Cooling device with a plurality of fin pitches

Abstract

It is an object to provide a cooling device with an increased leeward cooling capacity without increasing the number of heat radiation fins to be installed and the amount of cooling air.

The cooling device comprises a heat-receiving block thermally connected to a heat-generating element and heat radiation fin groups having a plurality of fins thermally connected to the heat-receiving block. A flow of cooling air is set in the direction parallel to the heat-receiving block. The plurality of heat radiation fin groups are arranged in tandem along the flow direction of the cooling air. Of the plurality of the heat radiation fin groups, the fin pitch of the heat radiation fin group arranged on the windward side of the cooling air is larger than the fin pitch of the heat radiation fin group arranged on the leeward side of the cooling air.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a cooling device for cooling a heat-generating element by forced-air cooling, and more particularly to a cooling device that performs forced-air cooling to cool such electronic components as power conversion devices mounted on transportation means including railroad vehicles, aircrafts and ships.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Conventional cooling devices include electronic component cooling devices in housings (hereinafter referred to as the conventional example) shown in FIG. 14. This conventional example comprises a flat plate-shaped heat-receiving block 42; a plurality of heat pipes 43 with a U-shape in side view erected on a surface of the heat-receiving block 42; and a heat radiation fin group 44. The heat radiation fin group 44 has a plurality of fins 44a mounted on the heat pipes 43 in the direction parallel to the heat-receiving block 42, and all the fin pitches between the respective fins 44a are equal (Patent Document 1).[0003]In ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]According to the first, the second and the third embodiments of the present invention, a pressure loss of the cooling air due to the windward heat radiation fin group is suppressed, and the amount and velocity of the cooling air passing through the heat radiation fin group on the leeward side can be prevented from being reduced. The cooling capacity on the leeward side is thereby increased so that the cooling capacity can be made uniform across the windward side and the leeward side. Since the cooling capacity can be made uniform, even a large-scale cooling device with a long fin length can without fail provide a cooling capacity across the windward side and the leeward side. In addition, since the number of fins of the windward heat radiation fin group is reduced, it is possible to suppress a temperature rise of the cooling air on the windward side and to supply the cooling air with a lower temperature to the leeward heat radiation fin group. The cooling capacity on the leeward side can be thereby increased. The fin pitch of the windward heat radiation fin group is large, i.e., the number of fins to be installed can be reduced as compared with the conventional example. Therefore, the cooling device can be reduced in size and weight as well as in manufacturing cost. Further, since it is not necessary to install a powerful fan in order to increase the cooling capacity on the leeward side, a space can be saved for installation, and the power consumption for driving the fan can be reduced to decrease environmental loads.

[0016]According to the third embodiment of the present invention, heat pipes are provided. In addition to the aforementioned effects, the cooling capacity is further increased for all the groups from the windward heat radiation fin group to the leeward heat radiation fin group.

[0017]According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, a pressure loss of the cooling air due to the fins is suppressed. Further, the cooling air flowing between the fins of the respective heat radiation fin groups can be made uniform so that it is possible to efficiently supply cooling air to the respective heat radiation fin groups. In addition, since cooling air can be efficiently supplied to the heat radiation fin groups, the cooling capacity of the leeward heat radiation fin group can be further increased so that the heat-generating element can be cooled without fail even in an enclosed space, e.g., inside the housing of a vehicle.

[0018]According to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the length of the fins of the windward heat radiation fin group is shorter than the length of the fins of the leeward heat radiation fin group. While the windward heat radiation fin group with a higher cooling capacity can be reduced in size and weight, the cooling capacity of the leeward heat radiation fin group can be increased. Further, by properly adjusting the length of the fins of the windward heat radiation fin group and the leeward heat radiation fin group, the cooling capacity of all the portions of the cooling device can be made as uniform as possible.

[0019]According to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, since the heat pipes are U-shaped or L-shaped in side view, the fins can be mounted effortlessly. The number of fins to be installed and the fin pitch can be properly adjusted, depending on the operation conditions of the cooling device.

Problems solved by technology

However, there is a problem that an increased number of fins 44a results in an increase in the dimensions as well as the weight of the cooling device.

There is a further problem that manufacturing costs are increased.

However, its large size presents the following problems: it is difficult to secure a space for installation; and power consumption for driving the fan is large.

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