerant passage 51. The refrigerant passage 51 is formed at a position adjacent to the placement surface 42.

  5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cooling device 24 when the mounting surface 42 is omitted. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the radiating fin 54 has a plurality of crests 55 and a plurality of troughs 56 formed such that the crests 55 and the troughs 56 repeat each other. Yes. As a result, a trough 56 is formed between the two peaks 55.

  The mountain portion 55 is curved so as to swell toward the placement surface 42, and the valley portion 56 is curved so as to be separated from the placement surface 42.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the casing 50 includes peripheral wall portions 60, 61, 62, 63 that define at least a part of the refrigerant passage 51.

  The peripheral wall portion 60 and the peripheral wall portion 62 are provided so as to be arranged in the arrangement direction of the converter 4, the inverter 5, and the inverter 6. The peripheral wall portion 61 is provided so as to connect one end of the peripheral wall portion 60 and one end of the peripheral wall portion 62, and the peripheral wall portion 63 is provided so as to connect the other end of the peripheral wall portion 60 and the other end of the peripheral wall portion 62. ing.

  The supply pipe 30 is connected to a position adjacent to the peripheral wall part 61 in the peripheral wall part 60, and the first discharge pipe 32 is connected to a part of the peripheral wall part 62 adjacent to the peripheral wall part 63.

  The heat radiating fins 54 are disposed at a distance from the peripheral wall portion 61 and the peripheral wall portion 63, and are disposed below the converter element 43, the inverter element 44, and the inverter element 45. The peak portion 55 and the valley portion 56 are formed so as to extend from the peripheral wall portion 61 side toward the peripheral wall portion 63 side.

  Then, the refrigerant CM <b> 1 that has entered the refrigerant passage 51 from the supply pipe 30 first enters the space between the peripheral wall portion 61 and the radiation fins 54 in the refrigerant passage 51. Thereafter, when the refrigerant CM1 reaches the radiating fin 54, the refrigerant CM1 is guided by the peak portion 55 and the valley portion 56 and flows along the peak portion 55 and the valley portion 56. Thus, the peak part 55 and the trough part 56 prescribe | regulate the distribution direction of refrigerant | coolant CM1.

  When the refrigerant CM1 passes through the radiating fins 54, the refrigerant CM1 flows into the space between the peripheral wall 63 and the radiating fins 54 in the refrigerant passage 51, and then the first discharge from the discharge port 64 formed in the peripheral wall 62. It flows into the tube 32.

  In FIG. 5, the apex portion 58 of the peak portion 55 is formed so as to contact the inner surface of the top plate portion 59 of the casing 50 that defines the placement surface 42. Further, apex portions 58 of a plurality of peak portions 55 are located below the inverter element 45.

  The heat generated by driving the inverter element 45 reaches the top plate portion 59 via the circuit board or the insulating substrate. Thereafter, the heat is transmitted from the apex portion 58 located below the inverter element 45 to the heat radiation fin 54, and the heat transmitted to the heat radiation fin 54 is cooled by the refrigerant CM <b> 1 flowing around the heat radiation fin 54. Similarly, heat from the converter element 43 and the inverter element 44 is also dissipated to the refrigerant CM1. The refrigerant CM1 that has cooled the converter element 43, the inverter element 44, and the inverter element 45 is discharged to the first discharge pipe 32 from the discharge port 64 shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second cooler 41 when the partition wall 53 is omitted. As shown in FIG. 7, the second cooler 41 includes a refrigerant passage 52 through which the refrigerant CM <b> 1 supplied from the branch pipe 31 flows, and radiating fins 65 disposed in the refrigerant passage 52.

  The casing 50 includes peripheral wall portions 70, 71, 72, 73 that define at least a part of the refrigerant passage 52. The peripheral wall portions 70, 71, 72, and 73 are located below the peripheral wall portions 60, 61, 62, and 63.

  The peripheral wall portion 70 and the peripheral wall portion 72 are arranged in the arrangement direction of the converter 4, the inverter 5, and the inverter 6. The peripheral wall portion 71 is provided so as to connect one end of the peripheral wall portion 70 and one end of the peripheral wall portion 72, and the peripheral wall portion 73 is provided so as to connect the other end of the peripheral wall portion 70 and the other end of the peripheral wall portion 72. It has been.

  The branch pipe 31 is connected to a part of the peripheral wall part 70 adjacent to the peripheral wall part 71, and the second discharge pipe 33 is connected to a part of the peripheral wall part 72 adjacent to the peripheral wall part 73. The heat radiating fins 65 are disposed with a space from the peripheral wall portion 71 and the peripheral wall portion 73 and are disposed below the heat radiating fins 54.

  A plurality of peak portions 66 and valley portions 67 are alternately formed on the heat radiation fin 65. As shown in FIG. 5, the peak portion 66 is curved so as to swell toward the heat dissipating fins 54 and the partition wall 53, and the valley portion 67 is formed between the peak portions 66. Both the peak portion 66 and the valley portion 67 extend from the peripheral wall portion 71 side toward the peripheral wall portion 73.

  Then, the refrigerant CM1 enters the refrigerant passage 52 from the branch pipe 31, and when the refrigerant CM1 reaches the radiating fin 65, the refrigerant CM1 flows along the peak portion 66 and the valley portion 67.

  Here, as described above, the flow rate of the refrigerant CM1 flowing in the refrigerant passage 52 is faster than the flow rate of the refrigerant CM1 flowing in the refrigerant passage 51, and thus the temperature of the refrigerant CM1 flowing in the refrigerant passage 52 becomes higher. It is suppressed.

  For this reason, the temperature of the refrigerant CM1 flowing in the refrigerant passage 52 is suppressed to be lower than the temperature of the refrigerant CM1 flowing in the refrigerant passage 51, and the heat of the refrigerant CM1 flowing in the refrigerant passage 52 flows in the refrigerant passage 52. Good heat dissipation to CM1.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the apex portion 68 of the peak portion 66 is formed so as to contact the partition wall 53. The heat of the refrigerant CM <b> 1 flowing through the refrigerant passage 51 is transmitted to the partition wall 53, and the heat transmitted to the partition wall 53 is transmitted from the apex portion 68 to the heat radiation fin 65.

  The heat transmitted to the radiation fins 65 is radiated to the refrigerant CM1 that flows around the radiation fins 65.

  An inter-pitch distance L <b> 2 between the apex portions 68 of the peak portions 66 is smaller than an inter-pitch distance L <b> 1 of the apex portions 58 of the radiating fins 54. Thus, since there are many contact parts of the partition wall 53 and the radiation fin 65, the heat of the refrigerant | coolant CM1 and the radiation fin 54 which flow through the inside of the refrigerant path 51 is transmitted to the radiation fin 65 satisfactorily.

  Thus, according to the cooling device 24 and the cooling circuit unit 21 according to the first embodiment, the temperature of the refrigerant that cools each converter element 43, the inverter element 44, and the inverter element 45 satisfactorily increases. Can be suppressed, and the cooling efficiency of the element can be increased.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the supply pipe 30, the branch pipe 31, the refrigerant flow pipe 28, and members provided therearound.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the cooling circuit unit 21 further includes a valve portion 80 provided at a connection portion between the branch pipe 31 and the refrigerant flow pipe 28 (supply pipe 30). The valve unit 80 adjusts the circulation amount of the refrigerant CM <b> 1 supplied to the second cooler 41.

  The valve portion 80 includes a plate portion 81 that opens and closes an opening portion 83 of the branch pipe 31 formed in the refrigerant flow tube 28, and a drive portion 82 that drives the plate portion 81.

  The valve portion 80 opens the opening 83 when any one of the converter element 43, the inverter element 44, and the inverter element 45 reaches a predetermined temperature or higher.

  Specifically, when the vehicle ECU 7 determines that the element temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature based on signals from the temperature sensors 46 to 48, the vehicle ECU 7 drives the drive unit 82 so that the plate unit 81 opens the opening 83. To do.

  Thereby, the refrigerant CM1 is supplied into the second cooler 41, the refrigerant CM1 flowing in the first cooler 40 can be cooled, and each element can be cooled.

  Furthermore, the vehicle ECU 7 drives the drive unit 82 based on the signals from the temperature sensors 46 to 48 so that the opening angle θ of the plate unit 81 increases as the temperature of each element increases.

  Based on the signal from the sensor 17 shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle ECU 7 drives the drive unit 82 so that the opening angle θ of the plate unit 81 increases in accordance with the depression angle of the accelerator pedal 18.

  When the depression angle of the accelerator pedal 18 is increased, the frequency of driving the inverters 5 and 6 is likely to increase, and the temperature of each element is likely to rise. Therefore, by supplying the refrigerant CM1 to the second cooler 41, it is possible to prevent each element from becoming high temperature.

  Further, based on a signal from a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the refrigerant CM1 passing through the first discharge pipe 32, the plate portion 81 opens when the temperature of the refrigerant CM1 passing through the first discharge pipe 32 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. The drive unit 82 may be driven to open the unit 83.

(Embodiment 2)
The cooling device 24 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12 and FIGS. 3 and 7. Of the configurations shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the same or corresponding components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 may be assigned the same reference numerals and explanation thereof may be omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cooling device 24 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the cooling device 24 according to the second embodiment also includes a first cooler 40 that cools the converter 4, the inverter 5, and the inverter 6, and the refrigerant that flows through the first cooler 40. And a second cooler 41 for cooling. The calorific value of the converter element 43 of the converter 4 is larger than the calorific value of the inverter element 44 of the inverter 5, and the calorific value of the inverter element of the inverter 5 is larger than the calorific value of the inverter element 45 of 44 inverter 6. Many.

  Radiating fins 54 are provided in the refrigerant passage 51 of the first cooler 40, and radiating fins 65 are provided in the refrigerant passage 52 of the second cooler 41. A plurality of peak portions 66 </ b> A to 66 </ b> C are formed in the heat radiation fin 65. This peak includes a peak 66A facing the inverter element 45, a peak 66B facing the inverter element 44, and a peak 66C facing the converter element 43.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the mountain portion 66A and the surrounding configuration. As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of peak portions 66 </ b> A are formed below the inverter element 45. The pitch-to-pitch distance between the apexes 68A of the peak 66A is defined as a pitch-to-pitch distance L3. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the mountain portion 66B and the configuration around it. As shown in FIG. 11, the inter-pitch distance L4 between the apexes 68B of the peak 66B is defined as an inter-pitch distance L4. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the mountain portion 66C and the surrounding configuration. As shown in FIG. 11, the inter-pitch distance L5 is the distance between the apexes 68C of the peak 66C. The heights of the peaks 66A, 66B, 66C are substantially the same.

  As is apparent from FIGS. 9 to 12, the pitch distance L4 of the peak portions 66B is smaller than the pitch distance L3 of the peak portions 66A. For this reason, the circulation speed of the refrigerant CM1 flowing around the peak portion 66B is faster than the circulation speed of the refrigerant CM1 flowing around the peak portion 66A.

  The pitch distance L5 of the peak portion 66C is smaller than the pitch distance L4 of the peak portion 66B. For this reason, the circulation speed of the refrigerant CM1 flowing around the peak portion 66C is faster than the circulation speed of the refrigerant CM1 flowing around the peak portion 66B.

  Thus, since the circulation speed of the refrigerant CM1 flowing around the peak portion 66C is high, the refrigerant CM1 flowing through the portion of the refrigerant passage 51 located above the peak portion 66C is the refrigerant CM1 flowing around the peak portion 66C. To cool well.

  While the circulation speed of the refrigerant CM1 flowing around the peak portion 66B is slower than the circulation speed of the refrigerant CM1 flowing around the peak portion 66C, the heat generation amount from the inverter element 44 is larger than the heat generation amount from the converter element 43. Therefore, the inverter element 44 is suppressed from becoming high temperature.

  While the flow rate of the refrigerant CM1 flowing around the peak portion 66A is small, the amount of heat generated from the inverter element 45 is small, and thus the inverter element 45 is suppressed from becoming high temperature.

  As described above, according to the cooling device 24 according to the second embodiment, it is possible to suppress any element from becoming high temperature when cooling various types of elements having different calorific values.

(Embodiment 3)
A cooling unit 20 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Of the configurations shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the same or corresponding components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 12 may be assigned the same reference numerals and explanation thereof may be omitted. FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram schematically showing a cooling circuit of the cooling unit 20 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the cooling unit 20 includes a cooling circuit unit 90 and a cooling circuit unit 91.

The cooling circuit unit 90 includes a refrigerant cooler 92 that cools the refrigerant, a pump 93 disposed downstream of the refrigerant cooler 92 in the refrigerant flow direction, and a first cooler disposed downstream of the pump 93. 40 and the engine cooler 11 disposed on the downstream side of the first cooler 40. The engine cooler 11 is connected to the refrigerant cooler 92. In the cooling circuit unit 90, each element of the inverter 6, the inverter 5 and the converter 4 is cooled by the refrigerant cooled by the refrigerant cooler 92. The engine 1 is cooled by the refrigerant that has cooled the inverter 6, the inverter 5, and the converter 4.

  The cooling circuit unit 91 is provided with a refrigerant cooler 94 that cools the refrigerant, a pump 95 that is disposed downstream of the refrigerant cooler 94 in the refrigerant flow direction, and a downstream side of the pump 95. The second cooler 41 is connected to a refrigerant cooler 94. The second cooler 41 cools the refrigerant flowing through the first cooler 40.

  In such a cooling unit 20, the cooling performance of the refrigerant cooler 94 may be lower than that of the refrigerant cooler 92, and the refrigerant cooler 94 can be made compact. Furthermore, since the flow path length of the cooling circuit unit 91 is short, the pump 95 can be made compact.

  In addition, the cooling circuit unit that cools the converter 4 and the like, and the cooling circuit unit that cools the engine 1 by cooling the converter 4, the inverter 5, and the inverter 6 and the cooling of the engine 1 by one cooling circuit unit 90. The entire cooling unit 20 can be made more compact than when separately provided.

  FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the cooling device 24 provided in the cooling unit 20 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, a refrigerant passage 51 through which the refrigerant of the cooling circuit unit 90 flows is formed in the first cooler 40. A refrigerant passage 52 through which the refrigerant of the cooling circuit unit 91 flows is formed in the second cooler 41. The refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant passage 52 flows in the same direction along the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant passage 51.

  The flow passage area of the refrigerant passage 52 in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant passage 52 is smaller than the flow passage area of the refrigerant passage 51 in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant passage 51. . For this reason, the circulation speed of the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant passage 52 is faster than the circulation speed of the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant passage 51.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scope of claims for patent, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the scope of claims for patent and all modifications within the scope. Furthermore, combining the configurations described in the respective embodiments is planned from the beginning of the application.

  The present invention can be applied to a cooling device and a cooling unit.

  1 Engine, 2 Power split mechanism, 3 Front wheels, 4 Converter, 5, 6 Inverter, 7 Vehicle ECU, 11 Engine cooler, 12 Refrigerant cooler, 13, 26, 93, 95 Pump, 14, 15, 16, 27, 28, 29 Refrigerant flow pipe, 17 sensor, 20 cooling unit, 21, 22, 90, 91 cooling circuit unit, 24 cooling device, 25, 92, 94 refrigerant cooler, 30 supply pipe, 31 branch pipe, 32 first discharge Pipe, 33 Second discharge pipe, 35 Radiator, 40 First cooler, 41 Second cooler, 42 Mounting surface, 43 Converter element, 44, 45 Inverter element, 46, 47, 48 Temperature sensor, 50 Casing , 51, 52 Refrigerant passage, 53 Partition wall, 54, 65 Radiation fin, 55, 66, 66A, 66B, 66C Mountain, 56, 67 Valley 58, 68, 68A, 68B, 68C, apex portion, 59 top plate portion, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 70, 71, 72, 73 peripheral wall portion, 64 discharge port, 80 valve portion, 81 plate portion, 82 drive unit, 83 opening, B battery, C condenser, CM1, CM2 refrigerant, L1, L2, L3, L4, L5 pitch distance, MG1, MG2 motor generator.

Claims (6)

A first cooler that includes a mounting surface on which a cooling object is mounted, and in which a refrigerant that cools the cooling object flows;
A refrigerant supply pipe connected to the first cooler for supplying refrigerant to the first cooler;
A branch pipe branched from the refrigerant supply pipe;
A second cooler to which the branch pipe is connected and the refrigerant supplied from the branch pipe flows inside and cools the refrigerant flowing in the first cooler;
With
The refrigerant in the second cooler flows along the flow of the refrigerant flowing in the first cooler,
A first refrigerant passage through which refrigerant flows is formed in the first cooler,
A second refrigerant passage through which refrigerant flows is formed in the second cooler,
The flow passage area of the second refrigerant passage in the cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing through the second refrigerant passage is the first refrigerant passage in the cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing through the first refrigerant passage. The cooling device is smaller than the flow path area. The first cooler includes first radiating fins disposed in the first refrigerant passage,
The second cooler includes second radiating fins disposed in the second refrigerant passage,
The first heat dissipating fins extend in one direction so as to define a flow direction of the refrigerant flowing in the first refrigerant passage and are curved so as to swell toward the mounting surface, Including a first valley formed between one ridge,
The second radiating fins extend in the one direction so as to define a flow direction of the refrigerant flowing in the second refrigerant passage, and are curved to swell toward the first radiating fins. And a second trough formed between the second peaks.
2. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein a distance between apexes of the second peak is smaller than a distance between apexes of the first peak. The object to be cooled includes a first element mounted on the mounting surface, and a second element that generates more heat than the first element,
The plurality of second ridges include a plurality of first element ridges facing the first element and a plurality of second element ridges facing the second element.
The cooling device according to claim 2, wherein a distance between apexes of the second element peak is smaller than a distance between apexes of the first element peak. A valve unit for adjusting a supply amount of the refrigerant supplied to the second cooler;
The said valve part is a cooling device in any one of Claims 1-3 which supplies a refrigerant | coolant to a said 2nd cooler when the temperature of the said cooling target object becomes more than predetermined temperature. A first cooler that includes a mounting surface on which a cooling object is mounted, and in which a refrigerant that cools the cooling object flows;
A refrigerant supply pipe connected to the first cooler for supplying refrigerant to the first cooler;
A branch pipe branched from the refrigerant supply pipe;
A second cooler to which the branch pipe is connected and the refrigerant supplied from the branch pipe flows inside and cools the refrigerant flowing in the first cooler;
With
The refrigerant flowing in the second cooler flows along the flow of the refrigerant flowing in the first cooler,
The cooling device, wherein the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the second cooler is faster than the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the first cooler. A first cooling circuit in which a first refrigerant for cooling the internal combustion engine and the inverter circulates;
A second cooling circuit in which a second refrigerant for cooling the first refrigerant circulates;
With
The first cooling circuit includes a refrigerant cooler that cools the first refrigerant, a first cooler that is disposed downstream of the refrigerant cooler in the flow direction of the first refrigerant and that cools the inverter. A second cooler disposed downstream of the first cooler in the flow direction of the first refrigerant and cooling the inverter;
The second cooling circuit includes a third cooler that cools the first refrigerant flowing in the first cooler, and a flow area of the second refrigerant flowing in the third cooler is the second cooler A cooling unit that is faster than the flow rate of the first refrigerant flowing inside.

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