JPH08116189A - Device for cooling current control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a cooling device with good cooling capacity in a current control unit without enlarging the size of a water jacket or a water pump. CONSTITUTION: A water jacket 13 has meandering flowing paths 39 to 42 with a small flowing-path area in cross section, and thereby the flow rate is increased. The flowing paths 39 to 42 are made up of a large flowing path 49 and a narrow flowing path 50 provided alternately to stir the cooling water. In addition, the flowing paths 39 to 42 are partitioned into small flowing paths 60 to 72 by means of fins 51 to 59. The fins 51 to 59 have notched parts 80 and 81 to stir the cooling water.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling device for a current control unit having a current control element for controlling a current to a drive motor for driving an electric propulsion vehicle, and more particularly to a technique for improving its cooling performance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) is used as a current control element for controlling a current flowing in a drive motor for driving an electric propulsion vehicle.
Etc. are known. Since these elements have a heat generating property, a current control unit such as an inverter having such a current control element is provided with a cooling device for cooling the current control unit. As a cooling device for this current control unit, there is, for example, one in which a water jacket is attached to the current control unit and cooling water is passed through the water jacket for cooling. As shown in FIG. 3, the water jacket of the cooling device includes a box portion 90 having a thin rectangular box shape, and the box portion 90.
Is provided at both ends in the length direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 3A), and is provided at the outer ends of the connecting portions 91 and 92 that are formed into a shape that is narrowed to the outside. Some have an inlet 93 and an outlet 94. In the water jacket 89, a plurality of flat plate-like fins 95 extending in the length direction thereof are provided inside the box portion 90 at a predetermined pitch in the width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3), whereby each fin A linear flow path 96 is formed between 95 and the like. Then, the cooling water introduced from the introduction port 93 is diverted and flows in one direction through the plurality of flow paths 96, and then is discharged from the discharge port 94, and in the meantime, in the thickness direction of the water jacket 89 via the water jacket 89. The heat is taken from mainly the current control element 98 of the current control unit 97 attached to one side to cool it.

[0003]

By the way, in order to cool the current control unit that generates a large amount of heat, simply,
It is conceivable to increase the size of the water jacket or to replace the water pump for flowing the cooling water through the water jacket with a high performance large one to increase the flow velocity of the cooling water. However, if the water jacket is replaced with a large one, naturally there is a problem that the entire cooling device becomes large and heavy. In addition, even if the water pump is replaced with a large one with high performance, there is also a problem that the entire cooling device becomes large and heavy, and in addition, there is a problem that power consumption increases. To do. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device for a current control unit, which can improve the cooling performance without increasing the size of the water jacket and the water pump.

[0004]

To achieve the above object, a first invention is attached to a current control unit having a current control element for controlling a current to a drive motor for traveling of an electric propulsion vehicle, and The water jacket has a water jacket through which cooling water is passed from the inlet to the fins provided inside and is discharged from the outlet, and the passage of the water jacket is provided at the inlet and the outlet. It is characterized in that each end is communicated and has a meandering shape.

A second aspect of the present invention is attached to a current control unit having a current control element for controlling a current to a drive motor for traveling of an electric propulsion vehicle, and a flow path between fins provided inside from an introduction port. A water jacket through which cooling water is passed and is discharged from an outlet, wherein the flow paths of the water jacket are alternately wide channels and narrow channels having a smaller cross-sectional area. It is characterized by being arranged.

A third aspect of the present invention is attached to a current control unit having a current control element for controlling a current to a drive motor for traveling of an electric propulsion vehicle, and a flow path between fins provided inside from an introduction port. A water jacket through which cooling water is passed and is discharged from an outlet, the flow path of the water jacket is further divided into a plurality of small flow paths by fins, and the fins are not cut. The feature is that a notch is formed.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the invention, since the flow path of the water jacket has a meandering shape, it is possible to reduce the flow path cross-sectional area and increase the flow velocity without reducing the total heat dissipation area of the flow path. .

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the flow passage of the water jacket is constituted by alternately arranging the wide flow passage and the narrow flow passage having a smaller flow passage cross-sectional area, the flow passage is formed. Turbulence occurs in the flowing cooling water, which causes the cooling water to be agitated. Therefore, the heat can be taken away by effectively using all the cooling water that is passed, so that the cooling efficiency becomes high.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the flow path of the water jacket is further divided into a plurality of small flow paths by the fins, and the fins have the notches. Mixing of the small passages that are matched causes turbulence in the cooling water, whereby the cooling water is agitated. Therefore, the heat can be taken away by effectively using all the cooling water that is passed, so that the cooling efficiency becomes high.

[0010]

1 and 2 show a cooling device for a current control unit (hereinafter simply referred to as a cooling device) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Will be described below. The cooling device of this embodiment is provided in an electric propulsion vehicle (not shown), and as shown in FIG. 2, a unit water jacket 13 in which an inlet 11 and an outlet 12 are arranged on the same side, and A radiator 15 connected to the inlet 11 of the unit water jacket 13 through a pipe 14, and a pipe 1 connected to the radiator 15.
The water pump 17 is connected to the discharge port 12 of the unit water jacket 13 via the pipe 18. The middle of the pipe 14 is connected via a pipe 21 to a motor water jacket 20 provided on an outer peripheral portion of a traveling drive motor 19 of the electric propulsion vehicle, and the motor water jacket 20 is connected to the pipe 22. It is connected to the pipe 18 through.

Here, the unit water jacket 1
3, a current control unit 25 having a plurality of exothermic current control elements 24 for controlling the current flowing through the drive motor 19 for traveling is attached. In the present embodiment, the current control element 24 of the current control unit 25 is attached. Is directly attached to the unit water jacket 13. The current control unit 25 of this embodiment is an inverter that converts DC power into AC power, and an IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) or the like is used as the current control element 24.

According to this cooling device, the cooling water removes heat mainly from the current control element 24 of the current control unit 25 in the unit water jacket 13 and is then sucked into the water pump 17 through the pipe 18 and the pipe 16
Is discharged to the radiator 15 through
After being radiatively cooled by, the water is circulated in a flow of being introduced into the unit water jacket 13 through the pipe 14, while a part of the water is diverted from the pipe 14 to the pipe 21 for the motor water jacket. After passing through 20 to remove the heat of the drive motor 19, it joins the pipe 18 via the pipe 22.

As shown in FIG. 1, the unit water jacket 13 of the cooling device of the present embodiment has a surface portion 2
7 has a thin rectangular box-shaped box portion 33 having an outer contour formed by the surface portions 32 to 32, and the length direction of the box portion 33 (see FIG.
The introduction port 11 and the discharge port 12 described above are provided in the vicinity of the end portion in the width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) on the surface portion 27 on one end side in the (a) left-right direction).

In the box portion 33 of the unit water jacket 13, the surface portion 27 on the side of the inlet 11 and the outlet 12 is formed by being connected to the surface portion 28 on the opposite side of the inlet 11 and the outlet 12. A flat plate-shaped fin 35 extending to the front of the concave portion 34 is provided at the center in the width direction so as to be connected to the surface portion 31 and the surface portion 32. Further, between the fin 35 and the surface portion 29, the flat plate-shaped fin 3 that is connected to the surface portion 27 and extends to the front side of the surface portion 28.
6 is provided so as to be connected to the surface portion 31 and the surface portion 32 in a state where the introduction port 11 is located between the surface portion 29 and the surface portion 29. Further, between the fin 35 and the surface portion 30, a flat plate-shaped fin 37 connected to the surface portion 27 and extending to the front of the surface portion 28.
Is provided so as to be connected to the surface portion 31 and the surface portion 32 in a state where the discharge port 12 is located between the surface portion 30 and the surface portion 30. As a result, the cooling water introduced from the introduction port 11 is
The flow path 39 between the 9, 31, 32 and the fin 36 is formed by the surface portion 2
After flowing in eight directions, the surface portions 31, 32 and the fins 35, 3
6 returns to the surface portion 27 in the flow path 40, further flows in the flow path 41 between the surface portions 31 and 32 and the fins 35 and 37 in the surface portion 28 direction, and finally reaches the surface portions 30 to 32 and the fins. It flows through the flow path 42 between 37 and 37 to the surface part 27, and is discharged | emitted from the discharge port 12 (the flow of cooling water is shown by an arrow in FIG.1 (a)). As described above, in the present embodiment, the flow paths 39 to 42 reciprocate along the length direction of the unit water jacket 13 and, when switching between reciprocations, sequentially shift the positions in the width direction, that is, meander. Is doing.

A plurality of (in the illustrated example, three) recesses 44 having a trapezoidal cross section are formed inside the surface portion 29 at equal intervals to each other in the length direction of the unit water jacket 13. The fins 36 are bent in a trapezoidal shape so that their positions are aligned with the recesses 44 and the fins 36 project in the direction of the recesses 44 by a smaller amount than the recesses of the recesses 44.
5 is formed. In addition, the bent portion 4 is also provided on the fin 35.
A bent portion 46 that is bent in a trapezoidal shape is formed so as to be aligned with 5 and project the same amount in the opposite direction. Further, the fins 37 are larger than the protrusions of the bent portions 46 by the fins 35.
Projecting portions 47 projecting in the direction are formed at both ends of the bending portion 46 in alignment with each other. In addition, this protrusion 47
Also protrudes in the direction of the surface portion 30. Thereby, in the flow paths 39 to 42, the concave portion 44 and the bent portion 45, the bent portion 45 and the bent portion 46, the bent portion 46 and the protruding portion 47.
The fins 37 between and the fins 37 between the protrusions 47 and the surface portion 30 form a wide channel 49 having a large channel cross-sectional area. The narrow channel 50 having a small area is formed.

The current control element 24 attached to one surface portion 32 of the box portion 33 in the thickness direction (left and right direction in FIG. 1B) has the recesses 44 at the positions of the wide channels 49.
The four corners are fixed by fixing members (not shown) provided on both sides of and the corresponding protruding portions 47, so that they are attached. In addition, a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) flat plate-shaped fins 51, 52 are provided at equal intervals between the surface portion 29 and the fins 36 so as to be connected to the surface portions 31, 32. Fins 53 and 54 are provided between the fins 36 and the fins 35, fins 55 and 56 are provided between the fins 35 and the fins 37, and fins 57 to 59 are provided between the fins 37 and the surface portion 30. Has been. Therefore, the flow channel 39 is further divided into a plurality of small flow channels (three in the illustrated example) 60 to 62 by the fins 51 and 52, and similarly,
The flow passage 40 is formed by the fins 53 and 54 so that the small flow passages 63 to 65 are formed.
In addition, the flow path 41 is formed by the fins 55 and 56, and the small flow paths 66 to 6 are
8, the flow path 42 is made up of the small flow paths 69 to 59 by the fins 57 to 59.
72, respectively.

Here, the fins 51 and 52 are provided with bent portions 73 and 74 which are bent in a trapezoidal shape so as to project in the direction of the recess 44 so that the position of the unit water jacket 13 in the lengthwise direction is aligned with the recess 44. Has been formed. Further, a bent portion 75 that is bent in a trapezoidal shape so as to project in the fin 36 direction is formed in the fin 53 in alignment with the bent portions 73 and 74, and the fin 54 projects in the fin 35 direction. Bent portion 76 bent in a trapezoidal shape
Is formed in alignment with the bent portion 75. Further, the fins 55 and 56 are provided with bent portions 77 and 78 that are bent in a trapezoidal shape so as to project toward the fin 37.
It is formed so as to be aligned with position 6. And fin 7
In each of the bent portions 3 to 78, a cutout 80 that opens to an adjacent one of the small channels 60 to 68 is formed.
Further, the fins 57 and 59 are also provided with notches 81 at predetermined positions. Further, a fin 82 is provided between the bent portion 73 and the bent portion 74 so as to be connected to the surface portions 31 and 32. Similarly, a fin 83 is provided between the bent portion 75 and the bent portion 76. ing.

According to the present embodiment having the above-described structure, since the flow passages 39 to 42 of the unit water jacket 13 have a meandering shape, the flow passages 39 to 42 do not have to reduce the total heat dissipation area. The cross-sectional area can be reduced to increase the flow velocity. Therefore, the cooling performance can be improved without replacing the unit water jacket 13 with a large one or the water pump 17 with a large discharge capacity. Moreover, by reducing the flow passage cross-sectional area, it is not necessary to disperse the cooling water from the introduction port 11 in a wide range of flow passages, so that the flow of the cooling water can be prevented from becoming partially non-uniform. it can. Therefore, the current control element 24 of the current control unit 25 can be cooled uniformly.

Further, the unit water jacket 13
Since the wide channels 49 to 42 are alternately arranged with the wide channels 49 and the narrow channels 50 each having a smaller channel cross-sectional area, the channels 39 to 42 are disturbed by the cooling water flowing through the channels 39 to 42. Occurs, which causes the cooling water to be agitated. Therefore, the heat can be taken away by effectively using all the cooling water that is passed, so that the cooling efficiency becomes high. Therefore, the cooling performance can be further improved without replacing the unit water jacket 13 with a large one or the water pump 17 with a large discharge capacity. Moreover, since the current control element 24 is attached to the position of the wide channel 49, the current control element 24
Heat can be taken from the larger range of by the cooling water.

Furthermore, the unit water jacket 1
The flow paths 39 to 42 of No. 3 are divided into a plurality of small flow paths 60 to 72 by the fins 51 to 59.
Since the cutouts 80 and 81 are formed in 7, 59, the adjacent cutouts 60 to 72 are mixed with each other by the cutouts 80 and 81, so that the cooling water is disturbed, and thereby the cooling water is disturbed. The cooling water will be agitated. Therefore, in addition to the above, it is possible to effectively use the cooling water that is further passed through to take away heat, so that the cooling efficiency is increased. Therefore,
The cooling performance can be further improved without replacing the unit water jacket 13 with a large one or the water pump 17 with a large discharge capacity.

In the above embodiment, the flow channels 39-42 are used.
The wide channels 49 and the narrow channels 50 are alternately arranged, and the notches 80 are formed in the fins 51 to 57 and 59 that divide the channels 39 to 42 into a plurality of small channels 60 to 72. , 81 are formed as an example, but of course, the flow path is only meandered, the wide flow path and the narrow flow path are alternately arranged, or the flow path is divided into a plurality of small flow paths. The fins may be provided with notches only, and these may be selectively combined.

[0022]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, since the flow path of the water jacket has a meandering shape, the flow path cross-sectional area can be reduced without reducing the total heat radiation area of the flow path. It can be reduced to increase the flow rate. Therefore, the cooling performance can be improved without replacing the water jacket with a large one or the water pump with a large discharge capacity.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the flow passage of the water jacket is configured by alternately arranging the wide flow passage and the narrow flow passage having a smaller flow passage cross-sectional area, the flow passage is formed. Turbulence occurs in the flowing cooling water, which causes the cooling water to be agitated. Therefore, the heat can be taken away by effectively using all the cooling water that is passed, so that the cooling efficiency becomes high. Therefore, the cooling performance can be improved without replacing the water jacket with a large one or the water pump with a large discharge capacity.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the flow passage of the water jacket is further divided into a plurality of small flow passages by the fins, and the notches are formed in the fins. Mixing of the small passages that are matched causes turbulence in the cooling water, whereby the cooling water is agitated. Therefore, the heat can be taken away by effectively using all the cooling water that is passed, so that the cooling efficiency becomes high. Therefore, the cooling performance can be improved without replacing the water jacket with a large one or the water pump with a large discharge capacity.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B show a water jacket and the like of a cooling device for a current control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1A is a front sectional view and FIG. 1B is a side view of FIG. is there.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a cooling device for a current control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B show a water jacket and the like of a conventional current control unit cooling device, in which FIG. 3A is a front sectional view and FIG.
FIG. 7A is a side view of (a) as viewed from the left.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Inlet port 12 Discharge port 13 Unit water jacket (water jacket) 19 Traveling drive motor 24 Current control element 25 Current control unit 35-37, 51-59 Fin 49 Wide channel 50 Narrow channel 60-72 Small channel 80, 81 notches

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cooling water is attached to a current control unit having a current control element for controlling a current to a drive motor for traveling of an electric propulsion vehicle, and cooling water is supplied from an inlet to a flow path between fins provided inside. In a cooling device for a current control unit having a water jacket that is passed through and discharged from an outlet, the flow path of the water jacket is formed in a meandering shape with each end communicating with the inlet and the outlet. Characteristic current control unit cooling device. 2. A cooling water is attached to a current control unit having a current control element for controlling a current to a drive motor for traveling of an electric propulsion vehicle, and cooling water is supplied from an inlet to a flow path between fins provided inside. In a cooling device of a current control unit having a water jacket that is passed through and discharged from an outlet, wide channels and narrow channels having a narrower channel cross-sectional area are alternately arranged in the channels of the water jacket. A cooling device for a current control unit, characterized in that 3. A current control unit having a current control element for controlling current to a drive motor for traveling of an electric propulsion vehicle, and cooling water is provided in a flow path between fins provided inside from an inlet. In a cooling device for a current control unit having a water jacket that is passed through and discharged from a discharge port, the flow path of the water jacket is further divided into a plurality of small flow paths by fins, and the fins have cutouts. A cooling device for a current control unit, wherein the cooling device is formed. 4. The current control unit according to claim 1, wherein the flow passage of the water jacket is formed by alternately arranging a wide flow passage and a narrow flow passage having a smaller flow passage cross-sectional area. Cooling system. 5. The flow passage of the water jacket is further divided into a plurality of small flow passages by fins, and the fins are provided with notches, wherein the cutouts are formed in the fins. The cooling device for the current control unit according to any one of 1.