Cooling device for electric equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9458756-B2
Application number	US-201114357980-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2011
Priority date	Nov 16, 2011
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

A cooling device for electric equipment includes a cooling unit for cooling an inverter element as a heat source. The cooling unit has a surface on which the inverter element is provided and a back surface disposed on a back side of surface, and includes a heat mass for transferring heat generated by the inverter element, an air-cooling fin provided on the back surface and radiating heat transferred through the heat mass, and an air-conditioner coolant pipeline provided on the surface and forming a coolant passage through which the coolant for vehicle cabin air-conditioning flows. With such configuration, a cooling device for electric equipment excellent in the cooling efficiency is achieved.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cooling device for electric equipment mounted in a vehicle, the cooling device comprising:
a cooling unit configured to cool a heat source included in the electric equipment, the cooling unit including:
a heat transfer member having a first surface provided at the heat source and a second surface arranged on a back side of the first surface that transfers heat generated in the heat source;
a fin portion provided at the second surface, the fin portion radiating heat transferred through the heat transfer member, the fin portion and the heat source being arranged on opposite sides across the heat transfer member; and
a coolant passage forming member provided at the first surface, the coolant passage forming member forming a coolant passage that allows a coolant for vehicle cabin air-conditioning to flow, the coolant passage forming member and the fin portion being arranged on opposite sides across the heat transfer member;

a circulation passage constituting a vapor compression refrigeration cycle, the circulation passage allowing a coolant for vehicle air-conditioning to circulate;
a communication passage allowing communication between the circulation passage and the coolant passage;
a switching valve provided on a route of the communication passage and permits or blocks a coolant flow between the circulation passage and the coolant passage;
a first temperature measurement unit configured to measure a temperature of the heat source;
a second temperature measurement unit configured to measure a temperature of the heat transfer member; and
a controller programmed to control an operation of the switching valve based on a temperature T 0 of the heat source and a temperature T 1 of the heat transfer member that are measured respectively by the first temperature measurement unit and the second temperature measurement unit, wherein:
the controller operates the switching valve so that a coolant flow between the circulation passage and the coolant passage is permitted when a value of T 0 -T 1 is less than or equal to β 1 (β 1 is a preset threshold value).

2. A cooling device for electric equipment mounted in a vehicle, the cooling device comprising:
a cooling unit configured to cool a heat source included in the electric equipment, the cooling unit including:
a heat transfer member having a first surface provided at the heat source and a second surface arranged on a back side of the first surface that transfers heat generated in the heat source;
a fin portion provided at the second surface, the fin portion radiating heat transferred through the heat transfer member, the fin portion and the heat source being arranged on opposite sides across the heat transfer member; and
a coolant passage forming member provided at the first surface, the coolant passage forming member forming a coolant passage that allows a coolant for vehicle cabin air-conditioning to flow, the coolant passage forming member and the fin portion being arranged on opposite sides across the heat transfer member;

a circulation passage constituting a vapor compression refrigeration cycle, the circulation passage allowing a coolant for vehicle air-conditioning to circulate;
a communication passage allowing communication between the circulation passage and the coolant passage;
a switching valve provided on a route of the communication passage and permits or blocks a coolant flow between the circulation passage and the coolant passage;
a second temperature measurement unit configured to measure a temperature of the heat transfer member;
a third temperature measurement unit configured to measure a temperature of the fin portion; and
a controller programmed to control an operation of the switching valve based on a temperature T 1 of the heat transfer member and a temperature T 2 of the fin portion that are measured respectively by the second temperature measurement unit and the third temperature measurement unit, wherein:
the controller operates the switching valve so that a coolant flow between the circulation passage and the coolant passage is permitted when a value of T 1 -T 2 is less than or equal to θ 1 (θ 1 is a preset threshold value).

3. The cooling device for electric equipment according to claim 2 , wherein:
the fin portion protrudes from the second surface, and
the third temperature measurement unit is provided at a leading end of the fin portion protruding from the second surface.

4. The cooling device for electric equipment according to claim 1 , wherein:
the electric equipment includes a plurality of heat sources, and
the coolant passage forming member is arranged between the plurality of heat sources that are arranged adjacent to each other.

5. The cooling device for electric equipment according to claim 2 , wherein:
the electric equipment includes a plurality of heat sources, and
the coolant passage forming member is arranged between the plurality of heat sources that are arranged adjacent to each other.

Assignees

• Arai Kunihiko
• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Arai Kunihiko

Classifications

• H10W40/47

  by flowing liquids, e.g. forced water cooling · CPC title

• H10W40/43

  by flowing gases, e.g. forced air cooling · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

  Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M10/613

  Cooling or keeping cold · CPC title

• H01M10/625

  Vehicles · CPC title