Heat pipe cooling device and method with fan controlled based on air temperature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12396127-B2
Application number	US-202217735241-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2022
Priority date	May 5, 2021
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

Abstract

A method for cooling a device such as an electric motor drive or a general power converter, said device comprising a heatsink, electronic components connected to the heatsink, a heat pipe connected to the heatsink, an inlet air temperature measuring device and a cooling fan. According to the method, the drive establishes whether the inlet air temperature is below a first temperature threshold value and operates the cooling fan at a low inlet air temperature speed regime if the inlet air temperature is below the first temperature threshold value. The invention is also directed at a device such as an electric motor drive or a general power converter for performing the cooling method.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for cooling a device, said device comprising a heatsink, electronic components connected to the heatsink, a heat pipe connected or integrated to the heatsink, an inlet air temperature measuring device and a cooling fan, the method comprising:
measuring an inlet air temperature with the inlet air temperature measuring device
comparing, using the electronic components, the inlet air temperature to a first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ),
operating the cooling fan at a minimum speed if the inlet air temperature is less than the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ) and repeating the comparing the inlet air temperature to the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ),
determining a latest fan control mode if the inlet air temperature is not less than the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ) and repeating the comparing the inlet air temperature to the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ) if the latest fan control mode includes the cooling fan operating a speed higher than the minimum speed,
comparing, using the electronic components, the inlet air temperature to a second temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow2 ) if the latest fan control mode includes the cooling fan operating at the minimum speed,
operating the cooling fan at the minimum speed and repeating the comparing the inlet air temperature to the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ) if the inlet air temperature is not greater than the second temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow2 ), and
operating the cooling fan at the speed higher than the minimum speed if the inlet air temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow2 ) and repeating the comparing the inlet air temperature to the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ) if the inlet air temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow2 ),
wherein the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ) is within 5° C. of the freezing temperature of a working fluid partially filling the heat pipe.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow2 ) is 5° C. higher than the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ).

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the minimum speed of the fan is standstill.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fan is operated according to a request from at least one of the electronic components.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is at least partially filled with a working fluid comprising water, methanol and acetone.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet air temperature measuring device is an external or internal thermometer.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of cooling fans each has an associated temperature measuring device, wherein the measuring, comparing and operating steps are performed independently for each cooling fan and associated temperature measuring device.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is partially filled with working fluid and air has been removed from the heat pipe.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe includes a working fluid that is at least partially frozen in an area near the fan.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the device is an electric motor drive.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the device is a power converter device.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is at least partially filled with a working fluid comprising water.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is at least partially filled with a working fluid comprising methanol.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is at least partially filled with a working fluid comprising acetone.

15. A device comprising a heatsink, electronic components connected to the heatsink, a heat pipe connected to the heatsink, an inlet air temperature measuring device and a cooling fan, wherein the device is configured to:
measure an inlet air temperature with the inlet air temperature measuring device,
compare the inlet air temperature to a first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ),
operate the cooling fan at a minimum speed if the inlet air temperature is less than the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ) and repeat comparing the inlet air temperature to the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ),
determine a latest fan control mode if the inlet air temperature is not less than the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ) and repeat comparing the inlet air temperature to the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ) if the latest fan control mode includes the cooling fan operating a speed higher than the minimum speed,
compare the inlet air temperature to a second temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow2 ) if the cooling fan is operating at the minimum speed,
operate the cooling fan at the minimum speed and repeat comparing the inlet air temperature to the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ) if the inlet air temperature is not greater than the second temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow2 ), and
operate the cooling fan at the speed higher than the minimum speed if the inlet air temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow2 ) and repeat comparing the inlet air temperature to the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ) if the inlet air temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow2 ),
wherein the first temperature threshold value (T inletAirLow1 ) is within 5° C. of the freezing temperature of a working fluid partially filling the heat pipe.

16. The device according to claim 15 , wherein the minimum speed of the fan is standstill.

17. The device according to claim 15 , wherein the heat pipe is at least partially filled with a working fluid comprising water, methanol and acetone.

18. The device according to claim 15 , wherein the heat pipe is partially filled with working fluid and air has been removed from the heat pipe.

19. The device according to claim 15 , wherein the heat pipe includes a working fluid which may be at least partially frozen in an area near the fan.

20. The device according to claim 15 , wherein the heat pipe is at least partially filled with a working fluid comprising water.

21. The device according to claim 15 , wherein the heat pipe is at least partially filled with a working fluid comprising methanol.

22. The device according to claim 15 , wherein the heat pipe is at least partially filled with a working fluid comprising acetone.

Assignees

• Vacon Oy

Inventors

• Södö Nicklas Jan Anders
• Keski-Kujala Tommi
• Yli-Rahnasto Tuomas

Classifications

• F28D15/00

  Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls {; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies (F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence)} · CPC title

• H05K7/2039

  characterised by the heat transfer by conduction from the heat generating element to a dissipating body (arrangements for increasing/decreasing heat-transfer, e.g. fins details, F28F13/00) · CPC title

• H05K7/20136

  Forced ventilation, e.g. by fans (H05K7/202 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K7/20336

  Heat pipes, e.g. wicks or capillary pumps · CPC title

• H05K7/20945

  Thermal management, e.g. inverter temperature control · CPC title