US20020026996A1 - Cooling arrangement for a power inverter - Google Patents
Cooling arrangement for a power inverter Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020026996A1 US20020026996A1 US09/893,739 US89373901A US2002026996A1 US 20020026996 A1 US20020026996 A1 US 20020026996A1 US 89373901 A US89373901 A US 89373901A US 2002026996 A1 US2002026996 A1 US 2002026996A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- heat sink
- air
- power transistors
- inverter
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K7/00—Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus
- H05K7/20—Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating
- H05K7/2089—Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating for power electronics, e.g. for inverters for controlling motor
- H05K7/20909—Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02M—APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF
- H02M7/00—Conversion of ac power input into dc power output; Conversion of dc power input into ac power output
- H02M7/003—Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
Definitions
- the invention relates to a cooling arrangement for an electronic circuit and in particular to a cooling arrangement for a power inverter, for example a power inverter of the type used for producing AC voltage for supplying power to portable electronic appliances such as laptop computers or handheld electrical tools.
- a power inverter for example a power inverter of the type used for producing AC voltage for supplying power to portable electronic appliances such as laptop computers or handheld electrical tools.
- a power inverter converts direct current (DC) voltage to alternating current (AC) voltage.
- Power inverters generally employ switching power semiconductors in an output stage for producing the AC voltage.
- the output power transistors generate heat that can place a limitation on the power output, because at high temperatures the power transistors will begin to fail. Therefore, mechanisms are employed for dissipating the heat to increase the level of current that can be handled by the power transistors.
- a heat sensitive component such as a thermistor is usually placed in the circuit with the output power transistors to open the circuit and cut off power to the output power transistors when a given temperature is reached. If insufficient heat dissipation is provided, the thermistor will open the circuit at relatively low levels of current, thus placing a limitation on the power output of the inverter.
- the power transistors are electrically connected via a printed circuit board to an output terminal, usually in the form of a standard AC output receptacle, and are often physically connected to an interior surface of the inverter housing via a heat dissipation bar or rod.
- the inverter housing thus becomes hot to the touch, sometimes excessively so.
- the physical connection of the output power transistors to the housing wall can become dislodged and the transistors themselves could be fractured if the inverter housing is jarred, for example if inadvertently bumped against a rigid surface.
- a power inverter having a housing enclosing inverter electronics including power transistors electrically coupled to a DC voltage input for supplying an AC voltage output, wherein the inverter electronics are mounted on a circuit board that is fastened to the housing and the housing has a housing wall with air vents for admitting air into the housing, wherein in accordance with the invention there is provided: a heat sink including cooling fins forming air channels, the heat sink being mounted on the circuit board and the power transistors being fastened to the heat sink; and a fan mounted in a further housing wall opposite the housing wall with the air vents and being operative for blowing air out of the housing; wherein the heat sink is disposed between the air vents and the cooling fan so that a cross flowing air stream is created from the air vents through the air channels of the heat sink and out of the housing through the fan for dissipating heat generated by the power transistors.
- the Figure shows a power inverter 10 having a box-like housing 12 with a top wall and a side wall removed for viewing the interior of the power inverter.
- Housing 12 which is in part made of metal, for example extruded aluminum, encloses the electronics of the power inverter which are mounted on a circuit board 14 in a known manner.
- the electronics of the power inverter are known per se and do not form any part of the present invention.
- Housing 12 includes one side wall 12 a having air vents 16 which admit air into the housing and an opposite side wall 12 b in which a cooling fan 18 is mounted for blowing air out of the housing so that an air stream is created between the air vents 16 and the cooling fan 18 .
- the inverter electronics include output power transistors 20 that are coupled between a DC voltage input 22 and an AC voltage output in the form of standard AC receptacles 24 .
- the inverter electronics switch the output power transistors in a known manner for converting the DC voltage input to the AC voltage output.
- a metallic heat sink 26 is mounted on circuit board 14 between air vents 16 and fan 18 .
- Heat sink 26 includes a broad wall 28 to which the output power transistors are fastened and cooling fins 30 extending from wall 28 and forming parallel air channels 32 . Heat generated by the output power transistors is thus transferred to heat sink 26 and dissipated to the air in channels 32 .
- fan 18 creates a cross flowing air stream which enters the housing through vents 16 , flows through channels 32 and out of housing 12 through fan 18 .
- Heat generated by the output power transistors is thus dissipated by the heat sink to the cross flowing air stream and removed from the housing, creating an efficient cooling arrangement for reducing the temperature inside the housing, and permitting a higher electrical load capacity for the power electronics, and in particular the output power transistors.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Cooling Or The Like Of Electrical Apparatus (AREA)
- Inverter Devices (AREA)
Abstract
A power inverter has a housing enclosing inverter electronics including power transistors electrically coupled to a DC voltage input for supplying an AC voltage output. The inverter electronics are mounted on a circuit board that is fastened to the housing and the housing has a housing wall with air vents. A heat sink including cooling fins forming air channels is mounted on the circuit board and the power transistors have a heat transfer relationship with the heat sink. A fan is mounted in a further housing wall. The heat sink is disposed so that an air stream is created through the air channels of the heat sink and between the air vents and the fan for dissipating heat generated by the power transistors.
Description
- This application claims the priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/215,875 filed Jun. 30, 2000, the disclosure of said application being incorporated herein by reference.
- The invention relates to a cooling arrangement for an electronic circuit and in particular to a cooling arrangement for a power inverter, for example a power inverter of the type used for producing AC voltage for supplying power to portable electronic appliances such as laptop computers or handheld electrical tools.
- A power inverter converts direct current (DC) voltage to alternating current (AC) voltage. Power inverters generally employ switching power semiconductors in an output stage for producing the AC voltage. The output power transistors generate heat that can place a limitation on the power output, because at high temperatures the power transistors will begin to fail. Therefore, mechanisms are employed for dissipating the heat to increase the level of current that can be handled by the power transistors. To protect the power transistors against overheating, a heat sensitive component, such as a thermistor is usually placed in the circuit with the output power transistors to open the circuit and cut off power to the output power transistors when a given temperature is reached. If insufficient heat dissipation is provided, the thermistor will open the circuit at relatively low levels of current, thus placing a limitation on the power output of the inverter.
- In known inverters, the power transistors are electrically connected via a printed circuit board to an output terminal, usually in the form of a standard AC output receptacle, and are often physically connected to an interior surface of the inverter housing via a heat dissipation bar or rod. The inverter housing thus becomes hot to the touch, sometimes excessively so. Additionally, the physical connection of the output power transistors to the housing wall can become dislodged and the transistors themselves could be fractured if the inverter housing is jarred, for example if inadvertently bumped against a rigid surface.
- There is thus a need to improve the heat dissipation of known power inverters and to better protect the output power transistors against physical damage.
- It is an object of the invention to provide a power inverter with an improved cooling mechanism for the output power transistors.
- It is a further object of the invention to increase the load capacity of known power inverters by improving the heat dissipation of the output power transistors.
- It is still a further object of the invention to improve the arrangement for mounting the output power transistors in the inverter to better protect the power transistors against physical damage should the housing of the inverter be inadvertently jarred.
- The above and other objects are accomplished in the context of a power inverter having a housing enclosing inverter electronics including power transistors electrically coupled to a DC voltage input for supplying an AC voltage output, wherein the inverter electronics are mounted on a circuit board that is fastened to the housing and the housing has a housing wall with air vents for admitting air into the housing, wherein in accordance with the invention there is provided: a heat sink including cooling fins forming air channels, the heat sink being mounted on the circuit board and the power transistors being fastened to the heat sink; and a fan mounted in a further housing wall opposite the housing wall with the air vents and being operative for blowing air out of the housing; wherein the heat sink is disposed between the air vents and the cooling fan so that a cross flowing air stream is created from the air vents through the air channels of the heat sink and out of the housing through the fan for dissipating heat generated by the power transistors.
- The sole Figure of the drawings is a perspective view of the interior of a power inverter including a cooling arrangement according to the invention.
- The Figure shows a
power inverter 10 having a box-like housing 12 with a top wall and a side wall removed for viewing the interior of the power inverter.Housing 12, which is in part made of metal, for example extruded aluminum, encloses the electronics of the power inverter which are mounted on acircuit board 14 in a known manner. The electronics of the power inverter are known per se and do not form any part of the present invention. -
Housing 12 includes oneside wall 12 a havingair vents 16 which admit air into the housing and an opposite side wall 12 b in which acooling fan 18 is mounted for blowing air out of the housing so that an air stream is created between theair vents 16 and thecooling fan 18. - The inverter electronics include output power transistors20 that are coupled between a
DC voltage input 22 and an AC voltage output in the form ofstandard AC receptacles 24. The inverter electronics switch the output power transistors in a known manner for converting the DC voltage input to the AC voltage output. - A
metallic heat sink 26 is mounted oncircuit board 14 betweenair vents 16 andfan 18.Heat sink 26 includes abroad wall 28 to which the output power transistors are fastened and cooling fins 30 extending fromwall 28 and formingparallel air channels 32. Heat generated by the output power transistors is thus transferred toheat sink 26 and dissipated to the air inchannels 32. - In operation,
fan 18 creates a cross flowing air stream which enters the housing throughvents 16, flows throughchannels 32 and out ofhousing 12 throughfan 18. Heat generated by the output power transistors is thus dissipated by the heat sink to the cross flowing air stream and removed from the housing, creating an efficient cooling arrangement for reducing the temperature inside the housing, and permitting a higher electrical load capacity for the power electronics, and in particular the output power transistors. - Additional benefits from the cooling arrangement of the invention result from the fact that the output power transistors are not directly in contact with the inside wall of the extruded aluminum housing. First, this reduces the temperature of the housing to the touch. Additionally, since the output power transistors are connected to the heat sink which is in turn supported by the circuit board, the output power transistors are mechanically isolated from the housing and are less likely to be damaged due to mechanical shock to the housing which could occur, for example, during shipping.
- The invention has been described in detail with respect to preferred embodiments, and it will now be apparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the art, that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and the invention, therefore, as defined in the appended claims, is intended to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit of the invention.
Claims (1)
1. In a power inverter having a housing enclosing inverter electronics including power transistors electrically coupled to a DC voltage input for supplying an AC voltage output, wherein the inverter electronics are mounted on a circuit board that is fastened to the housing and the housing has a housing wall with air vents for admitting air into the housing, the improvement comprising:
a heat sink including cooling fins forming air channels, the heat sink being mounted on the circuit board and the power transistors being fastened to the heat sink; and
a fan mounted in a further housing wall opposite the housing wall with the air vents and being operative for blowing air out of the housing;
wherein the heat sink is disposed between the air vents and the cooling fan so that a cross flowing air stream is created from the air vents through the air channels of the heat sink and out of the housing through the fan for dissipating heat generated by the power transistors.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/893,739 US20020026996A1 (en) | 2000-06-30 | 2001-06-29 | Cooling arrangement for a power inverter |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US21587500P | 2000-06-30 | 2000-06-30 | |
US09/893,739 US20020026996A1 (en) | 2000-06-30 | 2001-06-29 | Cooling arrangement for a power inverter |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20020026996A1 true US20020026996A1 (en) | 2002-03-07 |
Family
ID=26910463
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/893,739 Abandoned US20020026996A1 (en) | 2000-06-30 | 2001-06-29 | Cooling arrangement for a power inverter |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20020026996A1 (en) |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1503617A2 (en) * | 2003-07-28 | 2005-02-02 | Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co. Ltd. | Frequency converter |
US20050056401A1 (en) * | 2003-09-17 | 2005-03-17 | Pioneer Corporation | Cooling device and electrical equipment equipped with the cooling device |
WO2005048672A1 (en) * | 2003-11-14 | 2005-05-26 | Det International Holding Limited | Power supply with improved cooling |
US20080144344A1 (en) * | 2006-10-16 | 2008-06-19 | Kelly Spencer | Static Inverter With Hardened Environmental Housing |
US20100182750A1 (en) * | 2009-01-16 | 2010-07-22 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki | Industrial vehicle with electric component unit |
DE102009053583B3 (en) * | 2009-11-17 | 2011-03-31 | Semikron Elektronik Gmbh & Co. Kg | Modular power converter assembly comprises two front elements, and converter module arranged between two front elements, where capacitor device is provided, which comprises two capacitor banks |
US20110304978A1 (en) * | 2010-06-10 | 2011-12-15 | Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | Enclosure of electronic device |
US10062491B1 (en) * | 2017-04-12 | 2018-08-28 | Chyng Hong Electronic Co., Ltd. | Choke coil module of high power density DC-AC power inverter |
US20220365576A1 (en) * | 2021-05-14 | 2022-11-17 | AA Power Inc. | Power Supply for a Mining Machine |
US11849536B1 (en) | 2022-10-12 | 2023-12-19 | Lunar Energy, Inc. | Gantry for thermal management |
US11889662B1 (en) | 2022-10-12 | 2024-01-30 | Lunar Energy, Inc. | Thermal interface sandwich |
US11997812B2 (en) * | 2022-10-12 | 2024-05-28 | Lunar Energy, Inc. | Cover for sealing a power module |
-
2001
- 2001-06-29 US US09/893,739 patent/US20020026996A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (22)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1503617A2 (en) * | 2003-07-28 | 2005-02-02 | Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co. Ltd. | Frequency converter |
US20050030715A1 (en) * | 2003-07-28 | 2005-02-10 | Masayuki Hirota | Frequency converter |
EP1503617A3 (en) * | 2003-07-28 | 2006-06-07 | Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co. Ltd. | Frequency converter |
US7272004B2 (en) | 2003-07-28 | 2007-09-18 | Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co. Ltd. | Frequency converter |
US20080212279A1 (en) * | 2003-07-28 | 2008-09-04 | Masayuki Hirota | Frequency Converter |
US20050056401A1 (en) * | 2003-09-17 | 2005-03-17 | Pioneer Corporation | Cooling device and electrical equipment equipped with the cooling device |
WO2005048672A1 (en) * | 2003-11-14 | 2005-05-26 | Det International Holding Limited | Power supply with improved cooling |
US20070215329A1 (en) * | 2003-11-14 | 2007-09-20 | Markus Schwab | Electric Device With Improved Cooling And Casing Therefor |
US7423871B2 (en) | 2003-11-14 | 2008-09-09 | Det International Holding Limited | Electric device with improved cooling and casing therefor |
US20080144344A1 (en) * | 2006-10-16 | 2008-06-19 | Kelly Spencer | Static Inverter With Hardened Environmental Housing |
US20100182750A1 (en) * | 2009-01-16 | 2010-07-22 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki | Industrial vehicle with electric component unit |
DE102009053583B3 (en) * | 2009-11-17 | 2011-03-31 | Semikron Elektronik Gmbh & Co. Kg | Modular power converter assembly comprises two front elements, and converter module arranged between two front elements, where capacitor device is provided, which comprises two capacitor banks |
CN102064674A (en) * | 2009-11-17 | 2011-05-18 | 赛米控电子股份有限公司 | Modularly constructed power converter arrangement |
US20110122669A1 (en) * | 2009-11-17 | 2011-05-26 | Semikron Elektronik Gmbh & Co. Kg | Modularly Constructed Power Converter Arrangement |
US8488319B2 (en) * | 2009-11-17 | 2013-07-16 | Semikron Elektronik Gmbh & Co. Kg | Modularly constructed power converter arrangement |
US20110304978A1 (en) * | 2010-06-10 | 2011-12-15 | Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | Enclosure of electronic device |
US10062491B1 (en) * | 2017-04-12 | 2018-08-28 | Chyng Hong Electronic Co., Ltd. | Choke coil module of high power density DC-AC power inverter |
US20220365576A1 (en) * | 2021-05-14 | 2022-11-17 | AA Power Inc. | Power Supply for a Mining Machine |
US11520391B1 (en) * | 2021-05-14 | 2022-12-06 | AA Power Inc. | Power supply for a mining machine |
US11849536B1 (en) | 2022-10-12 | 2023-12-19 | Lunar Energy, Inc. | Gantry for thermal management |
US11889662B1 (en) | 2022-10-12 | 2024-01-30 | Lunar Energy, Inc. | Thermal interface sandwich |
US11997812B2 (en) * | 2022-10-12 | 2024-05-28 | Lunar Energy, Inc. | Cover for sealing a power module |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: VECTOR PRODUCTS, INC., FLORIDA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KRIEGER, MICHAEL;FUNG, HUI S.;REEL/FRAME:012200/0209;SIGNING DATES FROM 20010827 TO 20010828 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |