Cooler for power module, power module arrangement, inverter, electric drive unit

Abstract

The utility model relates to a cooler used for a power module, comprising a shell, the shell is provided with an upper shell part and a lower shell part which are spaced in the thickness direction, the upper shell part is provided with a first hole covered by a first heat radiation plate, the lower shell part is provided with a second hole covered by a second heat radiation plate, and the first hole is communicated with the second hole. A cooling cavity is defined by the first heat dissipation plate, the second heat dissipation plate and the corresponding circumferential side part of the shell, and a flow inlet and a flow outlet which are communicated with the cooling cavity are formed in the longitudinal end of the cooling cavity. The cooling cavity is divided into a first flow channel located above the flow guide component and a second flow channel located below the flow guide component; a first longitudinal end part, positioned in an area near the flow inlet, of the flow guide component is provided with an inflow shunting surface; and an outflow confluence surface is arranged at a second longitudinal end part of the flow guide component, which is positioned in an area near the outflow port. The utility model also relates to a power module device with the cooler, an inverter and an electric driving unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of heat dissipation and cooling, in particular to a cooler for a power module, a power module device with the cooler, an inverter and an electric drive unit. Background Art

[0002] According to existing technologies, a cooling device is typically attached to a side surface of a power module to cool the module and circulate cooling fluid through the cooling device. The power module to be cooled (e.g., an IGBT power module) is secured to a housing, with the cooling area of ​​the power module extending into a coolant channel located within the housing cavity, through which the coolant flows. Existing housings are typically designed to cool only a single power module. Consequently, existing power modules are expensive and heavy.

[0003] The cooling efficiency of electric vehicles is closely related to the overall energy efficiency of the vehicle and has a significant impact on the durability and performance maintenance of the electric drive unit and inverter. Therefore, a new cooling structure is needed to improve the cooling of the power module.

[0004] The information included in this background of the disclosure is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the disclosure and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to solve at least one of the above problems and / or other problems existing in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a cooler for a power module is provided, the cooler comprising a shell, the shell having an upper shell portion and a lower shell portion spaced apart in a thickness direction, characterized in that the upper shell portion is formed with a first opening covered by a first heat dissipation plate for a first power module, the lower shell portion is formed with a second opening covered by a second heat dissipation plate for a second power module, the first heat dissipation plate, the second heat dissipation plate and the corresponding peripheral side portions of the shell define a cooling cavity, an inlet and an outlet communicating with the cooling cavity are respectively provided at the longitudinal ends of the cooling cavity, the cooler further comprises a flat A flow guide member, wherein the flow guide member extends approximately along the longitudinal direction of the cooling cavity between the first heat dissipation plate and the second heat dissipation plate, so that the cooling cavity is divided into a first flow channel located above the flow guide member and a second flow channel located below the flow guide member; a first longitudinal end portion of the flow guide member located in the vicinity of the flow inlet is provided with an inlet diverter surface, and the inlet diverter surface is positioned relative to the flow inlet so that the coolant from the flow inlet is introduced into the first flow channel and / or the second flow channel; a second longitudinal end portion of the flow guide member located in the vicinity of the flow outlet is provided with an outflow merging surface, and the outflow merging surface is positioned relative to the outlet so that all the coolant guided by the flow guide member is guided to the outlet.

[0007] According to the cooler of the present invention, the flow of the coolant flowing between the inlet and the outlet is guided by the flow guide component to form the required flow channel configuration to meet the cooling requirements of the multi-power module.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the flow-guiding member is a hollow component. Its hollow chamber defines a third flow channel, which serves as an intermediate section connecting the first and second flow channels in series. This creates a series-connected flow channel configuration between the inlet and outlet, allowing the coolant to flow through the circuitous channel. While guiding the flow, the flow-guiding member also increases the heat exchange area, facilitating better cooling of the power module.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present utility model, the inlet diverter surface is designed to be a first slope surface extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the guide member between the upper surface and the lower surface of the guide member, and the first slope surface has an upstream end and a downstream end along the inlet direction of the coolant. The upstream end of the first slope surface abuts against the inner wall of the inlet to form a seal, and the downstream end of the first slope surface is spaced apart from the inner wall of the inlet to form a connecting port leading to the first flow channel or the second flow channel.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present utility model, the outflow converging surface is designed to be a second slope surface extending at an angle between the upper surface and the lower surface of the guide member relative to the longitudinal direction of the guide member. The second slope surface has an upstream end and a downstream end along the outflow direction of the coolant. The downstream end of the second slope surface abuts against the inner wall of the outlet to form a seal, and the upstream end of the second slope surface is spaced apart from the inner wall of the outlet to form a connecting port leading to the outlet.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a side surface of the guide member connected to the downstream end of the second slope surface is formed with a first serial opening connected to the head end of the third flow channel at the second longitudinal end of the guide member, and a side surface of the guide member connected to the upstream end of the first slope surface is formed with a second serial opening connected to the tail end of the third flow channel at the first longitudinal end of the guide member.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present utility model, the inlet diversion surface of the flow guide component is configured as a tapered first angular surface, the base of the first angular surface is connected to the upper surface and the lower surface of the flow guide component, the top of the first angular surface is located in an upstream position relative to the base, and the base of the first angular surface is spaced apart from the inner wall of the inlet to form a connecting port leading to the first flow channel and the second flow channel.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present utility model, the outflow converging surface of the flow guide member is configured as a tapered second angular surface, the base of the second angular surface is connected to the upper surface and the lower surface of the flow guide member, the top of the second angular surface is located in a downstream position relative to the base, and the base of the second angular surface is spaced apart from the inner wall of the outlet to form a connecting port leading to the outlet.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the flow guiding member is configured to be detachably installed in the housing.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the flow guiding member is symmetrical about a longitudinal center plane perpendicular to the plane where the flow guiding member is located.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first heat sink is provided with a heat sink extending into the first flow channel on its side facing the first flow channel; and / or the second heat sink is provided with a heat sink extending into the second flow channel on its side facing the second flow channel.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the shell is provided with an inlet manifold at its first end, the inner cavity of the inlet manifold is connected to the inlet port, and the inlet manifold is provided with a plurality of reserved inlet interfaces in different directions on its side; and / or the shell is provided with an outlet manifold at its second end, the inner cavity of the outlet manifold is connected to the outlet port, and the outlet manifold is provided with a plurality of reserved outflow interfaces in different directions on its side.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, a power module device is provided, comprising a first power module and a second power module, characterized in that the power module device comprises the above-mentioned cooler, the power chip of the first power module is in thermal contact with the first heat sink of the cooler, and the power chip of the second power module is in thermal contact with the second heat sink of the cooler.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, an inverter is provided, characterized by comprising the above-mentioned power module device.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, an electric drive unit is provided, characterized in that it includes the above-mentioned inverter.

[0021] The cooler for power modules of the present invention enables the placement of power modules on both sides of a single housing through the arrangement of the flow-guiding components within the housing and the specific configuration of the flow-guiding components, thereby greatly improving the integration of the power modules while ensuring cooling performance. In addition, the detachable and symmetrical design of the flow-guiding components also enables the efficient use of the same housing / the same flow-guiding components according to the actual cooling needs of the power modules, reducing mold R&D costs and component design costs, thereby reducing product costs. Compared with existing coolers designed for the cooling needs of the same number of power modules, the weight of the product is also greatly reduced, and the space occupied by the product is also greatly reduced due to high integration. Therefore, according to the present invention, an inverter or motor drive unit product with excellent cooling performance, compact structure, reduced cost and weight can be obtained. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The features and advantages of the present invention will be clearly understood through the detailed description provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following drawings are merely schematic and not necessarily drawn to scale, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the present invention, wherein:

[0023] Figure 1 A perspective view of a power module device according to the present invention is shown.

[0024] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 An exploded view of the power module assembly is shown.

[0025] Figure 3 Shown Figure 1 The cooler of the power module device shown does not have a cooling cavity with a flow-guiding component.

[0026] Figure 4 FIG. 1 shows an internal schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a cooler according to the present invention.

[0027] Figure 5FIG. 1 shows an internal schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a cooler according to the present invention.

[0028] Figure 6 FIG. 1 shows an internal schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a cooler according to the present invention.

[0029] Figure 7A A first layout of the inlet pipe joint and the outlet pipe joint of the power module device according to the present invention is shown.

[0030] Figure 7B A second layout of the inlet pipe joint and the outlet pipe joint of the power module device according to the present invention is shown.

[0031] Figure 7C A third layout of the inlet pipe joint and the outlet pipe joint of the power module device according to the present invention is shown.

[0032] Description of reference numerals:

[0033] 1. Power module assembly; C. Cooler; 1P, first power module; 2P, second power module; 3. Housing; 31, upper housing portion; 311, first orifice; 32, lower housing portion; 321, second orifice; 33, inlet; 34, outlet; 35, inlet manifold; 351, reserved inlet port; 36, outlet manifold; 361, reserved outflow port; PI, inlet pipe connector; PO, outlet pipe connector; 4. First heat sink; 41. Heat dissipation column of the first heat dissipation plate; 5. Second heat dissipation plate; 51. Heat dissipation column of the second heat dissipation plate; 6. Flow guide member; 61. Inlet diversion surface; 611. First slope surface; 612. First angular surface; 62. Outlet converging surface; 621. Second slope surface; 622. Second angular surface; 63. First serial opening; 64. Second serial opening; 65. Third flow channel; 7. First flow channel; 8. Second flow channel; S. Sealing ring; 9. Cooling chamber. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, many specific details are set forth so that those skilled in the art can more fully understand and implement the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be implemented without some of these specific details. Furthermore, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described. On the contrary, any combination of the features and elements described below may be considered to implement the present invention, regardless of whether they relate to different embodiments. Therefore, the following aspects, features, embodiments, and advantages are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as elements or limitations of the claims unless expressly set forth in the claims.

[0035] In the following description, terms such as "first," "second," and the like are used to describe elements of the present application. These terms are only used to distinguish between the elements and are not used to limit the nature, order, or number of the elements. The terms "including" and "having" are used to express an open-ended inclusive meaning and mean that additional elements / components may be present in addition to the listed elements / components.

[0036] Figure 1 The power module device 1 according to the present invention is shown. The power module device 1 includes a plurality of power modules and a cooler C for cooling the power modules. The plurality of power modules may include a Figure 1 The first power module 1P on the upper layer is shown and is located Figure 1 The first power module 1P and the second power module 2P may both include Figure 1 The number of sub-power modules shown can be set according to actual needs. Each of the multiple power modules includes a power chip and a heat sink in thermal contact with the power chip.

[0037] refer to Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the cooler C according to this embodiment may include a housing 3. The housing is generally in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The housing 3 is thick in the direction ( Figure 1 and Figure 2 The housing 3 has an upper shell portion 31 and a lower shell portion 32 spaced apart in the vertical direction (as shown). The upper shell portion 31 is formed with a first orifice 311, and the corresponding lower shell portion 32 is formed with a second orifice 321. The housing 3 has a peripheral side portion extending in the longitudinal direction (length direction), the transverse direction (width direction), and the thickness direction. When the first power module 1P is mounted on the housing, the first heat sink 4 of the first power module is positioned to cover the first orifice 311 from the top. A sealing ring S is provided between the first heat sink and the outer edge of the first orifice to form a seal between the two. The first heat sink 4 is connected to the upper shell portion 31 by a fixing method such as bolts or welding. Similarly, when the second power module 2P is mounted on the housing, the second heat sink 5 of the second power module is positioned to cover the second orifice 321 from the bottom. A sealing ring S is provided between the second heat sink and the outer edge of the second orifice to form a seal between the two. The second heat sink 5 is connected to the lower shell portion 32 by a fixing method such as bolts or welding. Thus, the first heat sink 4 and the second heat sink 5 constitute the top and bottom parts of the cooler in the thickness direction. The first heat sink 4 and the second heat sink 5 and the corresponding peripheral parts of the housing 3 together define the cooling cavity 9. Figure 3 As shown. At the two longitudinal ends of the cooling chamber ( Figure 3The left and right ends (shown as shown) are each provided with an inlet 33 and an outlet 34, which communicate with the cooling chamber 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet 33 and the outlet 34 can be designed to have a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape. The inlet 33 and the outlet 34 each have an inner wall facing the cooling chamber, where "inner wall" refers to a shoulder defined by the corresponding housing portion in the inlet / outlet region.

[0038] exist Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the cooler C includes a flat flow guide member 6 disposed within a cooling chamber 9. The flow guide member extends between the first heat sink 4 and the second heat sink 5, generally along the longitudinal direction of the cooling chamber. The lateral sides (i.e., the ends in the width direction) of the flow guide member abut against the inner sidewall of the housing, forming a sealed connection. As a result, the cooling chamber 9 is divided into a first flow channel 7 located above the flow guide member and a second flow channel 8 located below the flow guide member, as shown in FIG. Figures 4 to 6 It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the directions such as up, down, left, and right described herein and below are merely for better describing the structure of the present invention and do not limit the actual positions.

[0039] Continue to refer Figure 2 , the first longitudinal end portion of the flow guide member 6 located in the vicinity of the flow inlet 33 ( Figure 2 The left end portion shown in the figure is provided with an inlet flow diverter surface 61. The inlet flow diverter surface 61 is configured to divert the liquid flow from the inlet. The inlet flow diverter surface 61 is positioned relative to the inlet 33 so as to be able to guide the coolant from the inlet 33 into the flow channel between the guide member and the heat sink. Accordingly, the second longitudinal end portion ( Figure 2 The right end (shown in FIG. 1 ) is provided with an outflow converging surface 62. The outflow converging surface 62 is configured to guide or converge the liquid flow to the outlet. The outflow converging surface 62 is positioned relative to the outlet 34 so that all the coolant guided by the guide member is guided to the outlet.

[0040] In the cooler of the present invention, the arrangement of the flow guide member allows the flow channel configuration in the cooling cavity to be changed as needed. In particular, the change in the flow channel configuration increases the flow rate of a certain amount of coolant flowing in from the inlet in the flow channel, thereby improving the heat transfer efficiency and improving the cooling of the power modules installed on both sides of the shell. In addition to using its upper and lower side surfaces to guide the coolant, the flow guide member can also use its own hollow inner cavity to form an intermediate flow channel for guiding the coolant, thereby lengthening the coolant flow path in the entire cooling cavity, increasing the heat exchange area, and increasing the coolant flow rate and heat transfer coefficient, reducing the temperature of the entire shell, thereby achieving the purpose of dissipating heat to the capacitor of the power module. Therefore, in the present invention, the configuration and positioning of the flow guide member determine the specific flow channel configuration in the cooler, and the flow guide member can be regarded as the core component of the cooler for forming the flow channel.

[0041] First embodiment of the cooler

[0042] Figure 4 FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the flow path in a cooler according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this first embodiment, the flow guide member is a hollow box-shaped component. The inlet flow diversion surface 61 of the flow guide member 6 is designed to be a first slope surface 611 extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the flow guide member between the upper and lower surfaces of the flow guide member 6. The first slope surface has an upstream end and a downstream end along the inflow direction of the coolant. The upstream end ( Figure 4 The left end shown) abuts against the inner wall (upper wall, such as the shoulder defined by the upper shell portion in the inlet area) of the inlet 33 to form a seal, and the downstream end ( Figure 4 The right end shown in the figure) is spaced apart from the inner wall (lower wall, for example, the shoulder defined by the lower shell portion in the inlet area) of the inlet 33, thereby forming a communication port from the inlet 33 to the second flow channel 8. Accordingly, the outflow converging surface 62 is designed as a second slope surface 621 extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the flow guide member between the upper and lower surfaces of the flow guide member 6. The second slope surface has an upstream end and a downstream end along the outflow direction of the coolant. The upstream end ( Figure 4 The left end shown in FIG) is spaced apart from the inner wall (upper wall, i.e., the shoulder defined by the upper shell portion in the outlet region) of the outlet 34, thereby forming a communication port of the first flow channel 7 leading to the outlet 34, and the downstream end ( Figure 4 The right end shown) abuts against the inner wall (lower wall, ie the shoulder defined by the lower shell portion in the area of ​​the outlet) of the outlet opening 34 to form a seal.

[0043] In this first embodiment, the flow guide member 6 is constructed as a hollow component having a hollow chamber. The hollow chamber of the flow guide member 6 defines a third flow channel 65 as an intermediate section connecting the first flow channel 7 and the second flow channel 8. The third flow channel 65 extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the flow guide member. The lower side surface (lower plane side surface) of the flow guide member that is in contact with the downstream end of the second slope surface 621 is formed at the second longitudinal end ( Figure 4 The first longitudinal end (the right end shown in FIG. 1 , i.e., the downstream end of the flow guide member) of the flow guide member is formed with a first serial opening 63, which is used to connect the second flow channel 8 with the head end of the third flow channel 65. The upper side surface (upper plane side surface) of the flow guide member connected to the upstream end of the first slope surface 611 is formed at the first longitudinal end ( Figure 4 A second serial opening 64 is formed at the left end (i.e., the upstream end) of the flow guide member as shown. This second serial opening 64 is used to connect the tail ends of the first flow channel 7 with the third flow channel 65. After entering the inlet 33, the coolant can flow through the second flow channel 8, the third flow channel 65, and the first flow channel 7 in sequence, and then enter the outlet 34 and flow out of the housing.

[0044] Therefore, in this embodiment, the flow guide member 6 is configured and positioned so that the coolant entering from the inlet 33 first flows through the second flow channel 8, and then enters the first flow channel 7 via the third flow channel 65. As a result, the second flow channel 8, the third flow channel 65, and the first flow channel 7 are sequentially connected in series to form an extended flow channel between the inlet and the outlet. This achieves the effect of preferentially cooling the second power module 2P located on the lower side of the housing. This arrangement is particularly advantageous for the second power module 2P with a higher power. In addition, the coolant flowing from the head end to the tail end of the third flow channel advantageously exchanges heat with the coolant flow in the first and second flow channels, making full use of the inner wall of the hollow inner cavity of the flow guide member for heat exchange. At the same time, the two flow channels are connected in series, so there is no need to change the layout design of the inlet and outlet. Therefore, the general basic layout of the existing housing is fully utilized, reducing the cost of modification.

[0045] Second embodiment of the cooler

[0046] Figure 5 FIG2 shows a flow path diagram of a cooler according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Compared with the first embodiment, the second embodiment is substantially unchanged in terms of the shell structure, and the only difference lies in the configuration of the flow guide member.

[0047] In the second embodiment, the upstream end ( Figure 5 The left end shown in FIG) abuts against the inner wall (lower wall) of the inlet 33 to form a seal, and the downstream end ( Figure 5The right end shown in the figure) is spaced apart from the inner wall (upper wall) of the inlet 33, thereby forming a communication port from the inlet 33 to the first flow channel 7. The upstream end ( Figure 5 The left end shown in FIG) is spaced apart from the inner wall (lower wall) of the outlet 34, thereby forming a communication port from the second flow channel 8 to the outlet 34. The downstream end of the second slope surface 621 ( Figure 5 The right end (as shown) abuts against the inner wall (upper wall) of the outlet 34 to form a seal.

[0048] The upper side surface (upper plane side surface) of the flow guide member 6 that is in contact with the downstream end of the second slope surface 621 is located at the second longitudinal end ( Figure 5 The first longitudinal end (right end shown in FIG. 1 ) of the flow guide member 6 is provided with a first connecting hole 63 for connecting the first flow channel 7 with the head end of the third flow channel 65. The lower side surface (lower plane side surface) of the flow guide member 6 that is connected to the upstream end of the first slope surface 611 is formed at the first longitudinal end ( Figure 5 A second communication opening 64 is formed at the left end as shown in FIG. 6 , which is used to connect the second flow channel 8 with the tail end of the third flow channel 65.

[0049] Thus, in this second embodiment, the flow guide member 6 is configured and positioned so that coolant entering from the inlet 33 first flows through the first flow channel 7, then enters the second flow channel 8 via the third flow channel 65, and finally exits the housing through the outlet 34. Thus, the first flow channel 7, the third flow channel 65, and the second flow channel 8 are sequentially connected in series to form a flow channel extending between the inlet and the outlet. This flow channel configuration achieves the effect of preferentially cooling the first power module 1P. This embodiment is particularly advantageous for first power modules with relatively high power.

[0050] Compared to the first embodiment, the flow-guiding member in the cooler of the second embodiment can be viewed as the flow-guiding member of the first embodiment reversed (i.e., the upper surface is now facing downward, and the lower surface is now facing upward). Therefore, the flow-guiding member 6 in the second embodiment is essentially identical in structure to the flow-guiding member in the first embodiment. Therefore, the flow-guiding member only needs to be designed to be symmetrical about a longitudinal center plane (vertical plane) perpendicular to the plane (horizontal plane) in which the flow-guiding member resides. To facilitate assembly and disassembly, the flow-guiding member can be configured to be removably mounted within the housing.

[0051] Thus, different cooler embodiments can be achieved by arranging the same flow-guiding member in different orientations. This allows for flexible adjustment of the flow channel design within the cooler to accommodate changes in the external power module, maximizing the cooling capacity of the coolant. Furthermore, the ability to use the same flow-guiding member in multiple applications reduces mold development costs for the flow-guiding member or cooler housing, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the power module device.

[0052] Second embodiment of the cooler

[0053] Figure 6 The figure shows a schematic diagram of the flow path of the cooler of the third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the inlet flow diversion surface of the flow guide member 6 is configured as a tapered first angular surface 612. As can be seen from the longitudinal section of the first angular surface 612, the first angular surface has a base and a top. The base of the first angular surface 612 is located at Figure 6 The right end of the first angled surface 612 is shown, and the upper and lower ends of the base are respectively connected to the upper and lower surfaces of the flow guide member 6. The top of the first angled surface 612 is located upstream relative to the base in the flow direction of the coolant, and the upper end of the base of the first angled surface 612 is spaced apart from the inner wall (upper wall) of the inlet 33, and the lower end of the base is spaced apart from the inner wall (lower wall) of the inlet 33, thereby forming a communication port from the inlet 33 to the first flow channel 7 and the second flow channel 8, respectively.

[0054] Accordingly, the outflow converging surface 62 of the flow guide member 6 is configured as a tapered second angular surface 622. As can be seen from the longitudinal section of the second angular surface 622, the second angular surface 622 has a base and a top. The base of the second angular surface 622 is located at Figure 6 The left end of the second angled surface 622, shown above, has its upper and lower base portions connected to the upper and lower surfaces of the flow guide member 6, respectively. Unlike the second angled surface 612, the top of this second angled surface 622 is located downstream of the base portion in the coolant flow direction. The upper end of the base of this second angled surface 622 is spaced from the inner wall (upper wall) of the outlet 34, while the lower end of the base is spaced from the inner wall (lower wall) of the outlet 34, forming a connection between the first flow channel 7 and the second flow channel 8 and the outlet 34.

[0055] Thus, in this third embodiment, the configuration of the flow guide member 6 enables the coolant entering the inlet 33 to flow simultaneously through the first flow channel 7 and the second flow channel 8. In other words, the first flow channel 7 and the second flow channel 8 form parallel flow channels located between the inlet and the outlet. This flow guide member configuration enables simultaneous cooling of the first power module 1P and the second power module 2P.

[0056] The flow guide members 6 in the above three embodiments can all be constructed to be symmetrical about their longitudinal center plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane where the flow guide members are located. In this way, when the flow guide member 6 is turned upside down to change its orientation and installed in the shell 3, the flow channel configuration in the cooler can be changed. The flow guide members 6 in the above three embodiments can also be constructed to be detachably installed in the shell 3. According to actual needs, a reliable and advantageous flow guide member configuration can be selected for installation without replacing the shell part. In other words, the flow guide member can be made into a series of products with the same size and connection interface with the shell. For the same shell that is compatible with it, the series of flow guide member products enables the shell to be maximized and waste to be avoided. For example, when the first power module 1P requires a better cooling effect, a device such as Figure 5 The guide member 6 is shown and assembled to the housing. When the power of the second power module 2P is large, the guide member can be removed, turned upside down, and installed on the housing. When the first power module 1P and the second power module 2P have basically the same cooling requirements, the guide member can be removed and the cooling system can be used. Figure 6 The guide member shown is replaced.

[0057] Therefore, the purpose of multiple application scenarios of a single flow-guiding component and matching a single shell with multiple flow-guiding component product lines is achieved. For situations where cooling requirements change (for example, situations where the cooling priorities of the first power module and the second power module are different), it is only necessary to change the orientation of the same flow-guiding component, and there is no need to add a mold for molding the flow-guiding component, which greatly reduces manufacturing costs. In addition, for the cooler of the third embodiment, since the flow-guiding component is symmetrical with respect to its longitudinal center plane, there is no need to distinguish the upper and lower surfaces of the flow-guiding component during the entire installation process (it only needs to be arranged in a manner that the inlet diversion surface faces the inlet and the outflow converging surface faces the outlet), which greatly simplifies the installation process and improves installation efficiency. For the cooler of the third embodiment, the flow-guiding component 6 can be advantageously made into a solid component to facilitate heat exchange by heat conduction.

[0058] refer to Figure 4-6As shown, the first heat sink 4 is provided with a plurality of heat dissipation columns 41 extending into the first flow channel 7 on its inner side facing the heat guide member 5. The heat dissipation columns 41 preferably extend to the upper surface of the flow guide member 6. The heat dissipation columns 41 can increase the heat transfer efficiency between the first heat sink 4 and the coolant, thereby improving the cooling effect on the first power module 1P. Similarly, the second heat sink 5 is provided with a plurality of heat dissipation columns 51 extending into the second flow channel 8 on its inner side facing the flow guide member 6. The heat dissipation columns 51 preferably extend to the lower surface of the flow guide member 6. Both the heat dissipation columns 41 and the heat dissipation columns 51 can be provided according to actual needs. For example, the heat dissipation columns 41 can be provided only on the first heat sink 4, or the heat dissipation columns 51 can be provided only on the second heat sink 5, or the heat dissipation columns 41 and the heat dissipation columns 51 can be provided on both the first heat sink 4 and the second heat sink 5, respectively.

[0059] Optionally, refer to Figure 2-6 As shown, the housing 3 is at its first longitudinal end portion ( Figure 2 and Figure 3 The left end shown in the figure is provided with an inlet manifold 35. The inner cavity of the inlet manifold 35 is connected to the inlet port 33 on its right side, and a plurality of reserved inlet ports 351 are provided on its side (e.g., the upper, lower, left, front, and rear sides). The plurality of reserved inlet ports 351 have different orientations to facilitate the flexible provision of the coolant inlet pipe joint PI according to different usage environments. Similarly, the housing 3 has a second longitudinal end ( Figure 2 and Figure 3 The outlet manifold 36 is provided at the right end (as shown). The inner cavity of the outlet manifold 36 is connected to the outlet port 34 on its left side, and multiple reserved outlet ports 361 are provided on its sides (e.g., the upper, lower, right, front, and rear sides). The multiple reserved outlet ports 361 have different orientations to facilitate the flexible provision of coolant outlet pipe joints PO according to different usage environments. Figure 7A As shown, the inlet pipe connection PI and the outlet pipe connection PO extend in opposite directions in the transverse direction of the power module arrangement. Figure 7B As shown, the inlet pipe connection PI and the outlet pipe connection PO extend in the same direction in the transverse direction of the power module arrangement. Figure 7C As shown, the inlet pipe connection PI and the outlet pipe connection PO extend in opposite directions in the longitudinal direction of the power module device. Figures 7A-7CThe layout of the inlet pipe connection PI and the outlet pipe connection PO relative to the power module device 1 is shown schematically. It will be appreciated that the inlet pipe connection PI and the outlet pipe connection PO may also extend in the same or non-opposite directions in the thickness direction of the power module device or housing. Alternatively, the inlet pipe connection PI and the outlet pipe connection PO may extend in different dimensional directions of the power module device. For example, the inlet pipe connection PI extends in the thickness direction of the power module device, while the outlet pipe connection PO extends in the longitudinal direction of the power module device.

[0060] As described above, the power module cooler according to the present invention can be used to cool multiple power modules, improving the integration height of the power modules and enabling a more compact design of the power module assembly. Furthermore, the design of a removable or replaceable flow-guiding member significantly expands the application scenarios of the cooler housing, providing more possibilities for optimizing and improving cooling effects. Furthermore, it reduces cost and weight, further facilitating integrated design.

[0061] This article borrows Figure 4-Figure 6 This describes the different flow channel configurations resulting from different flow guide member configurations. It should be understood that the specific configuration of the flow guide member is not limited to the embodiments presented. For example, the flow guide member may be designed as a tube sheet having multiple longitudinally extending microchannels. Alternatively, the inlet flow diversion surface of the flow guide member may be designed as a circular arc portion with reduced flow resistance.

[0062] The utility model also relates to Figure 1 The inverter of the power module device shown. The inverter is a converter that converts DC power (battery, storage bottle) into constant frequency and constant voltage or frequency-modulated and voltage-regulated AC power (generally 220V, 50Hz sine wave). Therefore, it also includes other existing modules and circuits that work with the power module to ensure the normal use of the inverter, including but not limited to error amplifiers, regulators, oscillators, PWM generators, low-voltage protection circuits and short-circuit protection circuits, etc., which are all existing components and are not described in detail here. The inverter in this embodiment includes a power module device, which is insulated by a shell, and at the same time, the heat thereon is transferred from the power chip to the shell or the heat dissipation substrate, and the coolant flows through the cooler to take away part of the heat to cool the power module.

[0063] The present invention also relates to an electric drive unit, which includes the above-mentioned inverter and motor. The electric drive unit mainly includes two parts: a drive device and a motor. The electric drive unit in this embodiment also includes other existing modules and circuits that interact with the inverter to ensure the normal use of the electric drive unit. Specifically, they include but are not limited to power converters, controllers, various detection sensors, etc., which are all existing components and will not be described in detail here. The inverter used in this embodiment contains a power module device, on which heat is transferred from the chip to the housing or the heat dissipation substrate, and the coolant flows through the cooler to take away part of the heat, thereby achieving cooling of the power module.

[0064] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the embodiments disclosed above without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. Other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the practice of the present invention disclosed herein. This specification and the examples disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative only, and the true scope of the present invention is indicated by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A cooler for a power module, comprising a housing (3), the housing having an upper housing portion (31) and a lower housing portion (32) spaced apart in a thickness direction, characterized in that: The upper shell portion (31) is formed with a first opening (311) covered by a first heat dissipation plate (4) for a first power module (1P), and the lower shell portion (32) is formed with a second opening (321) covered by a second heat dissipation plate (5) for a second power module (2P). The first heat dissipation plate (4), the second heat dissipation plate (5) and corresponding peripheral portions of the housing (3) define a cooling cavity (9). An inlet (33) and an outlet (34) communicating with the cooling cavity (9) are respectively provided at longitudinal ends of the cooling cavity. The cooler further comprises a flat flow guide member (6) arranged in the cooling cavity (9), wherein the flow guide member extends substantially along the longitudinal direction of the cooling cavity between the first heat dissipation plate (4) and the second heat dissipation plate (5), so that the cooling cavity is divided into a first flow channel (7) located above the flow guide member and a second flow channel (8) located below the flow guide member; A first longitudinal end portion of the flow guide member (6) located in the vicinity of the flow inlet (33) is provided with an inlet flow splitter surface (61), the inlet flow splitter surface being positioned relative to the flow inlet (33) such that the coolant from the flow inlet is directed into the first flow channel (7) and / or the second flow channel (8); A second longitudinal end portion of the guide member (6) located near the outlet (34) is provided with an outlet merging surface (62), which is positioned relative to the outlet (34) so ​​that all coolant guided by the guide member is guided to the outlet.

2. The cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that The flow guide member (6) is a hollow component, and the hollow chamber of the flow guide member defines a third flow channel (65). The third flow channel serves as an intermediate section to connect the first flow channel (7) and the second flow channel (8) in series.

3. The cooler according to claim 2, characterized in that The inlet flow diversion surface (61) is designed as a first slope surface (611) extending at an angle between the upper surface and the lower surface of the flow guide member (6) relative to the longitudinal direction of the flow guide member. The first slope surface has an upstream end and a downstream end along the inlet direction of the coolant. The upstream end of the first slope surface abuts against the inner wall of the inlet port (33) to form a seal, and the downstream end of the first slope surface is spaced apart from the inner wall of the inlet port (33) to form a communication port leading to the first flow channel (7) or the second flow channel (8).

4. The cooler according to claim 3, characterized in that The outflow converging surface (62) is designed as a second slope surface (621) extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the flow guide member between the upper surface and the lower surface of the flow guide member (6). The second slope surface has an upstream end and a downstream end along the outflow direction of the coolant. The downstream end of the second slope surface abuts against the inner wall of the outlet (34) to form a seal. The upstream end of the second slope surface is spaced apart from the inner wall of the outlet (34) to form a connecting port leading to the outlet.

5. The cooler according to claim 4, characterized in that The side surface of the flow-guiding member connected to the downstream end of the second slope surface (621) is formed with a first serial opening (63) at the second longitudinal end of the flow-guiding member (6) and is communicated with the head end of the third flow channel (65); the side surface of the flow-guiding member connected to the upstream end of the first slope surface (611) is formed with a second serial opening (64) at the first longitudinal end of the flow-guiding member (6) and is communicated with the tail end of the third flow channel (65).

6. The cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that The inlet diversion surface (61) of the flow guide member (6) is configured as a tapered first angular surface (612), the base of the first angular surface being connected to the upper surface and the lower surface of the flow guide member (6), the top of the first angular surface being located upstream relative to the base, and the base of the first angular surface being spaced apart from the inner wall of the flow inlet (33), thereby forming a communication port leading to the first flow channel (7) and the second flow channel (8).

7. The cooler according to claim 6, characterized in that The outflow converging surface (62) of the flow guide member (6) is configured as a tapered second angular surface (622), the base of which is connected to the upper and lower surfaces of the flow guide member (6), the top of which is located downstream relative to the base, and the base of which is spaced apart from the inner wall of the outlet (34) to form a connecting port leading to the outlet.

8. The cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The flow guide component (6) is configured to be detachably installed in the housing (3).

9. The cooler according to claim 8, characterized in that The flow-guiding member (6) is symmetrical about a longitudinal center plane perpendicular to the plane where the flow-guiding member is located.

10. The cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The first heat dissipation plate (4) is provided with a heat dissipation column extending into the first flow channel (7) on its side facing the first flow channel; and / or the second heat dissipation plate (5) is provided with a heat dissipation column extending into the second flow channel (8) on its side facing the second flow channel.

11. The cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The shell (3) is provided with an inlet manifold (35) at its first end, the inner cavity of the inlet manifold is communicated with the inlet port (33), and the inlet manifold is provided with a plurality of reserved inlet ports (351) in different directions on its side; and / or the shell (3) is provided with an outlet manifold (36) at its second end, the inner cavity of the outlet manifold is communicated with the outlet port (34), and the outlet manifold is provided with a plurality of reserved outflow ports (361) in different directions on its side.

12. A power module device, comprising a first power module and a second power module, characterized in that: The power module device comprises a cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 11, a power chip of a first power module is in thermal contact with a first heat dissipation plate of the cooler, and a power chip of a second power module is in thermal contact with a second heat dissipation plate of the cooler.

13. An inverter, characterized in that: Comprising the power module device according to claim 12.

14. An electric drive unit, characterized in that: Comprising the inverter according to claim 13.

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