Power module cooling system
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to power module cooling systems. In particular, some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to power module cooling systems with structures to generate three-dimensional swirling and tumbling in liquid coolant flowing within a chamber of the cooling system. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.
1 . A power module cooling system, comprising:
a housing having a chamber defined by a top portion, a bottom portion opposite the top portion, and a plurality of sides;
an inlet to allow a liquid coolant to enter the chamber;
an outlet to allow the liquid coolant to exit the chamber;
a first set of fins extending from the top portion into the chamber; and
a second set of fins extending from the bottom portion into the chamber, the first set of fins and the second set of fins defining a three-dimensional flow path for the liquid coolant, wherein the first set of fins do not contact the bottom portion, the second set of fins do not contact the top portion, and the first set of fins overlap the second set of fins in both a first plane and a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, and wherein:
at least one of the first set of fins has a first end connected to the top portion by a rounded connection, and a second end opposite the first end, the first end having an angular shape; and
at least one of the second set of fins has a third end connected to the bottom portion by a rounded connection, and a fourth end opposite the third end, the fourth end having an angular shape.
2 . The power module cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the housing has an exterior, the exterior of the top portion is adapted to couple to a first power module, and the exterior of the bottom portion is adapted to couple to a second power module, wherein the power module cooling system simultaneously cools the first power module and the second power module as the liquid coolant traverses the first set of fins and the second set of fins between the inlet and the outlet within the chamber.
3 . The power module cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the liquid coolant swirls and tumbles as the liquid coolant traverses the first set of fins and the second set of fins between the inlet and the outlet within the chamber.
4 . The power module cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the housing has a length between a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, a width between a third side and a fourth side opposite to the third side, and a height between the top portion and the bottom portion.
5 . The power module cooling system of claim 4 , wherein the inlet is in the first side and the outlet is in the second side, or the inlet is in the top portion and the outlet is in the bottom portion.
6 . The power module cooling system of claim 4 , wherein the length is greater than the width, and wherein the inlet is in the third side and the outlet is in the fourth side.
7 . The power module cooling system of claim 1 , wherein
the first set of fins and the second set of fins define the three-dimensional flow path in a first portion of the housing, and define another flow path that prevents flow of the cooling fluid in a direction parallel to the first plane or the second plane.
8 . The power module cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets.
9 . A power module cooling system, comprising:
a housing having an exterior and a chamber defined by a top portion, a bottom portion opposite the top portion, and a plurality of sides;
an inlet to allow a liquid coolant to enter the chamber;
an outlet to allow the liquid coolant to exit the chamber;
a first set of fins extending from the top portion into the chamber; and
a second set of fins extending from the bottom portion into the chamber, the first set of fins and the second set of fins defining a three-dimensional flow path for the liquid coolant, wherein the first set of fins do not contact the bottom portion, the second set of fins do not contact the top portion, and the first set of fins overlap the second set of fins in both a first plane and a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, wherein the exterior of the top portion is adapted to couple to a first power module, the exterior of the bottom portion is adapted to couple to a second power module, wherein the power module cooling system simultaneously cools the first power module and the second power module as the liquid coolant traverses the first set of fins and the second set of fins between the inlet and the outlet within the chamber, and wherein:
at least one of the first set of fins has a first end connected to the top portion by a rounded connection, and a second end opposite the first end, the first end having an angular shape; and
at least one of the second set of fins has a third end connected to the bottom portion by a rounded connection, and a fourth end opposite the third end, the fourth end having an angular shape.
10 . The power module cooling system of claim 9 , wherein the liquid coolant swirls and tumbles as the liquid coolant traverses the first set of fins and the second set of fins between the inlet and the outlet within the chamber.
11 . The power module cooling system of claim 9 , wherein the housing has a length between a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, a width between a third side and a fourth side opposite to the third side, and a height between the top portion and the bottom portion.
12 . The power module cooling system of claim 11 , wherein the inlet is in the first side and the outlet is in the second side, or the inlet is in the top portion and the outlet is in the bottom portion.
13 . The power module cooling system of claim 11 , wherein the length is greater than the width, and wherein the inlet is in the third side and the outlet is in the fourth side.
14 . The power module cooling system of claim 9 , wherein
the first set of fins and the second set of fins define the three-dimensional flow path in a first portion of the housing, and define another flow path that prevents flow of the cooling fluid in a direction parallel to the first plane or the second plane.
15 . The power module cooling system of claim 9 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets.
16 . A vehicle comprising:
a first power module;
a second power module; and
a power module cooling system, comprising:
a housing having an exterior and a chamber defined by a top portion, a bottom portion opposite the top portion, and a plurality of sides;
an inlet to allow a liquid coolant to enter the chamber;
an outlet to allow the liquid coolant to exit the chamber;
a first set of fins extending from the top portion into the chamber; and
a second set of fins extending from the bottom portion into the chamber, the first set of fins and the second set of fins defining a three-dimensional flow path for the liquid coolant, wherein the first set of fins do not contact the bottom portion, the second set of fins do not contact the top portion, and the first set of fins overlap the second set of fins in both a first plane and a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, wherein the exterior of the top portion is adapted to couple to the first power module, the exterior of the bottom portion is adapted to couple to the second power module, wherein the power module cooling system simultaneously cools the first power module and the second power module as the liquid coolant traverses the first set of fins and the second set of fins between the inlet and the outlet within the chamber, and wherein:
at least one of the first set of fins has a first end connected to the top portion by a rounded connection, and a second end opposite the first end, the first end having an angular shape; and
at least one of the second set of fins has a third end connected to the bottom portion by a rounded connection, and a fourth end opposite the third end, the fourth end having an angular shape.
17 . The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the liquid coolant swirls and tumbles as the liquid coolant traverses the first set of fins and the second set of fins between the inlet and the outlet within the chamber.
18 . The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the housing has a length between a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, a width between a third side and a fourth side opposite to the third side, and a height between the top portion and the bottom portion.
19 . The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the inlet is in the first side and the outlet is in the second side, or the inlet is in the top portion and the outlet is in the bottom portion.
20 . The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the length is greater than the width, and wherein the inlet is in the third side and the outlet is in the fourth side.