Cooled power conversion assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9974214-B2
Application number	US-201615082566-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2016
Priority date	Apr 9, 2015
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A cooled power conversion assembly comprising a first chamber, a second chamber at least partially separated from the first chamber, at least one first type device located in the first chamber, at least one second type device located in the second chamber, and cooling means comprising a first cooling element and a second cooling element. The first cooling element is adapted to transfer heat out of the first chamber, and the second cooling element is adapted to transfer heat out of the second chamber. The first cooling element is in direct contact with the at least one first type device, and the second cooling element is in a heat transfer connection with the at least one second type device through a gaseous cooling medium.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cooled power conversion assembly comprising:
a first chamber;
a second chamber at least partially separated from the first chamber;
a housing inside which the first chamber and the second chamber are located;
at least one first type device located in the first chamber;
at least one second type device located in the second chamber; and
cooling means comprising a first cooling element and a second cooling element, the first cooling element being adapted to transfer heat out of the first chamber and comprising a first portion located in the first chamber and a second portion located outside the first chamber, the second cooling element being adapted to transfer heat out of the second chamber and comprising a first portion located in the second chamber and a second portion located outside the second chamber,
wherein the first portion of the first cooling element is in direct heat conducting contact with the at least one first type device, and the second cooling element is in a heat transfer connection with the at least one second type device through a gaseous cooling medium and
wherein the cooled conversion assembly comprises a cooling channel extending through the housing and cooling channel fan means for providing a cooling channel cooling medium flow between a first end of the cooling channel and a second end of the cooling channel, the second portion of the first cooling element being located at a first location in the cooling channel, the second portion of the second cooling element being located at a second location in the cooling channel upstream of the first location, and wherein the cooled power conversion assembly is adapted to convert electric energy from one form to another, and a heat density of the at least one first type device is higher than a heat density of the at least one second type device, and
wherein the first cooling element is a heat pipe or a finned element comprising a cooling fin protruding into the cooling channel, and the second cooling element is a heat pipe or a finned element comprising a cooling fin protruding into the cooling channel, and
wherein the first cooling element is adapted to function as a base-to-air cooling element, and the second cooling element is adapted to function exclusively as an air-to-air cooling element.

2. A cooled power conversion assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are located adjacent to each other and are at least partially separated from each other by a separating wall.

3. A cooled power conversion assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cooled power conversion assembly comprises second chamber fan means for providing a second chamber cooling medium flow inside the second chamber, the second chamber cooling medium flow being adapted to enhance heat transfer from the at least one second type device to the first portion of the second cooling element.

4. A cooled power conversion assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first type device comprises a diode module of a rectifier unit and/or a switch module of an inverter unit.

5. A cooled power conversion assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one second type device comprises protection means and/or connection means, the protection means being adapted for protecting the at least one first type device, and the connection means being adapted for connecting the at least one first type device to a supply and/or a load.

6. A cooled power conversion assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are ingress protected chambers.

7. A cooled power conversion assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first cooling element comprises a thermosiphon, and/or the second cooling element comprises a thermosiphon.

8. A cooled power conversion assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cooled power conversion assembly comprises filter means and a third chamber comprising a first sub-chamber, a second sub-chamber separated from the first sub-chamber, a third cooling element adapted to transfer heat from the second sub-chamber to the first sub-chamber, and means for providing a forced cooling medium flow between the outside of the housing and the first sub-chamber, wherein an inductor assembly of the filter means is located in the second sub-chamber, and the third cooling element is an air-to-air cooling, element.

9. A cooled power conversion assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the cooled power conversion assembly comprises means for providing a forced cooling, medium flow circulating between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein a capacitor assembly of the filter means is located in the first chamber, and is adapted to be cooled by the forced cooling medium flow circulating between the first chamber and the second chamber.

Assignees

• Abb Technology Ag
• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Hamari Juha
• Kangas Jani
• Myller Mikko
• Millner Dan

Classifications

• H02M7/003

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

• H05K7/20863

  Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components · CPC title

• H05K7/20754

  Air circulating in closed loop within cabinets · CPC title

• H05K7/209

  Heat transfer by conduction from internal heat source to heat radiating structure (H05K7/20909 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K7/20909 Primary

  Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components · CPC title