Electrical device and method for cooling electrical device

Abstract

In the proposed solution, an electrical device (1) comprises a hermetically sealed housing (2), at least one fuse (4) and other electrical components inside the housing (2), and a heat sink (5) outside the hermetically sealed housing (2). The at least one fuse (4) is connected to the heat sink (5) via a heat conducting material (8). The heat sink (5) is adapted to conduct heat from the fuse to the outside of the housing (2). The heat sink (5) features a channel (6) for a cooling medium for transferring heat from the heat sink (5) by using the cooling medium, wherein the heat sink (5) is a medium-cooled heat sink (5).

Description

Background Art

[0001] The present invention relates to electrical equipment, and in particular to cooling electrical equipment.

[0002] In electrical equipment, heat stresses the components within. The electrical resistance of the components leads to heat losses. The higher the current flowing through the components, the greater the heat losses and the resulting heat generation. In challenging conditions, particularly in operating machinery, it is crucial to prevent heat buildup to excessive levels. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a new electrical device and a method for cooling the same. The solution according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the independent claim. Some embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0004] In the proposed solution, the electrical device comprises an airtightly sealed housing, at least one fuse and other electrical components inside the housing, and a radiator outside the airtightly sealed housing. The at least one fuse is connected to the wall of the radiator or to a cooling element connected to the wall of the radiator by a thermally conductive material, wherein a thermally conductive material is adapted between the sheath of the fuse and the wall of the radiator or between the sheath of the fuse and the cooling element. The radiator is adapted to conduct heat from the fuse to the outside of the housing. The radiator is characterized by a channel for a cooling medium for transferring heat from the radiator by utilizing a cooling medium, wherein the radiator is a medium-cooled radiator. Heat can be conducted away from the fuse body. This means that the electrical device can be cooled effectively and that the electrical device as a whole can withstand the most difficult environmental conditions very well.

[0005] According to an embodiment, a portion of the heat sink wall is a portion of the wall of the housing. This enables efficient and simple conduction of heat from the fuse to the heat sink, and makes the overall structure simple and durable.

[0006] According to an embodiment, the channel in the heat sink forms an inward recess in the housing. This allows the structure of the electrical device to become compact while at the same time allowing a relatively wide heat transfer surface from the interior of the housing to the heat sink.

[0007] According to an embodiment, the channel has an inlet and an outlet for the cooling medium at the same first end. The channel has an inlet side and a return side, which are largely separated from each other by an intermediate wall and connected to each other near the end opposite the first end. This allows the cooling medium to flow over a long distance within the channel with a structurally simple solution.

[0008] According to an embodiment, at least one fuse is adapted to be connected to the inlet side of the channel.In this way, the cooling medium guided to the fuse effectively cools the fuse.

[0009] According to an embodiment, guides are provided in the channel to direct the flow of the cooling medium. For example, the guides may be ribs or recesses. These guides may be adapted to create turbulence in the cooling medium flow. This allows the cooling medium to be easily directed to the desired location and allows the cooling medium to effectively transfer heat out of the fuse. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to some embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Figure 1 It is the edge of electrical equipment Figure 2 a schematic end view in section along line AA in FIG;

[0012] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic bottom view of an electrical device with a bottom cover of a radiator removed;

[0013] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Along the electrical equipment Figure 2 Schematic side view of a section along line BB in FIG;

[0014] Figure 4 Is the second electrical equipment along Figure 5 a schematic end view in section along line CC in FIG;

[0015] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A schematic bottom view of the electrical device with the bottom cover of the radiator removed; and

[0016] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 Along the electrical equipment Figure 5 Schematic side view of a section along line DD in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Figure 1 An electrical device 1 is shown. The electrical device 1 may be a switch box, a power distribution unit, or another device having a housing with electrical components inside. The electrical components may include one or more of the following: fuses, contactors, control units, connectors, conductors, etc. The voltage of the electrical device 1 may be in the range of 100V to 2000V, and the current flowing through the electrical device may be in the range of 50A to 1000A.

[0018] Electrical device 1 includes a housing 2 having a housing portion 2a and a cover 2b. The gaps between cover 2b and housing portion 2a, as well as gaps between connector 3 and housing portion 2a, are sealed, effectively enclosing housing 2 in an airtight manner. This hermetically sealed housing 2 effectively protects the electrical components within housing 2 from environmental conditions. For clarity, only fuse 4 is shown among the electrical components within the housing.

[0019] The housing portion 2a of the housing 2 forms the side walls and the bottom wall of the housing 2. The cover 2b of the housing 2 forms the cover wall of the housing 2. The electrical device 1 also includes a radiator 5 outside the hermetically sealed housing 2. The radiator 5 is formed to be connected to the housing 2 so that the bottom wall of the housing 2 forms a recess toward the interior of the housing 2, or a protrusion as seen from the interior of the housing 2. The radiator 5 therefore has a channel 6 for the cooling medium. The channel 6 of the radiator 5 is closed on the bottom side of the radiator 5 by the bottom cover 7 of the radiator. In this way, the bottom wall of the housing 2 forms the top wall and the side walls of the radiator 5. Therefore, although the radiator 5 is outside the hermetically sealed housing 2, the radiator 5 is partially integrated with the structure of the housing 2.

[0020] At least at the heat sink 5, the material of the housing 2 is a good heat conductor. The entire housing 2 can also be made of one material. The good heat conductor material of the housing 2 can be a metal, such as aluminum.

[0021] The lower portion of fuse 4 is connected to the top of heat sink 5 via a highly thermally conductive material 8. This highly thermally conductive material 8 is fitted between fuse sheath 4a and the wall of heat sink 5. This highly thermally conductive material can be a paste, such as silicone paste or another highly thermally conductive paste. Alternatively, this highly thermally conductive material can be another deformable intermediate material, such as a flexible elastic material. Using highly thermally conductive material 8, sheath 4a of fuse 4 is securely abutted against the wall of heat sink 5, with any roughness on the sheath and / or wall not reducing thermal conductivity.

[0022] In the figures relating to the electrical device 1, only one heat sink 5 is located at the bottom of the housing 2. If necessary, the heat sink 5 can also be adapted to the side and / or cover of the housing 2. The electrical device 1 may also have two or more heat sinks 5.

[0023] The cooling medium is guided from the inlet 9 to the channel 6, and the cooling medium is removed from the channel 6 and then from the outlet 10. The inlet 9 and outlet 10 and the connections and pipes connected thereto are Figure 2 Schematically illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. The cooling medium is a fluid suitable for the purpose. For example, the cooling medium can be compressed air, water, or a coolant such as ethylene glycol. After passing through the radiator 5 , the cooling medium can be directed to, for example, a separate cooler. The cooling medium can also be, for example, fuel, which is suitably heated when passing through the radiator used in the internal combustion engine.

[0024] The channel 6 has an intermediate wall 11 that divides the channel 6 into an inlet side 6a and a return side 6b. The intermediate wall 11 extends from the end on the side of the inlet 9 and outlet 10 to near the opposite end relative to the inlet 9 and outlet 10 sides. This allows the cooling medium to flow from the inlet side 6a to the return side 6b at the opposite end. For the most part, the cross-section of the inlet side 6a is larger than the cross-section of the return side 6b. This means that the volume of the inlet side 6a is larger than the volume of the return side 6b. However, the cross-section of the first part of the inlet side 6a can be smaller than the cross-section of the end of the return side 6b. When entering the channel 6, the cooling medium is in its coldest state, and when the cross-section of the inlet side 6a is larger than the cross-section of the return side 6b, the effect of the cooling medium can be applied as effectively as possible to the component to be cooled. The return side 6b can be smaller than the inlet side 6a because the cooling demand associated with the return side 6b is smaller.

[0025] To guide the flow of the cooling medium, guides are formed in the channel 6. These guides are formed in relation to the inlet side 6a, particularly because the fuse 4 to be cooled is also adapted in relation to the inlet side 6a. This allows the cooling medium to flow as desired (e.g., in a turbulent manner) in relation to the component being cooled. Turbulence is not required in relation to the return side 6b, which can make the return side simpler.

[0026] The guide may be, for example, a recess 12 or a rib 13. The recess 12 forms a support for the fuse 4. The rib 13 may extend from the top of the channel 6 all the way to the bottom cover 7 of the heat sink.

[0027] Furthermore, at each end of the fuse 4 there is a clamp 14. The fuse 4 is replaceable, ie the fuse 4 is detachably attached to the clamp 14.

[0028] exist Figure 4 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , a cooling element 15 is present in the electrical device 1 . The fuse 4 is connected to the cooling element 15 , which in turn is connected to the wall of the heat sink 5 .

[0029] The fuse 4 is connected to the cooling member 15 via a good thermal conductive material 8. The good thermal conductive material 8 is fitted between the sheath 4a of the fuse and the cooling member 15. With the good thermal conductive material 8, the sheath 4a of the fuse 4 is firmly against the cooling member 15, whereby any roughness on the sheath and / or the cooling member 15 does not reduce heat conduction.

[0030] The lower part of the cooling element 15 is connected to the top of the heat sink 5 by means of a good thermal conductive material 8. The good thermal conductive material 8 is fitted between the cooling element 15 and the wall of the heat sink 5. With the good thermal conductive material 8, the cooling element 15 rests firmly against the wall of the heat sink 5, whereby any roughness on the cooling element and / or said wall does not reduce the heat conduction. Figure 4 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, the top surface of the heat sink 5, ie the surface facing the interior of the housing 2, is substantially straight. This makes it possible to mount the cooling element 15 in relation to the wall of the heat sink 5 in a simple and reliable manner.

[0031] The cooling member 15 is adapted to surround the fuse 4. This enables efficient cooling of the fuse 4. A heat-conducting material 8 is adapted around the fuse 4 between the fuse 4 and the cooling member 15. This enables efficient transfer of heat from the fuse 4 to the cooling member 15.

[0032] The cooling member 15 can be formed of one or more parts. In the case where the cooling member 15 is formed of more than one part, these parts of the cooling member 15 can be fixedly or detachably attached to each other. The parts of the cooling member can be fixed to each other, for example, by forging, welding, or by screwing or other suitable fixing methods. In the case where the parts of the cooling member 15 are detachably attached to each other, the fuse 4 adapted to be inside these parts can be easily replaced.

[0033] exist Figure 4 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, the cooling member 15 includes a top portion 15a and a bottom portion 15b. The top portion 15a of the cooling member is detachably fixed to the bottom portion 15b of the cooling member. The bottom portion 15b of the cooling member is connected to the wall of the heat sink 5. A good thermal conductive material 8 is present between the bottom portion 15b of the cooling member and the wall of the heat sink 5.

[0034] exist Figure 4 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the embodiment of FIG. 5 , the volume of the inlet side 6a of the channel 6 in the radiator 5 is substantially the same as the volume of the return side 6b. The guide members for guiding the flow of the cooling medium are ribs 13. The ribs 13 are wavy in the flow direction, thereby effectively creating turbulence in the flow.

[0035] In the figures, the fuses 4 are cylindrical, so that their cross-section is circular. The cross-section of the fuses may also be angular.

[0036] Those skilled in the art will find that, as technology advances, the basic idea of ​​the invention can be implemented in many different ways. Therefore, the invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above, but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An electrical device comprising a hermetically sealed housing, at least one fuse and other electrical components inside the housing, and a heat sink outside the hermetically sealed housing, wherein the at least one fuse is connected to a wall of the heat sink or a cooling member connected to the wall of the heat sink via a thermally conductive material, wherein a thermally conductive material is provided between a sheath of the fuse and the wall of the heat sink or between the sheath of the fuse and the cooling member, the heat sink is adapted to conduct heat from the fuse to the outside of the housing, and the heat sink is characterized by a channel for a cooling medium for transferring heat from the heat sink by utilizing the cooling medium, wherein the heat sink is a medium-cooled heat sink, and wherein The thermally conductive material is used to prevent any roughness on the sheath of the fuse and / or the wall of the heat sink or any roughness on the sheath of the fuse and / or the cooling element or any roughness on the cooling element and / or the wall of the heat sink from reducing heat conduction.

2. The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein A portion of the wall of the heat sink is a portion of the wall of the housing.

3. The electrical device according to claim 2, wherein: The passage in the heat sink forms an inwardly facing recess in the housing.

4. The electrical device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The cooling member is adapted to surround the fuse, and there is a thermally conductive material between the fuse and the cooling member that is adapted to surround the fuse.

5. The electrical device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: A thermally conductive material is fitted between the cooling element and a wall of the heat sink.

6. The electrical device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The thermally conductive material is a deformable material.

7. The electrical device according to claim 6, wherein: The thermally conductive material is a flexible elastic material.

8. The electrical device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The housing has a fuse clamp such that the fuse is detachably fixed to the fuse clamp.

9. The electrical device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The channel has an inlet and an outlet for the cooling medium at a same first end of the channel, the channel having an inlet side and a return side, the inlet side and the return side being separated from each other for the most part by an intermediate wall and connected to each other near opposite ends relative to the first end.

10. The electrical device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: There are guides in the channels to guide the flow of the cooling medium.

11. The electrical device according to claim 10, wherein The guides are ribs and recesses.

12. The electrical device according to claim 10, wherein The guide is adapted to create turbulence in the flow of cooling medium.

13. A method for cooling an electrical device, the electrical device comprising an airtightly sealed housing, at least one fuse and other electrical components inside the housing, and a heat sink outside the airtightly sealed housing, wherein the at least one fuse is connected to a wall of the heat sink or a cooling member connected to the wall of the heat sink via a heat-conductive material, wherein a heat-conductive material is provided between a sheath of the fuse and the wall of the heat sink or between the sheath of the fuse and the cooling member, heat is conducted from the fuse to the outside of the housing via the heat sink, and a cooling medium is moved in the heat sink and transferred away from the heat sink via the cooling medium, wherein: The thermally conductive material is used to prevent any roughness on the sheath of the fuse and / or the wall of the heat sink or any roughness on the sheath of the fuse and / or the cooling element or any roughness on the cooling element and / or the wall of the heat sink from reducing heat conduction.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: The radiator has a channel having an inlet and an outlet for the cooling medium at a same first end of the channel, the channel having an inlet side and a return side, the inlet side and the return side being separated from each other for the most part by an intermediate wall and connected to each other near the opposite end relative to the first end.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein: The cooling member is adapted to surround the fuse, and a thermally conductive material is adapted to surround the fuse between the fuse and the cooling member.

16. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein: A thermally conductive material is fitted between the cooling element and a wall of the heat sink.

17. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein: Turbulence is created in the cooling medium flow.

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