Power converter and automobile

Abstract

The utility model discloses a power converter and an automobile. A power converter includes a housing and an inductor surrounded by the housing, a first glue for conducting heat from the inductor to the housing and a second glue for securing the inductor to the housing are disposed between the inductor and the housing. According to the power converter provided by the invention, heat conduction and fixation of the inductor can be realized with relatively low cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the automotive field, and in particular to a power converter and a vehicle equipped with the power converter. Background Art

[0002] Power converters (PTUs), commonly used in new energy vehicles (including passenger cars and commercial vehicles), are electronic devices that convert one type of current into another. The power converter housing houses an inductor, which requires both secure mounting during installation and cooling during operation.

[0003] There is a power converter in which a thermally conductive adhesive is used to dissipate heat from an inductor in the power converter, and screws are used to fix the inductor to a housing of the power converter. Utility Model Content

[0004] The main technical problem to be solved by this application is how to achieve heat conduction and fixation of the inductor at a lower cost.

[0005] To solve the above technical problems, on the one hand, the present application provides a power converter, which includes a shell and an inductor surrounded by the shell, and a first glue and a second glue are provided between the inductor and the shell, the first glue is used to conduct heat from the inductor to the shell, and the second glue is used to fix the inductor to the shell.

[0006] In another aspect, the present application provides a vehicle comprising the power converter.

[0007] In the technical solution of this application, a first adhesive with high thermal conductivity is used to conduct heat from the inductor to the housing, and a second adhesive is used to secure the inductor to the housing, thereby achieving both thermal conductivity and securement of the inductor. Compared to the first adhesive, the second adhesive does not need to have high thermal conductivity, thus being economical. Furthermore, by using the second adhesive to secure the inductor to the housing, a separate securing mechanism can be eliminated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The disclosure of this application is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Among them:

[0009] Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of a power converter according to one embodiment of the present application is schematically shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] The preferred embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that these descriptions are merely illustrative and exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present application.

[0011] See also Figure 1 As shown, a power converter according to a specific embodiment of the present application includes a housing 3 (only a portion of which is shown in the figure) and an inductor 4 surrounded by the housing 3. The inductor 4 includes a magnetic core 41 and a coil surrounding the magnetic core 41 (the position indicated by reference mark 4). A first glue 1 and a second glue 2 are provided between the inductor 4 and the housing 3. The first glue 1 is used to conduct heat from the inductor 4 to the housing 3, and the second glue 2 is used to fix the inductor 4 to the housing 3. The first glue 1 can also be called thermally conductive glue, and the second glue 2 can also be called potting glue.

[0012] It should be noted that the functions of the first and second adhesives should not be construed in a restrictive manner. The first adhesive primarily serves to transfer heat from the inductor to the housing, but may also serve to secure the inductor to the housing. Similarly, the second adhesive primarily serves to secure the inductor to the housing, but may also serve to transfer heat from the inductor to the housing.

[0013] Exemplarily, the first glue is a silicone adhesive with high thermal conductivity, and the second glue is one or more of epoxy resin, polyurethane, light-curing glue, and silicone adhesive. The second glue has a lower thermal conductivity than the first glue. For example, the thermal conductivity of the first glue is 3 W / m / K, while the thermal conductivity of the second glue is 1 W / m / K.

[0014] Silicone with high thermal conductivity is used as the first glue, and its price is relatively high, for example, 200-300 RMB / L. Material with lower thermal conductivity is used as the second glue, and its price is relatively low, for example, 30-80 RMB / L.

[0015] In the power converter according to this embodiment, a first adhesive 1 with high thermal conductivity is used to conduct heat from the inductor 4 to the housing 3, thereby achieving thermal conductivity and cooling of the inductor 4. A second adhesive 2 is used to secure the inductor 4 to the housing 3, thereby securing the inductor 4. This eliminates the need for additional fixing mechanisms, such as screws, thus avoiding an increase in the volume of the power converter and the development of a corresponding new mold for the inductor. Compared to the first adhesive 1, the second adhesive 2 does not need to have good thermal conductivity, so a less expensive material can be selected for economical reasons.

[0016] When the first glue is silicone and the second glue is a photocurable glue (specifically, UV-curable glue), an exemplary manufacturing process of the power converter is: placing the inductor in a housing; applying a first glue of silicone material and then applying a second glue of photocurable material on the first glue; irradiating the second glue with UV light to cure it; and sending the intermediate product to a subsequent process without waiting for the first glue to be completely cured, thereby speeding up the manufacturing process.

[0017] According to one specific embodiment of the present application, the density of the first glue is greater than the density of the second glue. Since the first glue is located below the second glue, during the power converter manufacturing process, the first glue is applied first, and then the second glue is applied on top of the first glue. The higher density of the first glue than the second glue prevents the second glue from sinking into the first glue and mixing with the first glue before curing during the manufacturing process. Furthermore, during the power converter manufacturing process, there is no need to wait for the first glue to fully cure before applying the second glue to prevent the second glue from mixing with the first glue, thereby speeding up the manufacturing process and reducing manufacturing time.

[0018] In the embodiment shown in the figure, a cooling channel 31 is provided in the housing 3, and the first adhesive 1 is positioned closer to the cooling channel 31 than the second adhesive 2. Specifically, the cooling channel 31 is provided at the bottom of the housing 3, with the first adhesive 1 positioned below the second adhesive 2. Heat generated by the inductor 4 is transferred through the first adhesive 1 to the housing 3 and the cooling channel 31 provided therein. The cooling channel 31 is, for example, part of a cooling circuit, and a coolant may be provided within the cooling channel 31 to transfer heat away from the inductor 4.

[0019] refer to Figure 1 As shown, the first glue 1 continuously extends from bottom to top at least to the magnetic core 41 of the inductor 4, thereby at least partially transferring the heat of the magnetic core 41 directly to the first glue 1, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the magnetic core 41, and at least partially reducing the heat transferred from the magnetic core 41 to the coil of the inductor 4, thereby reducing the thermal load of the coil.

[0020] Continue to refer Figure 1 As shown, the second glue 2 continuously extends from bottom to top at least to the geometric center of the inductor 4 (the position indicated by reference mark 41 ), thereby better fixing the inductor 4 .

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present application, the color of the first glue is different from that of the second glue. For example, a colorant may be provided in the first glue and / or the second glue, such that the color of the first glue is different from that of the second glue. The different color of the first glue and the second glue allows for inspection of the application of the first glue and the second glue simply by direct observation of the color. For example, direct observation of the color can be used to check whether the first glue and / or the second glue have been applied and whether there are any defects.

[0022] According to a specific embodiment of the present application, the volume ratio of the first adhesive to the second adhesive is between 1:1 and 1:5, for example, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, or 1:5. The specific volume ratio of the first adhesive to the second adhesive must take into account both the cooling and securing requirements of the inductor and, if necessary, can be determined based on thermal simulation results. Generally speaking, the lower the volume ratio of the first adhesive to the second adhesive, the greater the cost savings.

[0023] The present application also includes a car having a power converter according to any one or more of the aforementioned embodiments. The technical features and technical effects thereof correspond to the previous description and will not be repeated here.

Claims

1. A power converter, characterized in that: The power converter comprises a housing (3) and an inductor (4) surrounded by the housing, wherein a first glue (1) and a second glue (2) are provided between the inductor (4) and the housing (3), wherein the first glue (1) is used to conduct heat from the inductor (4) to the housing (3), and the second glue (2) is used to fix the inductor (4) to the housing (3).

2. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein: A cooling channel (31) is provided in the housing, and the first glue is arranged closer to the cooling channel than the second glue.

3. The power converter according to claim 2, wherein: The cooling channel is arranged at the bottom of the housing, and the first glue is located below the second glue.

4. The power converter according to claim 3, wherein: The first glue extends at least to the magnetic core (41) of the inductor, and the second glue extends at least to the geometric center of the inductor.

5. The power converter according to claim 3, wherein: The density of the first glue is greater than the density of the second glue.

6. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein: The first glue is silicone, and the second glue is one of epoxy resin, polyurethane, light curing glue and silicone.

7. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein: The first glue has a different color from the second glue.

8. The power converter according to claim 7, characterized in that A colorant is provided in the first glue and / or the second glue, so that the color of the first glue is different from that of the second glue.

9. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein: The volume ratio of the first glue to the second glue is between 1:1 and 1:

5.

10. An automobile, characterized in that: It comprises the power converter according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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