JP2022162342A - Electrical component module and air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

To efficiently cool heat-generating components on a board by an air cooling system.SOLUTION: An electrical component module 10 includes a holding member 20 which is a metal plate, a first control board 40 arranged on a first surface 21a of the holding member 20, a second control board 50 arranged on a second surface 21b opposite to the first surface 21a of the holding member 20, a heat generating element 62 mounted on the second control board 50, and a heat sink 70 for dissipating heat generated from the heat generating element 62. The heat generating element 62 and the heat sink 70 are arranged between the second surface 21b and the second control board 50, and the holding member 20 and the heat generating element 62 are thermally connected to each other via the heat sink 70.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present disclosure relates to electrical component modules and air conditioners.

An electrical component module provided in an outdoor unit of an air conditioner includes a substrate for controlling the air conditioner. In such an electrical component module, the board may be provided using a narrow and limited space such as the back side of the sheet metal part. An air cooling system and a refrigerant cooling system are known as methods for cooling heat-generating components included in an electrical component module. In the electric component module of the outdoor unit disclosed in Patent Document 1, power elements (heat-generating components) provided on the substrate are cooled by a coolant cooling method.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-033340

However, when the refrigerant cooling method is adopted as a cooling method for heat-generating components, space is required to route the refrigerant piping around the electrical component module, which causes problems such as increasing the size of the outdoor unit and increasing the cost of extending the refrigerant piping. There is a problem that it takes For this reason, there is a demand for a new technology that can efficiently cool the heat-generating components on the circuit board provided in a narrow and limited space, such as the back side of the sheet metal component, by an air-cooling system in the electrical component module.

An object of the present disclosure is to efficiently cool heat-generating components on a substrate by an air cooling method.

(1) The electrical component module of the present disclosure is
a metal plate; a first control board arranged on a first surface of the metal plate; a second control board arranged on a second surface of the metal plate opposite to the first surface; A heat-generating component mounted on a control board and a heat sink for dissipating heat generated from the heat-generating component,
The heat generating component and the heat sink are arranged between the second surface and the second control board,
The metal plate and the heat generating component are thermally connected via the heat sink.

With the above configuration, the heat-generating components on the second control board arranged on the second surface of the metal plate can be cooled by the heat sink and the metal plate. can be sufficiently cooled. As a result, in the electrical component module, the heat-generating components on the second control board provided in a narrow and limited space such as the back side of the sheet metal component can be efficiently cooled by the air cooling method.

(2) Preferably, the heat sink has a first portion extending from the first portion along the second surface between the first portion contacting the heat-generating component and the second surface and the second control board. 2 parts;
According to this configuration, the limited space between the metal plate and the second control board can be used to expand the heat sink, and the heat sink has the ability to sufficiently cool the heat-generating components. can be provided.

(3) Preferably, the area of the portion of the heat sink protruding from the heat-generating component when viewed from the normal direction of the second surface is equal to or larger than the area of the heat-generating component viewed from the normal direction of the second surface.
According to this configuration, it is possible to secure a surface area capable of sufficiently cooling the heat-generating components for the heat sink arranged in the limited space between the metal plate and the second control board.

(4) Preferably, the second portion has fins.
According to this configuration, a larger surface area can be secured for the heat sink arranged in the limited space between the metal plate and the second control board.

(5) An air conditioner of the present disclosure has any of the electrical component modules.
According to this configuration, even when the electrical component module including the second control board and the like is arranged in a narrow and limited space in the air conditioner, the heat-generating components on the second control board are cooled by the air cooling method. be able to.

1 is a perspective view showing a first surface side of an electrical component module of the present disclosure; FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the second surface side of the electrical component module of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the surroundings of a second control board, heating elements, and a heat sink; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 2; It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which showed typically the structure of an electrical component module. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the flow of heat from a heating element in the electrical component module; FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the heating element and the heat sink with the second control board removed and viewed from the normal direction of the second surface; 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing an air conditioner of the present disclosure; FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the arrangement of electrical component modules in the outdoor unit; FIG. 4 is a partial schematic diagram schematically showing the arrangement of electrical component modules in the machine room;

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Overall Configuration of Electrical Component Module 10]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the first surface of the electrical component module, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the second surface of the electrical component module. The electrical component module 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is one embodiment of the electrical component module of the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the electrical component module 10 includes a holding member 20 , a terminal block 30 , a first control board 40 and a second control board 50 .

The holding member 20 is a member (sheet metal part) obtained by punching a metal plate at an appropriate position and bending the metal plate into a predetermined shape. The holding member 20 has a rectangular main surface portion 21 and side surface portions 22 formed by bending side ends of the main surface portion 21 . The main surface portion 21 has a first surface 21a and a second surface 21b. In the holding member 20 of this embodiment, the front surface of the main surface portion 21 is the first surface 21a, and the rear surface is the second surface 21b.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the terminal block 30 is arranged on the first surface 21 a of the main surface portion 21 . The terminal block 30 has a plurality of terminal connection portions 31 . The electrical component module 10 of the present disclosure is mounted on the target device with the first surface 21a side facing forward so that the user can easily access the terminal block 30 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the main surface portion 21 has a pedestal portion 21c which is a portion that protrudes in a pedestal shape toward the second surface 21b side (the first surface 21a side is recessed) at substantially the center thereof. . The platform portion 21c is a portion for attaching the second control board 50 to the second surface 21b.

[Regarding the first control board 40 and the second control board 50]
As shown in FIG. 1 , in the electrical component module 10 , the first control board 40 is arranged on the first surface 21 a side of the main surface portion 21 . When the electrical component module 10 is viewed from the first surface 21a side, the depression on the back side of the pedestal portion 21c (see FIG. 2) is covered with the first control board 40 and cannot be visually recognized from the outside. A plurality of electrical components 60 including elements 61 such as capacitors are mounted on the surface 41 of the first control board 40 .

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the surroundings of the second control board, the heating elements and the heat sink. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the electrical component module 10, the second control board 50 is arranged on the second surface 21b side of the main surface portion 21 and attached to the pedestal portion 21c. A plurality of electrical components 60 including elements 61 such as capacitors are mounted on the second surface 21 b of the main surface portion 21 and the surface 51 of the second control board 50 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first control board 40 and the second control board 50 are arranged on the holding member 20 so as to be parallel to each other. In other words, the back surface of the first control board 40 (the surface opposite to the front surface 41) and the back surface 52 of the second control board 50 face each other in parallel with the main surface portion 21 interposed therebetween. .

[Arrangement of heat generating element 62]
As shown in FIG. 3, a heating element 62 is mounted on the rear surface 52 of the second control board 50 . The heat generating element 62 is an electrical component 60 (heat generating component) that generates enough heat to require cooling, and is mounted on the second control board 50 via leads 63 . The leg length of the lead 63 is such that the heating element 62 is arranged at a position separated from the rear surface 52 of the second control board 50 . In the electrical component module 10 , the heating element 62 is arranged in a narrow limited space between the pedestal portion 21 c (holding member 20 ) and the second control board 50 . The heating element 62 provided on the second control board 50 is, for example, a compressor control inverter, a fan motor control module, or the like.

[About the heat sink 70]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 2 and shows the structure around the second control board 50 and the heat sink 70. As shown in FIG. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 4 omits illustration of each member (the terminal block 30 and the first control board 40) arranged on the first surface 21a side of the holding member 20. As shown in FIG. 5A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure around the second control board 50 and the heat sink 70. FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5A, in the electrical component module 10, the heat sink 70 is arranged at a position facing the heating element 62 mounted on the second control board 50. As shown in FIGS.

The heat sink 70 is a member made of a material (for example, aluminum) having higher thermal conductivity than the holding member 20 and the heat generating element 62 . The heat sink 70 radiates heat absorbed from the outside from the surface of the heat sink 70 itself. As shown in FIG. 5A , in the electrical component module 10 , insulating sheets 80 are arranged between the heat sink 70 and the pedestal portion 21 c (holding member 20 ) and between the heat sink 70 and the heating elements 62 .

The insulating sheet 80 is a sheet-like rubber member containing a heat-dissipating component. It is possible to ensure thermal conductivity between The insulating sheet 80 of the present embodiment is a rubber sheet (about 0.3 mm thick) containing aluminum hydroxide as a heat dissipation component. From the viewpoint of adhesion, instead of the insulating sheet 80, silicone grease may be filled between the heat sink 70 and the heating element 62. FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and 5A, the heat sink 70 is a substantially plate-shaped member as a whole and has a rectangular shape when viewed in the plate thickness direction, and has a first portion 71 and a second portion 72. . In this description, the heat sink 70 seen in the plate thickness direction is divided into two regions in the longitudinal direction, one of which is called a first portion 71 and the other of which is called a second portion 72 . In the heat sink 70 , the area of the second portion 72 seen in the plate thickness direction is larger than the area of the first portion 71 .

The first portion 71 is a portion for fixing the heat sink 70 to the heating element 62 and the pedestal portion 21 c (holding member 20 ), and thermally attaches the heat sink 70 to the heating element 62 and the holding member 20 . This is the part for connection. The second portion 72 is a portion for radiating heat absorbed in the first portion 71 . The second portion 72 has fins 73 . In this embodiment, the heat sink 70 has fins 73, but the heat sink 70 in the electrical component module 10 may not have fins.

As shown in FIG. 4, the heat sink 70 has a first portion 71 formed with a screw hole 74 for fixing the heating element 62 . The heating element 62 is fixed to the first portion 71 by inserting the screw 53 into the notch 64 formed in the heating element 62 and screwing the screw 53 into the screw hole 74 . As a result, the heating element 62 is thermally connected to the first portion 71 via the insulating sheet 80 .

A plurality of screw holes 75 are formed in the first portion 71 and the second portion 72 of the heat sink 70 . A hole portion 21d for inserting a screw 76 is formed at a position corresponding to the screw hole 75 of the heat sink 70 of the pedestal portion 21c. The heat sink 70 is fixed to the pedestal portion 21 c by inserting the screws 76 through the holes 21 d of the pedestal portion 21 c from the first surface 21 a side and screwing the screws 76 into the screw holes 75 . As a result, the first portion 71 and the second portion 72 are fixed to the pedestal portion 21c (holding member 20) with the insulating sheet 80 interposed therebetween.

As described above, in the electrical component module 10, the heat sink 70 and the holding member 20 are thermally connected by fixing the heat sink 70 to the pedestal portion 21c (the holding member 20) via the insulating sheet 80. ing. In the electrical component module 10 , the heat sink 70 and the heat generating elements 62 are thermally connected by fixing the heat generating elements 62 to the heat sink 70 via the insulating sheet 80 . In other words, in the electrical component module 10 , the heating element 62 and the holding member 20 are thermally connected via the heat sink 70 and the insulating sheet 80 . Thereby, in the electrical component module 10 , the heat sink 70 transfers the heat absorbed from the heating element 62 to the holding member 20 .

4 and 5A, in the electrical component module 10, when the second control board 50 and the heat sink 70 are assembled to the holding member 20, the second portion 72 includes the second surface 21b and the second surface 21b. 2 control board 50, extending from the first portion 71 along the second surface 21b. In the electrical component module 10 , the limited space between the holding member 20 and the second control board 50 is used to expand the heat sink 70 . As a result, in the electrical component module 10 , the heat sink 70 can ensure a heat radiation capability capable of sufficiently cooling the heating elements 62 .

FIG. 6 shows the heating element 62 and the heat sink 70 viewed from the normal direction of the second surface 21b with the second control board 50 removed. As shown in FIG. 6, in the electrical component module 10, the area A1 of the heat sink 70 in the portion protruding from the heating element 62 (the portion surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 5) when viewed from the normal direction of the second surface 21b It is equal to or larger than the area A2 of the heating element 62 (the range in which the diagonal line is described) when viewed from the normal direction of the second surface 21b. For this reason, in the electrical component module 10, the heat sink 70 arranged in the limited space between the holding member 20 and the second control board 50 secures a surface area capable of sufficiently cooling the heating elements 62. can do.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5A and 6, heat sink 70 has fins 73 on second portion 72 . The heat sink 70 has the fins 73 on the second portion 72 to increase the surface area of the heat sink 70 (second portion 72) in the limited space between the holding member 20 and the second control board 50. can be done. In this embodiment, the fins 73 having a plate-like shape are exemplified, but the shape of the fins 73 provided on the second portion 72 is not limited to this. A fin, a bellows-like fin, or the like may be used. In addition, as described above, the second portion 72 (heat sink 70) may not have fins.

[Status of heat dissipation from heating element 62]
FIG. 5B schematically shows the flow of heat generated from the heating elements 62 in the electrical component module 10. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5B , in the electrical component module 10 , heat generated by the heating elements 62 is transferred to the first portion 71 of the heat sink 70 via the insulating sheet 80 . Part of the heat transferred to the first portion 71 is transferred to the second portion 72 and the holding member 20 and the rest is radiated from the first portion 71 . The heat transferred from the first portion 71 to the second portion 72 is radiated from the second portion 72 and the fins 73 . The heat transferred from the first portion 71 to the holding member 20 via the insulating sheet 80 is radiated from the holding member 20 (main surface portion 21 and side surface portion 22).

In the electrical component module 10, the heat generated by the heating element 62 arranged in the limited space between the holding member 20 and the second control board 50 can be efficiently dissipated by the heat sink 70 and the holding member 20. can. Therefore, according to the electrical component module 10 of the present disclosure, the heating elements 62 mounted on the second control board 50 can be efficiently cooled by air cooling.

[Regarding the air conditioner 90]
FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of an air conditioner 90 of the present disclosure. An air conditioner 90 shown in FIG. 7 is an embodiment of the air conditioner of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 7 , the air conditioner 90 is a separate type in which an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are separated, and includes an indoor unit 91 , an outdoor unit 92 , and refrigerant pipes 93 . The air conditioner 90 adjusts the temperature of the air in the indoor space S1 of the room R by performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle using a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and the like.

The indoor unit 91 is arranged in the indoor space S1. The indoor unit 91 takes in the air in the indoor space S1, performs heat exchange between the air and the refrigerant, and blows out the temperature-controlled conditioned air into the indoor space S1 again, thereby adjusting the temperature of the indoor space S1 to the desired value. adjust.

The outdoor unit 92 is arranged in the outdoor space S2. An air conditioner 90 includes the electrical component module 10 described above in an outdoor unit 92 .

FIG. 8A is a schematic plan view of the interior of the outdoor unit 92 viewed from above. The outdoor unit 92 has a housing 94 . The housing 94 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view. The interior of the housing 94 is partitioned by a partition wall 95 into a machine chamber S3 and a heat exchange chamber S4.

The outdoor unit 92 has the electrical component module 10 arranged in the machine room S<b>3 of the housing 94 . Each device mounted on the outdoor unit 92 is controlled by the control boards 40 and 50 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of the electrical component module 10 . In addition to the electrical component module 10, the machine room S3 accommodates a compressor 96, a four-way switching valve, an accumulator, an oil separator, an expansion valve, and the like (not shown).

A heat exchange chamber S4 of the housing 94 houses a heat exchanger 97, a propeller fan 98, and the like. The heat exchanger 97 includes a pair of headers 97a and 97b, a group of fins 97c arranged parallel to each other, and heat transfer tubes 97d penetrating through the group of fins 97c in the direction of arrangement. ing. Refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit flows through the heat transfer tubes 97 d of the heat exchanger 97 . The heat exchanger 97 is connected to the compressor 96 in the machine room S3 via piping (not shown). In this embodiment, the case where the electric component module 10 is provided in the outdoor unit 92 whose front side is the direction in which the air is blown by the propeller fan 98 is illustrated. is not limited to this. For example, the electrical component module 10 may be provided in an outdoor unit in which the air blowing direction of the propeller fan is directed upward.

FIG. 8B is a schematic partial schematic diagram of the inside of the machine room S3 viewed from the front side with the front housing removed. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the outdoor unit 92 has a support member 99 inside the machine room S3 of the housing 94. As shown in FIGS. The support member 99 is a member for supporting the electrical component module 10 in the machine room S3, and has a board attachment portion 99a and a base portion 99b. The support member 99 is a member obtained by pressing a metal plate into an L-shape, and has a substrate attachment portion 99a and a base portion 99b integrally formed. The base 99b of the support member 99 is fixed to the partition wall 95 using a fastening member (not shown) such as a screw, with the board mounting portion 99a facing the front side. The electrical component module 10 is fixed to the board mounting portion 99a using fastening members (not shown) such as screws, and placed in the machine chamber S3. The electrical component module 10 is arranged at a position that can be easily accessed by the user by removing part of the housing 94 (on the front side of the machine room S3 in this embodiment). In the air conditioner 90, a box-shaped casing (not shown) may be further provided in the machine room S3 of the outdoor unit 92, and the electric component module 10 may be accommodated in the casing. Alternatively, the electrical component module 10 may be fixed directly to the partition wall 95 .

As described above, the air conditioner 90 of the present disclosure has the electrical component module 10 in the outdoor unit 92 . According to such a configuration, even when the electrical component module 10 including the second control board 50 and the like is arranged in a narrow and limited space in the machine room S3 of the outdoor unit 92, the second control board 50 The upper heating element 62 can be cooled by air cooling. Although the present embodiment exemplifies the air conditioner 90 in which the electrical component module 10 is provided in the outdoor unit 92, the air conditioner of the present disclosure may include the electrical component module 10 in the indoor unit 91. .

[Action and effect of the embodiment]
The electrical component module 10 described above includes a holding member 20 which is a metal plate, a first control board 40 arranged on the first surface 21a of the holding member 20, and a first control board 40 on the side opposite to the first surface 21a of the holding member 20. A second control board 50 arranged on the second surface 21b, a heat generating element 62 mounted on the second control board 50, and a heat sink 70 for dissipating heat generated from the heat generating element 62 are provided. In the electrical component module 10 , the heating element 62 and the heat sink 70 are arranged between the second surface 21 b and the second control board 50 , and the holding member 20 and the heating element 62 are thermally connected via the heat sink 70 . It is connected to the.

With the configuration as described above, the heat generating elements 62 on the second control board 50 arranged on the second surface 21 b of the holding member 20 can be cooled by the heat sink 70 and the holding member 20 . As a result, it is possible to sufficiently cool the heating element 62 while suppressing an increase in the size of the heat sink 70 . As a result, in the electrical component module 10, the heating elements 62 on the second control board 50 provided in a narrow limited space such as the second surface 21b of the holding member 20 can be efficiently cooled by an air cooling method. .

In the electrical component module 10 described above, the heat sink 70 includes a first portion 71 contacting the heating element 62 and a first portion 71 extending along the second surface 21 b between the second surface 21 b and the second control board 50 . and a second portion 72 extending from.
According to such a configuration, the limited space between the holding member 20 and the second control board 50 is used to expand the heat sink 70, thereby increasing the ability to sufficiently cool the heating element 62. A heat sink 70 may be provided having a

In the electrical component module 10 described above, the area A1 of the portion of the heat sink 70 protruding from the heat generating element 62 when viewed from the normal direction of the second surface 21b is greater than or equal to the area A2 of the heat generating element 62 when viewed from the normal direction of the second surface 21b. is.
According to such a configuration, the heat sink 70 arranged in the limited space between the holding member 20 and the second control board 50 secures a surface area capable of sufficiently cooling the heating elements 62. can be done.

In the electrical component module 10 described above, the second portion 72 has fins 73 .
With such a configuration, a larger surface area can be secured for the heat sink 70 arranged in the limited space between the holding member 20 and the second control board 50 .

As described above, the air conditioner 90 of the present disclosure has the electrical component module 10 . According to such a configuration, in the air conditioner 90, even when the electrical component module 10 including the second control board 50 and the like is arranged in a narrow and limited space of the outdoor unit 92, the second control board 50 The upper heating element 62 can be cooled by air cooling.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above examples, but is indicated by the scope of the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims.

10: Electrical component module 20: Holding member (metal plate)
21a: first surface 21b: second surface 40: first control board 50: second control board 62: heat generating element (heat generating component)
70 : Heat sink 71 : First portion 72 : Second portion 73 : Fin 90 : Air conditioner A1 : Area (of heat sink protruding from heat generating component) A2 : Area (of heat generating component)

Claims (5)

a metal plate (20);
a first control board (40) arranged on the first surface (21a) of the metal plate (20);
a second control board (50) arranged on a second surface (21b) opposite to the first surface (21a) of the metal plate (20);
a heat-generating component (62) mounted on the second control board (50);
A heat sink (70) that dissipates heat generated from the heat generating component (62),
The heat generating component (62) and the heat sink (70) are arranged between the second surface (21b) and the second control board (50),
An electrical component module (10) in which the metal plate (20) and the heat generating component (62) are thermally connected via the heat sink (70). The heat sink (70) is
a first portion (71) in contact with the heat-generating component (62);
and a second portion (72) extending from the first portion (71) along the second surface (21b) between the second surface (21b) and the second control board (50). , an electrical component module (10) according to claim 1. When viewed from the normal direction of the second surface (21b), the area (A1) of the portion of the heat sink (70) protruding from the heat-generating component (62) is the above-mentioned 3. The electrical component module (10) according to claim 1 or 2, which is equal to or larger than the area (A2) of the heat-generating component (62). The electrical component module (10) of claim 2, wherein the second portion (72) comprises fins (73). An air conditioner (90) comprising the electrical component module (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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