electrical equipment for electrically powered vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical equipment (24) comprising: - a set of electrical connection bars (3, 4), - at least one filter (6) having at least one opening (9) for the passage of the set of electrical connection bars, - a support (5), the filter being mounted on the support, characterized in that the electrical equipment (24) comprises a cooling chamber (13) capable of receiving a cooling fluid arranged between the support and the filter. Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: electrical equipment for an electrically powered vehicle Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electrical equipment, in particular high voltage, such as power converters, in particular configured to be installed in a mobility device such as a hybrid or electric motor vehicle. The present invention relates in particular to a power electronic device having improved cooling. Technological background

[0002] Electrical power equipment is known from the prior art, in particular power converters (on-board chargers, DC / DC converters, inverters) for electric vehicles comprising several electrical components such as, among others, electronic cards, electrical connection bars (busbars in English), power transformer modules and capacitors. These electrical components in which currents circulate, in particular at high power levels, generate emitted magnetic fields which can disturb the operation of other electrical equipment. Consequently, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements are applied to ensure that other electrical equipment is able to operate despite these electromagnetic disturbances.

[0003] Thus, as is known, such electrical components must have good electromagnetic compatibility performance. In other words, it must be ensured on the one hand that the electrical component is capable of operating itself without disturbances, in its electromagnetic environment, and on the other hand that it is also capable of operating without introducing electromagnetic disturbances likely to harm the proper functioning of third-party electrical components located nearby.

[0004] Electrical connection bars are intended to convey electrical energy from an interface, in particular an external interface, of the electrical equipment to an internal component of the electrical equipment. For example, an electrical connection bar set connects terminals of the electrical equipment with a capacitance of the power converter. The bar set generally comprises two electrically conductive bars, in particular metallic, held by a body made of electrically insulating material, in particular plastic.

[0005] Electrical filters may be received on the electrical connection bar to enable filtering of the signal flowing in the electrical conductive bars. When current flows through the electrical connection bar, the heat released by the electrical conductor and / or the filtering components may damage other components of the electrical equipment, in particular the capacitor, which already generates heat by the Joule effect due to its own operation.

[0006] A cooling solution is therefore sought which allows improved heat dissipation of the filters surrounding the set of conductive busbars in electrical power equipment such as a power converter. Summary of the invention

[0007] For this purpose, electrical equipment is proposed comprising:

[0008] - a set of electrical connection bars,

[0009] - at least one filter having at least one opening for the passage of the game of electrical connection bars,

[0010] - a support, the filter being mounted on the support.

[0011] The electrical equipment is remarkable in that it comprises a cooling chamber capable of receiving a cooling fluid arranged between the support and the filter.

[0012] The cooling chamber allows the residual heat produced in the filter to be efficiently dissipated when passing the electrical connection busbar.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the cooling fluid may be a liquid, for example water or oil.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, the cooling chamber and the fluid that it may contain are in direct contact with the filter. In particular, no intermediate layer is arranged between the filter and the fluid,

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, the filter may be a ferrite filter. The filtering makes it possible to reduce the electromagnetic field CEM linked to the current flowing in the electrical connection busbar in order to protect the components of the electrical equipment.

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, the set of electrical connection bars may comprise a first bar and a second bar, in particular capable of supplying direct current. The number of bars of the set of electrical connection bars may be greater than two, in particular three.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the cooling chamber is formed by a first surface of the filter and by a second surface of the support. The cooling chamber may be formed by shape complementarity between the filter and the support. The cooling chamber is not formed by the internal space of a single part.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the support has a recess partially forming the cooling chamber. The filter can be inserted into this recess, which improves heat exchange. The recess can have a bottom, in particular a flat bottom. The recess can have two edges, in particular flat edges. The bottom can be perpendicular to each of the two edges.

[0019] According to one aspect of the invention, the cooling chamber comprises a plurality of fins. The fins may define channels between them. The fins may be straight or tortuous. The fins may be integral with the filter. The fins may be made of the same material as the filter. This promotes the exchange of calories. The fins may be located in the recess. There may be a non-zero distance between the bottom of the recess and the fins. The fins may extend over an entire length of the filter.

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, a seal is mounted between the filter and the support. This seal makes it possible to seal the cooling chamber and to prevent fluid exchanges between said chamber and the rest of the electrical equipment.

[0021] The seal may be mounted around, in particular all around, the cooling chamber. The seal may be mounted in a groove in the filter or the support.

[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, the filter comprises a first portion and a second portion defining between them the at least one opening for the passage of the connection busbars. The cooling chamber is provided between the first portion only and the support. Only the first portion of the filter can define the cooling chamber.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the first portion and the second portion have external branches.

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, the first portion and the second portion have a U-shape in a plane which crosses them. The filter may define a single opening receiving the entire set of electrical connection bars.

[0025] According to one aspect of the invention, the first portion and the second portion have an E-shape in a plane which crosses them. The filter can define two openings each receiving the first bar or the second bar of the electrical connection busbar set.

[0026] According to one aspect of the invention, the first portion and the second portion are fixed together, for example by gluing, for example, at the outer branches.

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the filter is fixed to the support. The filter is fixed to the support by fixing means arranged around the cooling channel. The first portion can be fixed directly to the support.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the filter may comprise a cover, in particular made of plastic. The cover may be attached to the support. The cover may be attached to the first portion and / or to the second portion. Alternatively, the filter comprises only the first portion and the second portion.

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the filter, in particular the filter cover, can be fixed to a fixing part of the electrical equipment, this fixing part being integral but distinct from the support. Thus the fixing is not done directly on the support but the filter is indirectly integral with the support.

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, the support is formed by a housing of the electrical equipment. The housing may be the outer casing of the electrical equipment.

[0031] Alternatively, the support may be a support plate. This support plate may be integral with the housing. This support plate may also form an electromagnetic shield.

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the electrical equipment forms a power converter, in particular an inverter.

[0033] The power converter comprises a filter stage comprising the filter. The filter stage may comprise a DC link capacitor and a power unit. The power unit may comprise a plurality of transistors.

[0034] The invention also relates to a drive device for driving a vehicle, comprising electrical equipment and an electrical machine that can be powered by the electrical equipment, when it forms a power converter. Figures

[0035] The invention will now be described with reference to various embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0036] [Fig.l] schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of a training device according to the invention.

[0037] [Fig.2] shows schematically, partially and in section along a first plane an example of electrical equipment according to the invention.

[0038] [Fig.3] shows schematically, partially and in section along a second plane perpendicular to the foreground the electrical equipment of [Fig.2].

[0039] [Fig.4] shows schematically, partially and in perspective the electrical equipment of [Fig.2].

[0040] [Fig.5] shows schematically, partially and in section along the first plane another example of electrical equipment according to the invention.

[0041] [Fig.l] is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a drive device 23 for driving a vehicle comprising electrical equipment 24 here taking the form of a power converter.

[0042] In the example considered, the electrical equipment 24 comprises a set of conductive electrical connection bars comprising a first bar 3 and a second bar 4 providing an electrically conductive connection between a battery 25 and a power unit (not shown) of the electrical equipment 23.

[0043] In the example considered, the electrical equipment 24 comprises a housing 12 which includes the power unit and a filtering stage. The housing 12 is here the outer casing of the electrical equipment 24. The drive device 23 further comprises an electrical machine 26 for driving a vehicle 27, which is electrically powered by the electrical equipment 24, forming a power converter.

[0044] In the example considered, the power unit serves to convert the direct current supplied by the battery 25 into an alternating current which is supplied to the electric machine 26. If the electric motors are driven so as to recover electrical energy, the power electronics serves to convert the alternating current supplied by the electric motors into a direct current which is supplied to the batteries.

[0045] In the example considered, the housing comprises a first housing element and a second housing element. Taking into account EMC requirements, the housing elements are generally made of an electrically conductive material, in particular a metal alloy.

[0046] In the example considered in Figures 2 to 4, an example of electrical equipment 24 which may belong to the drive device of [Fig.l] is described schematically and partially.

[0047] In the example considered, the electrical equipment 24 comprises the set of electrical connection bars, comprising in addition to the first bar 3 and the second bar 4, a support 5 and a filter 6 mounted on the support. The filter 6 can here be a ferrite filter.

[0048] In the example considered, the support may be formed by the housing 12. As a variant, the support 5 may be a support plate integral with and separate from the housing 12.

[0049] In the example considered, the filter 6 comprises a first portion 7 and a second portion 8 defining between them a single opening 9 for the passage of the first bar 3 and the second bar 4. Each of the first portion 7 and the second portion 8 has external branches 10. The first portion 7 and the second portion 8 has a U shape in the plane of the figure.

[0050] In the example considered, the first portion 7 and the second portion 8 are fixed together, for example by gluing, for example, at the level of the external branches 10.

[0051] In the example considered, the electrical equipment 24 also comprises a cooling chamber 13 capable of receiving a cooling fluid arranged between the support 5 and the filter 6, more precisely between the first portion 7 only and the support 5. The cooling chamber 13 and the fluid that it can contain are in direct contact with the filter 6. In particular, no intermediate layer is arranged between the filter and the fluid,

[0052] In the example considered, the cooling fluid may be a liquid, for example water or oil.

[0053] In the example considered, the cooling chamber is formed by a first surface of the filter 6, the first surface belonging to the first portion 7 and by a second surface of the support 6. The cooling chamber 13 is formed by complementary shape between the filter and the support. The cooling chamber is not formed by the internal space of a single part.

[0054] In the example considered, the support 6 has a recess 14 partly forming the cooling chamber 13. The filter 6 is inserted into this recess which has a flat bottom 15 and two flat edges 16. The bottom 15 is perpendicular to each of the two edges 16.

[0055] In the example considered, the cooling chamber 13 comprises a plurality of rectilinear fins 17 defining channels 18 between them. The fins are here integral with the filter 6, they are made of the same material as the first portion 7. The fins are located in the recess and there is a non-zero distance between the bottom 15 and the fins 17.

[0056] In the example considered, the fins 17 can extend over the entire length of the filter 6 as can be seen in [Fig.3].

[0057] In the example considered, a seal 19 is mounted between the filter 6 and the support 5. The seal is mounted all around, in particular all around the cooling chamber 13.

[0058] Finally, in the example considered, the filter is fixed to the support by fixing means (not shown) arranged around the cooling channel. The first portion can be fixed directly to the support.

[0059] In another example shown in [Fig.5], the filter comprises 6 a plastic cover 20. This cover 20 is fixed to the support 6. The cover can be fixed to the first portion 7 and / or to the second portion 8.

[0060] In a variant not shown, the filter, in particular the filter cover, can be fixed to a fixing part of the electrical equipment. This fixing part can be integral but separate from the support. Thus the fixing is not done directly on the support but the filter is indirectly integral with the support.

Claims

Claims

1. Electrical equipment (24) comprising: - a set of electrical connection bars (3, 4), - at least one filter (6) having at least one opening (9) for the passage of the set of electrical connection bars, - a support (5), the filter being mounted on the support, characterized in that the electrical equipment (24) comprises a cooling chamber (13) capable of receiving a cooling fluid arranged between the support and the filter.

2. Electrical equipment (24) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cooling chamber (13) is formed by a first surface of the filter (6) and by a second surface of the support (5).

3. Electrical equipment (24) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (5) has a recess partly forming the cooling chamber (13).

4. Electrical equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling chamber comprises a plurality of fins.

5. Electrical equipment (24) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a seal (19) is mounted between the filter and the support.

6. Electrical equipment (24) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter (6) comprises a first portion (7) and a second portion (8) defining between them the at least one opening (9) for the passage of the set of connection bars (3, 4).

7. Electrical equipment (24) according to any one of the preceding claims, the filter (6) is fixed to the support by fixing means arranged around the cooling channel.

8. Electrical equipment (24) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support is formed by a housing (12) of the electrical equipment (24).

9. Electrical equipment (24) according to any one of the preceding claims, forming a power converter,

10. in particular an inverter, comprising a filtration stage comprising the filter (6) and a power unit. Drive device (23) for driving a vehicle (27), comprising electrical equipment according to the preceding claim and an electrical machine (26) capable of being powered by the electrical equipment.

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