IP Library Granted Patent US 11,729,956
Granted Patent B2
US 11,729,956 · App. 17/265,575 · Granted Aug 15, 2023

Cooling system for power conversion device

Inventors: Naoki Takahashi (Kanagawa, JP); Yukinori Tsukamoto (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignees: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.; RENAULT S.A.S.
H05K7/20927H05K7/20909H05K7/20945
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,729,956
App. No.
17/265,575
Granted
Aug 15, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a cooling system for a power conversion device that includes a radiator, a radiator fan supplying air to the radiator, and a power conversion device including a plurality of electric components and a casing housing the plurality of electric components inside. The casing includes a base portion which is formed of a non-metallic material and on which the plurality of electric components is placed and a cover portion formed of a metallic material, fixed to the base portion, and covering a periphery of the plurality of electric components. A refrigerant channel through which a refrigerant cooling the plurality of electric components flows is formed in the base portion of the casing, and the casing is disposed at a position where an airflow of the radiator fan is applied to the cover portion.

Claims (30)

1. A cooling system comprising:

a radiator;

a radiator fan supplying air to the radiator;

a case; and

a power conversion device including:

a plurality of electric components and

a casing in which the plurality of electric components is housed, wherein:

the casing includes:

a base portion which is formed of a non-metallic material and on which the plurality of electric components is placed and

a cover portion formed of a metallic material, fixed to the base portion and fixed to the case, and covering a periphery of the plurality of electric components,

a refrigerant channel through which a refrigerant cooling the plurality of electric components flows is formed in the base portion of the casing, and

the casing is disposed at a position where an airflow of the radiator fan is applied to the cover portion.

2. The cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the power conversion device is mounted in a vehicle, and

the cover portion of the casing is fastened to a component having rigidity higher than rigidity of the base portion.

3. The cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the casing includes a heat sink structure on an outer surface of the cover portion.

4. The cooling system according to claim 3 , wherein:

the casing is installed to face the radiator, and

the heat sink structure is not provided on a first side wall on a side opposite to a second side wall facing the radiator of the cover portion of the casing.

5. The cooling system according to claim 3 , wherein:

the heat sink structure is a fin projecting from the cover portion to an outside of the casing.

6. The cooling system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a control unit controlling an operation of the radiator fan, wherein

when a temperature of the refrigerant flowing through an inside of the refrigerant channel is higher than a first predetermined temperature, the control unit drives the radiator fan at a rotation speed according to the temperature of the refrigerant.

7. The cooling system according to claim 6 , wherein:

when a temperature of the power conversion device is higher than a second predetermined temperature even in a case where the temperature of the refrigerant is equal to or less than the first predetermined temperature, the control unit drives the radiator fan at a rotation speed according to the temperature of the power conversion device.

8. The cooling system according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a rotary electric machine electrically connected to the power conversion device, wherein:

when a temperature of the rotary electric machine is higher than a third predetermined temperature even in a case where the temperature of the refrigerant is equal to or less than the first predetermined temperature and the temperature of the power conversion device is equal to or less than the second predetermined temperature, the control unit drives the radiator fan at a rotation speed according to the temperature of the rotary electric machine.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2024
From: RENAULT S.A.S.
To: AMPERE S.A.S.
Reel/Frame 067526/0311 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2021
From: TAKAHASHI, NAOKI; TSUKAMOTO, YUKINORI
To: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.; RENAULT S. A. S.
Reel/Frame 055126/0791 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210243922A1 · Aug 5, 2021