Electric power converter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9419535-B2
Application number	US-201214122713-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 25, 2012
Priority date	Jun 2, 2011
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

An electric power converter is provided with: a power semiconductor module, which has a power semiconductor element that converts a direct current into an alternating current; a capacitor module, which has a capacitor element that smooths the direct current; and a cooling body, which cools the power semiconductor module and the capacitor module. The capacitor module has: a case, which has an approximately rectangular shape, has an opening formed in one surface, and has a space for housing the capacitor element; and a DC conductor for electrically connecting the power semiconductor element and the capacitor element to each other. The cooling body is formed to face the bottom surface on the inner wall of the case, and both the side surfaces of the case, the side surfaces facing each other. Between the capacitor element and the inner wall surfaces of the case, the direct current conductor is formed along the bottom surface and both the side surfaces of the case.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electric power converter comprising:
a power semiconductor module including a power semiconductor element that converts a direct current into an alternating current;
a capacitor module including a capacitor element that smooths the direct current; and
a cooling body configured to cool the power semiconductor module and the capacitor module,
wherein the capacitor module includes a case having an approximately rectangular shape, forming an opening in one surface, and including a space for housing the capacitor element, and a DC conductor for electrically connecting the power semiconductor element and the capacitor element,
the cooling body is formed to face a bottom surface of an inner wall of the case, and both side surfaces of the case, the side surfaces facing each other, and
the DC conductor is formed between the capacitor element and the cooling body, between the capacitor element and the inner wall surface of the case, and along the bottom surface and the both side surfaces of the case.

2. The electric power converter according to claim 1 , wherein
the cooling body includes a first flow channel forming body that allows a coolant to flow and is arranged at a side portion of one side surface of the both end surfaces of the case, and
the power semiconductor module is fixed to the first flow channel forming body such that a dissipation surface of the power semiconductor module faces the one side surface of the both side surfaces of the case.

3. The electric power converter according to claim 1 , wherein
the cooling body includes a first flow channel forming body that allows a coolant to flow and is arranged at a side portion of one of the both side surfaces of the case, and a second flow channel forming body that allows a coolant to flow and is arranged at a side portion of the other of the both side surfaces of the case,
a plurality of power semiconductor modules is provided, and
the plurality of the power semiconductor modules is further arranged by being separated into the first flow channel forming body and to the second flow channel forming body.

4. The electric power converter according to claim 1 , wherein
the capacitor element is a wound-type cylindrical film capacitor element in which two electrode surfaces face each other, and
the film capacitor element is arranged such that the two electrode surfaces face the both side surfaces.

5. The electric power converter according to claim 1 , wherein
the DC conductor is configured from a positive electrode-side conductor, a negative electrode-side conductor, and an insulating member arranged between the positive electrode-side conductor and the negative electrode-side conductor, and
at least parts of the positive electrode-side conductor and of the negative electrode-side conductor are in a layered state in the space of the case.

6. The electric power converter according to claim 1 , wherein
the bottom surface or the side surfaces facing the DC conductor in the case is made of a metal member, and the other parts are made of a resin member.

7. The electric power converter according to claim 1 ,
the electric power converter outputs a three phase alternating current including a U phase, a V phase, and a W phase, wherein
a plurality of the power modules are provided by being separated into a U phase power module that outputs a U phase, a V phase power module that outputs a V phase, and a W phase power module that outputs W phase,
a DC terminal of the U phase power module is directly connected with the DC conductor,
a DC terminal of the V phase power module is directly connected with the DC conductor, and
a DC terminal of the W phase power module is directly connected with the DC conductor.

8. The electric power converter according to claim 1 , wherein
the DC conductor is configured from a conductor plate.

Assignees

• Nishihara Atsuo
• Maeda Ken
• Nakatsu Kinya
• Hattori Yukio
• Hitachi Automotive Systems Ltd

Inventors

• Nishihara Atsuo
• Maeda Ken
• Nakatsu Kinya
• Hattori Yukio

Classifications

• H02M7/797

  using semiconductor devices only · CPC title

• H02M7/003 Primary

  Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections · CPC title

• H05K7/20927

  Liquid coolant without phase change · CPC title

• H05K7/1432

  specially adapted for power drive units or power converters · CPC title