JP2014220965A - Electric power conversion apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric power conversion apparatus which reduces labor hours of the maintenance work.SOLUTION: In an electric power conversion apparatus 1, an electronic component 10 is stored in a housing 20. A groove part 21 is formed at the inner side of the housing 20, and a lid part 30 is fixed to the housing 20 so as to close the groove part 21. A refrigerant passage 40, in which a refrigerant for cooling the electronic component 10 circulates, is formed between the groove part 21 and the lid part 30. The electronic component 10 is fixed to a base plate 50 provided on a surface 31 of the lid part 30 which is opposite to the groove part 21.

Description

  The present invention relates to a power conversion device.

  A vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle is equipped with a power conversion device including a power conversion unit such as an inverter or a converter. And the power converter device is provided with the refrigerant | coolant flow path through which the refrigerant | coolant for cooling the power converter part with much emitted-heat amount distribute | circulates. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a cooling medium flow path for cooling the power conversion unit is provided in a partition unit provided in the casing of the power conversion device.

JP 2012-217316 A

  In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, the refrigerant flow path is formed by closing a groove provided in the partition with a lid. And the electronic component which comprises a power converter part is being directly fixed to the cover part which plugs up a groove part. When a failure or the like occurs in the power conversion unit, it may be necessary to remove the power conversion unit from the casing for maintenance work. However, since the electronic components constituting the power converter are directly fixed to the lid, the power converter must be removed together with the lid. And if a cover part is removed, a refrigerant | coolant flow path will be open | released and a refrigerant | coolant will leak. Therefore, when removing the power conversion unit, it is necessary to consider the leakage of the refrigerant, and the maintenance work is troublesome. Further, when the lid is attached to the housing again, if foreign matter is mixed between the lid and the housing, the sealing performance of the two may be reduced, and the refrigerant may leak from the coolant channel. Therefore, great care must be taken to prevent the foreign matter from being mixed in, and maintenance work has been troublesome.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a power conversion device that can reduce the labor of maintenance work.

One aspect of the present invention is a power conversion device in which an electronic component is housed in a housing,
A groove formed inside the housing;
A lid fixed to the casing so as to close the groove;
A coolant channel that is formed between the groove and the lid and that circulates a coolant that cools the electronic component;
With
The electronic component is in a power conversion device, wherein the electronic component is fixed to a base plate provided on a surface of the lid portion opposite to the groove portion.

  In the above power converter, the electronic components that constitute the power converter are fixed to the base plate, and are not directly attached to the lid that closes the groove. Therefore, when removing the power conversion unit, the base plate may be removed from the housing. Therefore, the power converter can be removed without removing the lid. As a result, since the refrigerant flow path is not opened when the power conversion unit is removed, it is not necessary to consider the leakage of the refrigerant, so that the maintenance work is reduced. In addition, when the power conversion unit is attached again, the refrigerant flow path is not opened, so that it is not necessary to pay attention to the contamination of foreign matter between the lid and the base plate in order to prevent refrigerant leakage. Therefore, the labor of maintenance work is reduced.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a power conversion device that reduces the labor of maintenance work.

The bottom view of the power converter device in Example 1. FIG. II-II sectional view taken on the line in FIG. III-III sectional view taken on the line in FIG. The cross-sectional enlarged view of the notch part in FIG. The cross-sectional enlarged view of the notch part in FIG. The cross-sectional enlarged view of the notch part in Example 2. FIG.

  The power conversion device can be used as a power conversion device mounted on an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

Example 1
A power conversion device according to an embodiment of the present example will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the power conversion device 1 of this example stores an electronic component 10 in a housing 20. As shown in FIG. 2, a groove portion 21 formed inside the housing 20, a lid portion 30 fixed to the housing 20 so as to close the groove portion 21, and the groove portion 21 and the lid portion 30. And a refrigerant flow path 40 through which a refrigerant for cooling the electronic component 10 is circulated. The electronic component 10 is fixed to a base plate 50 provided on a surface 31 of the lid portion 30 opposite to the groove portion 21.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the power conversion device 1 of this example is configured by housing two power conversion units 2 and 3 in a housing 20.
The housing 20 includes four side wall portions 22 and a partition portion 23 that partitions a space surrounded by the four side wall portions 22 up and down. The housing 20 has an H shape in the cross section in the vertical direction X. An upper accommodating portion 201 is formed on the upper side of the partition portion 23, and a lower accommodating portion 202 is formed on the lower side. The upper accommodation portion 201 and the lower accommodation portion 202 of the housing 20 are opened to the upper side and the lower side, respectively, and the opening portions are respectively closed by the cover 24.

The upper accommodation portion 201 of the housing 20 accommodates an inverter unit 2 (hereinafter also referred to as an inverter 2 as appropriate) that is one of the power conversion portions 2 and converts DC power into AC power. In addition, the lower housing portion 202 of the housing 20 accommodates a converter unit 3 (hereinafter also referred to as the converter 3 as appropriate) that is another power converter 3 that boosts or lowers DC power.
That is, the inverter 2 and the converter 3 are arranged in the vertical direction X so as to overlap each other with the partition portion 23 of the housing 20 interposed therebetween. And both are surrounded by the four side wall parts 22 of the housing | casing 20 from the direction orthogonal to the up-down direction X. As shown in FIG.
The inverter 2 is configured to convert the DC power boosted or stepped down by the converter 3 into AC power.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inverter 2 includes a plurality of semiconductor modules 203 and a plurality of cooling pipes 204 that are alternately stacked. Each cooling pipe 204 is connected by a connecting pipe (not shown), and a refrigerant introduction pipe 207 and a refrigerant discharge pipe 208 are provided in the cooling pipe 204 on one end side in the laminated body of the semiconductor module 203 and the cooling pipe 204. It is connected. The refrigerant is supplied to and circulated through the cooling pipe 204 on one end side through the refrigerant introduction pipe 207, and flows through the other cooling pipe 204 through the connection pipe and is discharged through the refrigerant discharge pipe 208. As the refrigerant flows through each cooling pipe 204, heat exchange is performed with each semiconductor module 203, and each semiconductor module 203 is cooled. A reactor 206 is accommodated in the upper accommodating portion 201. The reactor 206 is disposed so as to contact the partition portion 23. The heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path 40 in the partition portion 23 and the reactor 206, so that the reactor 206 is cooled from the contact surface side with the partition portion 23. . Each semiconductor module 203 is electrically connected to a control circuit board 205 disposed on the side opposite to the partition portion 23 (the opening side of the upper housing portion 201). Further, the reactor 206 is electrically connected to a power terminal of the semiconductor module 203 although not shown. In the upper housing portion 201, the plurality of semiconductor modules 203, the plurality of cooling pipes 204, the control circuit board 205, the reactor 206, the refrigerant introduction pipe 207, and the refrigerant discharge pipe 208 are integrated to constitute the inverter unit 2.

  The partition portion 23 is provided with a groove portion 21. The groove portion 21 is formed in a groove shape opened to the lower housing portion 202 side where the converter 3 is disposed. The opening side (converter 3 side) of the groove portion 21 is closed by the lid portion 30. Thereby, the refrigerant flow path 40 is formed between the lid part 30 and the groove part 21.

The refrigerant flow path 40 has a refrigerant introduction part and a refrigerant discharge part (not shown). The refrigerant introduced from the refrigerant introduction part flows through the refrigerant flow path 40 and is discharged from the refrigerant discharge part. Examples of the refrigerant to be circulated in the refrigerant flow path 40 include natural refrigerants such as water and ammonia, water mixed with ethylene glycol antifreeze, fluorocarbon refrigerants such as fluorinate, chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants such as HCFC123 and HFC134a, and methanol. A refrigerant such as an alcohol refrigerant such as alcohol or a ketone refrigerant such as acetone can be used.
In addition, as a refrigerant | coolant which distribute | circulates the refrigerant | coolant flow path 40, it is good also as utilizing the refrigerant | coolant distribute | circulated to the cooling pipe 204 in the inverter 2. FIG.

  The cover part 30 is a metal plate-shaped member as shown in FIGS. The outer shape of the lid part 30 is slightly smaller than the outer shape of the partition part 23. And the cover part 30 is being fixed to the housing | casing 20 by the several cover part fixing member 32 in the lower side accommodating part 202 so that the groove part 21 may be plugged up. In this example, as shown in FIG. 1, six lid fixing members 32 are provided. The lid fixing member 32 is a metal screw member. As shown in FIG. 2, the lid 30 has a lid portion fixing member 32 on a boss portion 21 a provided in the groove portion 21 via the lid portion 30 from the lower housing portion 202 side toward the partition portion 23. It is fixed to the housing 20 by being screwed. Note that a sealing member such as an O-ring or a liquid gasket (not shown) is interposed between the lid 30 and the housing 20 to maintain the airtightness between them. The lid fixing member 32 includes a shaft portion 32a and a head portion 32b. When the lid portion 30 is fixed to the housing 20, the head portion 32b is a lid portion as shown in FIGS. 30 protrudes toward the base plate 50 side.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base plate 50 is provided on a surface 31 on the opposite side of the groove portion 21 in the lid portion 20. The base plate 50 is made of metal, and its plan view shape is substantially the same as the plan view shape of the lid portion 30. The base plate 50 is fixed to the housing 20 via a base plate fixing member 51. The base plate fixing member 51 is a metal screw member and is provided with five pieces. As shown in FIG. 2, the base plate fixing member 51 is directed from the lower housing portion 202 side toward the partition portion 23 via the base plate 50 and the lid portion 30. And is screwed into a boss portion 21 b provided in the groove portion 21. That is, the base plate 50 is fastened together with the lid 30 by the base plate fixing member 51 and fixed to the housing 20.
Note that cooling grease (not shown) is interposed between the base plate 50 and the lid 30. Thereby, the heat conductivity between both is raised and the cooling effect of the converter 3 by the refrigerant | coolant which distribute | circulates the refrigerant | coolant flow path 40 is improved.

  The base plate 50 has notches 52 and 53 formed at positions facing the lid fixing member 32. In FIG. 2, the notch 52 located at the approximate center in the longitudinal direction Y of the base plate 50 is formed in a concave shape that opens to the groove 21 side. On the other hand, in FIG. 2, the notch 53 located on one end side in the longitudinal direction Y of the base plate 50 is formed so as to penetrate from the lid portion 21 side to the opposite side (lower accommodation portion 202 side). Yes. In both the cutout portions 52 and 53, a protruding portion (head portion 32b) of the lid fixing member 32 that protrudes from the lid portion 30 toward the base plate 50 is housed. Thereby, both the opposing surfaces 31 and 50a of the cover part 30 and the baseplate 50 are comprised so that it may mutually contact.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an electronic component 10 (capacitor 11, transistor 12, circuit board 13, transformer (not shown), MOS, etc.) is fixed to the base plate 50. The capacitor 11 is directly fixed to the surface 50 b of the base plate 50 opposite to the lid portion 30. The transistor 12 is mounted on the circuit board 13 and is fixed to the base plate 50 via the circuit board 13. The circuit board 13 is fixed to the surface 50 b of the base plate 50 opposite to the lid portion 30 by the board fixing member 14. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the electronic component 10 (circuit board 13) is disposed on the side opposite to the lid portion 30 of the notch 53 formed in the center of the base plate 50. Yes.
Thus, the electronic component 10 is integrated by being fixed to the base plate 50, and the converter unit 3 is comprised.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the distance D <b> 1 between the inner bottom surface 52 a of the concave notch 52 and the surface 31 of the lid 30 on the base plate 50 side is shorter than the axial length L of the lid fixing member 32. It is configured as follows. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the distance D <b> 2 between the lid 30 and the electronic component 10 (circuit board 13) facing the notch 52 is shorter than the axial length L of the lid fixing member 32. It is comprised so that it may become.

Next, the effect of the power converter device 1 of this example will be described in detail.
In the power converter 1, the electronic component 10 constituting the power converter (converter 3) is fixed to the base plate 50, and is not directly attached to the lid 30 that closes the groove 21. Therefore, when removing the power converter (converter 3), the base plate 50 may be removed from the housing 20 by removing the base plate fixing member 51 from the housing 20. Therefore, the power converter (converter 3) can be removed without removing the lid 30 while the lid 30 is fixed to the housing 20 by the lid fixing member 32. As a result, since the refrigerant flow path 40 is not opened when removing the power conversion unit (converter 3), it is not necessary to consider the leakage of the refrigerant, thereby reducing the maintenance work. In addition, when the power conversion unit (converter 3) is attached again, since the refrigerant flow path 40 is not opened, the contamination of foreign matter between the lid 30 and the base plate 50 is prevented in order to prevent the refrigerant from leaking. Since there is no need to pay attention, the maintenance work is reduced.

  The power conversion device 1 includes a base plate fixing member 51 that fastens the base plate 50 together with the lid 30 and fixes the base plate 50 to the housing 20. Since the lid 30 is fastened together with the base plate 50 by the base plate fixing member 51, the rigidity of the lid 30 is increased. As a result, the sealing performance between the lid portion 30 and the housing 20 is improved, and refrigerant leakage from the refrigerant flow path 40 is prevented.

  Further, the power conversion device 1 includes a lid fixing member 32 that fixes the lid 30 to the housing 20, and the base plate 50 has notches 52 and 53 formed at positions facing the lid fixing member 32. Has been. Of the lid fixing member 32, a protruding portion (head 32 b) that protrudes from the lid 30 toward the base plate 50 is accommodated in the notches 52 and 53. Accordingly, since the interference between the lid fixing member 32 and the base plate 50 is avoided, the base plate 50 and the lid 30 can be easily brought into close contact with each other. And by making both closely_contact | adhere, the rigidity of the cover part 30 can be improved further and the sealing performance between the cover part 30 and the housing | casing 50 can be improved further.

Furthermore, in the power converter 1, the notch part 52 is formed in the concave shape opened to the cover part 30 side. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, when the lid fixing member 32 fixed to the housing 20 is loosened, the lid fixing member 32 can be retained in the concave notch 52. As a result, the lid fixing member 32 can be prevented from coming into contact with a high-voltage electric circuit, electronic component, or the like in the housing 20 to cause a leakage or a short circuit. Moreover, since the notch 52 is concave, it does not open on the side opposite to the side where the notch 52 is formed, that is, on the side where the electronic component 10 is fixed. Thereby, the cooling effect through the base plate 50 is exerted on the electronic component 10 (circuit board 13) provided on the opposite side of the cutout portion 52.
In this example, as shown in FIG. 4, the distance D <b> 1 between the inner bottom surface 52 a of the concave cutout 52 and the surface 31 of the lid 30 on the base plate 50 side is the axial length of the lid fixing member 32. It is configured to be shorter than L. As a result, even if the lid fixing member 32 fixed to the housing 20 is loosened, the concave notch 52 is formed before the lid fixing member 32 falls out of the boss portion 21a of the housing 20. Since it contacts the bottom surface 52a, the lid fixing member 32 is prevented from falling off.

  Further, in the power conversion device 1, the notch 53 is formed so as to penetrate from the lid 30 side to the opposite side in the base plate 50, and an electronic component is provided on the opposite side of the notch 53 to the lid 30. 10 (circuit board 13) is arranged. The distance D2 between the lid 30 and the electronic component 10 (circuit board 13) arranged on the opposite side of the notch 52 from the lid 30 is longer than the axial length L of the lid fixing member 32. It is configured to be shorter. As a result, even if the lid fixing member 32 fixed to the housing 20 is loosened, the lid fixing member 32 becomes an electronic component before the lid fixing member 32 comes off the boss portion 21a of the housing 20. 10 is prevented from coming into contact with the housing 10 and falling into the housing 20.

  Further, in the power converter 1, the electronic component 10 and the base plate 50 form a converter unit 3 that boosts or steps down DC power. And the inverter unit 2 which converts the direct current power stepped up or down by the converter unit 3 into alternating current power is provided. The converter unit 3 and the inverter unit 2 are arranged in the housing 20 so as to sandwich the refrigerant flow path 40. In this example, the reactor 206 in the inverter unit 2 is in contact with the partition portion 23. Thus, the converter unit 3 can be cooled by the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path 40, and the reactor 206 in the inverter unit 2 can be cooled. Furthermore, the atmospheric temperature in the upper storage part 201 can be lowered. And the cooling effect | action of each semiconductor module 203 by the refrigerant | coolant which distribute | circulates each cooling pipe 204 will be assisted by the fall of the atmospheric temperature in the upper side accommodating part 201. FIG. Therefore, by adopting such a configuration, it is possible to reduce maintenance work when removing and attaching the converter unit 3 and to improve the cooling effect of the inverter unit 2.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the power conversion device 1 that reduces the labor of maintenance work.

(Example 2)
The power converter 1 of this example includes a notch 520 shown in FIG. 6 instead of the notch 52 (FIG. 4) in the first embodiment. Other components are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are used in this example, and the description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the notch 520 is formed in the base plate 50 at a position facing the lid fixing member 32 in a concave shape that opens toward the groove 21. The axial length L of the lid fixing member 32 is shorter than the distance D3 between the inner bottom surface 520a of the notch 520 and the surface 31 of the lid 30 on the base plate 50 side. Therefore, if the lid fixing member 32 fixed to the housing 20 is loosened, the lid fixing member 32 may fall off from the boss portion 21a of the housing 20. However, the notch 520 is concave, and a box-shaped space portion is formed between the groove portion 21 and the surface 31 on the opposite side of the lid portion 30, so that the lid fixing member 32 falls off by any chance. Even so, the lid fixing member 32 remains in the concave notch 520. As a result, it is possible to prevent the lid fixing member 32 that has fallen out from coming into contact with a high-voltage electric circuit, electronic component, or the like in the housing 20, thereby preventing leakage or short circuit.
Note that the power conversion device 1 of this example also has the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power converter 10 Electronic component 20 Case 21 Groove part 30 Cover part 32 Cover part fixing member 40 Refrigerant flow path 50 Base plate 51 Base plate fixing member 52, 53, 520 Notch

Claims (6)

A power converter (1) in which an electronic component (10) is housed in a housing (20),
A groove (21) formed inside the housing (20);
A lid (30) fixed to the housing (20) so as to close the groove (21);
A coolant channel (40) that is formed between the groove (21) and the lid (30) and that circulates a coolant that cools the electronic component (10);
With
The electronic component (10) is fixed to a base plate (50) provided on a surface (31) opposite to the groove (21) in the lid (30). (1).   The power conversion device (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a base plate fixing member (51) for fixing the base plate (50) together with the lid (30) to the housing (20). ).   A lid fixing member (32) for fixing the lid (30) to the housing (20) is provided, and the base plate (50) is notched at a position facing the lid fixing member (32). Portions (52, 53, 520) are formed, and of the lid fixing member (32), a protruding portion (32b) protruding from the lid (30) toward the base plate (50) is the notch. The power conversion device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the power conversion device (1) is housed in a portion (52, 53, 520).   The power converter (1) according to claim 3, wherein the notch (52, 520) is formed in a concave shape opened to the lid (30) side.   The notch (53) is formed so as to penetrate from the lid (30) side to the opposite side in the base plate (50), and the lid (30) of the notch (53). The electronic component (10) is disposed on the opposite side of the lid), and the distance (D2) between the lid (30) and the electronic component (10) is the axial direction of the lid fixing member (32). The power conversion device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the power conversion device (1) is shorter than the length (L).   The electronic component (10) and the base plate (50) form a converter unit (3) for boosting or stepping down DC power, and the DC power boosted or stepped down by the converter unit (3) is converted into AC. An inverter unit (2) for converting into electric power is provided, and the converter unit (3) and the inverter unit (2) are arranged in the casing (20) so as to sandwich the refrigerant flow path (40). The power converter device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein

Images