Power converter
A casing houses: semiconductor modules constituting a main circuit for power conversion; a capacitor electrically connected to the main circuit; drive circuits that provide the main circuit with a drive signal used in power conversion operation; a control circuit that provides the drive circuit with a control signal used to prompt the drive circuit to provide the drive signal. Within the casing, a cooling chamber including a coolant passage is formed, and a chamber wall of the cooling chamber is formed with a thermally conductive material. At least the semiconductor modules are housed inside the cooling chamber, and at least the capacitor and the control circuit are disposed outside the cooling chamber.
1. A power converter, comprising:
a first semiconductor module that comprises a plurality of power semiconductor elements to convert DC power to AC power;
a second semiconductor module that comprises a plurality of power semiconductor elements to convert DC power to AC power;
a capacitor for smoothing the DC power;
capacitor terminals that transmit the DC power to the first semiconductor module and the second semiconductor module; and
a passage forming body that is constructed of a thermally conductive member and forms a passage through which coolant flows;
wherein:
the first semiconductor module and the second semiconductor module are disposed side-by-side with a gap therebetween, at one side of the passage forming body;
the capacitor is disposed at another side of the passage forming body, opposite to the first semiconductor module and the second semiconductor module;
a through hole that connects between a space in which the first semiconductor module and the second semiconductor module are disposed and a space in which the capacitor is disposed is formed in the passage forming body, with the through hole being located at a position facing the gap;
a DC terminal of the first semiconductor module is positioned at a side of the first semiconductor module closest to the through hole;
a DC terminal of the second semiconductor module is positioned at a side of the second semiconductor module closest to the through hole; and
the capacitor terminals pass through the through hole so as to electrically connect the capacitor and the first and second semiconductors.
2. A power converter according to claim 1 , wherein:
a first opening and a second opening that open into the passage are formed in the passage forming body at a side toward the first and second semiconductor modules;
the first semiconductor module is provided with a first metal base plate on which the power semiconductor elements are mounted via an insulation member;
the second semiconductor module is provided with a second metal base plate on which the power semiconductor elements are mounted via an insulation member;
the first metal base plate closes the first opening so as to directly contact with the coolant; and
the second metal base plate closes the second opening so as to directly contact with the coolant.
3. A power converter according to claim 1 , wherein:
the capacitor is disposed at the other side of the passage forming body and is in contact with the passage forming body.
4. A power converter according to claim 1 , wherein:
the capacitor terminal comprises a plate-like positive capacitor terminal, a plate-like negative capacitor terminal facing to the positive capacitor terminal, and an insulation member disposed between the positive capacitor terminal and the negative capacitor terminal.
5. A power converter according to claim 4 , wherein:
each of the first semiconductor module and the second semiconductor module comprises a plate-like positive module terminal and a plate-like negative module terminal;
the positive capacitor terminal and the negative capacitor terminal protrude through the through hole into the space in which the first and second semiconductor modules are disposed;
the positive module terminal extends along a direction in which the positive capacitor terminal protrudes, and is connected with the positive capacitor terminal;
the negative module terminal extends along a direction in which the negative capacitor terminal protrudes, and is connected with the negative capacitor terminal.
6. A power converter according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a case that comprises a housing space for housing the first and second semiconductor modules, and an opening, wherein:
the opening of the case is closed by the passage forming body.
7. A power converter according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a control circuit board on which a control circuit for controlling drive of the power semiconductor elements are mounted, wherein:
the control circuit board is disposed outside the housing space of the case.