ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH COOLING BOX

Abstract

This electrical system (102) comprises: a liquid-cooled box (104) having a liquid inlet (106) and outlet (108); and, located within the cooling box (104) so ​​as to be immersed in the liquid: - an exothermic electrical device (110), - a control device (112) for the exothermic electrical device (110), and - a measuring system (202). It further comprises a connection (204) between the measuring system (202) and the control device (112), through which the measuring system (202) is designed to provide measurements, this connection (204) being located within the cooling box (104) so ​​as to be immersed in the liquid, the control device (112) being designed to control the exothermic electrical device (110) according to the measurements received. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH COOLING BOX Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical system with a cooling box and an installation comprising such an electrical system, particularly for use in a mobility device, for example, a motor vehicle, a train, an aircraft, or a drone. A motor vehicle is, for example, a car, a motorcycle, a motorized bicycle, or a motorized wheelchair. Technological background

[0002] It is known from the prior art of cooling an exothermic electrical device, such as a power module, by placing it on a cooling box in which a liquid flows, and of measuring a flow rate of the liquid by means of a sensor passed through a wall of the cooling box, so that a head of the sensor is in contact with the liquid.

[0003] Furthermore, an electrical system of the type comprising: is known from PCT application published under number WO 2022 158975 A1 - a liquid-cooled box, having a liquid inlet and outlet; - located in the cooling box so as to be immersed in the liquid: • an exothermic electrical device, • a control device for the exothermic electrical device, and • a measurement system.

[0004] In this known electrical system, the measuring system is designed to measure the temperature of the liquid in order to control a cooling rate based on the measured temperature. For this purpose, a connection is provided through a wall of the cooling box to an external device.

[0005] However, since the cooling rate control is performed outside the electrical system, there is no guarantee that this control will actually be implemented. Furthermore, this solution requires a connection through the cooling box, which can cause sealing problems.

[0006] It may therefore be desirable to provide an electrical system that makes it possible to overcome at least some of the aforementioned problems and constraints. Summary of the invention

[0007] An electrical system of the aforementioned type is therefore proposed, characterized in that it further comprises a connection between the measurement system and the control device, by which the measurement system is designed to provide measurements, this connection being located in the cooling box so as to be immersed in the liquid, the control device being designed to control the exothermic electrical device according to the measurements received.

[0008] The invention may further include one or more of the following optional features, according to any technically possible combination.

[0009] Optionally, the measuring system is designed to measure a flow rate of the liquid in the cooling box.

[0010] Optionally, the measurement system also includes an ultrasonic sensor for measuring the liquid flow rate.

[0011] Optionally, the ultrasonic liquid flow measurement sensor is also oriented towards the inlet or outlet of the cooling box.

[0012] Optionally, the measurement system also includes: - first and second temperature sensors designed to provide first and second temperature measurements respectively; and - a computing device designed to calculate the liquid flow rate from the first and second temperature measurements.

[0013] Optionally also, the calculation device is designed to calculate the liquid flow rate from an additional estimate of electrical power losses in the exothermic electrical device.

[0014] Optionally also, the measurement system includes an electrical power sensor designed to measure electrical powers entering and leaving the exothermic electrical device, and the calculation device is designed to estimate electrical power losses from measurements of electrical powers entering and leaving the exothermic electrical device.

[0015] Optionally also, the calculation device is designed to calculate the flow rate of the liquid from the following formula: q = Q / (pc(T2 - Tl)), with q the flow rate, Q the electrical power losses, p the density of the liquid, c the specific heat of the liquid and Tl, T2 the temperature measurements.

[0016] Optionally, the measuring system is also designed to measure a level of the liquid in the cooling box.

[0017] Optionally, the measurement system also includes an ultrasonic sensor for measuring the liquid level.

[0018] Optionally, the ultrasonic sensor is also oriented from bottom to top along the terrestrial vertical, when the electrical system is in the operating position.

[0019] Optionally also, the control device includes a printed circuit board and electronic components carried and interconnected by the printed circuit board.

[0020] An installation comprising: is also proposed - an electrical system according to the invention; and - a liquid circulation circuit comprising: • a heat exchanger to remove heat from the liquid, and • a pump to circulate the liquid between the box of cooling and heat exchanger. Brief description of the figures

[0021] The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - [Fig. 1] is a schematic view of an installation comprising an electrical system according to the invention, - Figure [Fig. 2] is a simplified three-dimensional view of the electrical system with a first embodiment of a measurement system, - [Fig.3] is a view similar to that of [Fig.2] with a second embodiment of the measurement system, - Figure 4 is a simplified three-dimensional view of the electrical system according to another embodiment of the invention, and - [Fig.5] is a side view of the electrical system with a third embodiment of the measurement system. Detailed description of the invention

[0022] With reference to [Fig.1], an installation 100 according to the invention will now be described.

[0023] This installation 100 includes first of all an electrical system 102.

[0024] The electrical system 102 includes a cooling box 104 with a liquid, in particular a dielectric liquid, such as water or oil, having a liquid inlet 106 and a liquid outlet 108. The electrical system 102 further includes an exothermic electrical device 110, such as a power module, and a control device 112 for the exothermic electrical device 110, both located in the cooling box so as to be immersed in the liquid. Thus, the exothermic electrical device 110 and, generally to a lesser extent, the control device 112 emit heat which is absorbed by the liquid.

[0025] The exothermic electrical device 110 is for example a power module, for example switching and comprising for this purpose at least one switch.

[0026] Each switch is preferably a semiconductor controllable switch, such as, for example, a metal-oxide-gate field-effect transistor (MOSFET), a silicon metal-oxide-gate field-effect transistor (SiMOSFET), a silicon carbide metal-oxide-gate field-effect transistor (SiCMOSFET), an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), or a gallium nitride field-effect transistor (GaN). FET).

[0027] The control device 112 comprises a printed circuit board and electronic components carried and interconnected by the printed circuit board.

[0028] The installation 100 further includes a liquid circulation circuit 114.

[0029] The circulation circuit 114 includes, for example, a heat exchanger 116 to remove the heat absorbed by the liquid and a pump 118 to circulate the liquid between the cooling box 104 and the heat exchanger 116.

[0030] With reference to [Fig.2], the electrical system 102 further comprises a measuring system 202 and a connection 204 between the measuring system 202 and the control device 112, by which the measuring system 202 is designed to provide measurements.

[0031] The measuring system 202 and the connection 204 are both located inside the cooling box 104 so as to be immersed in the liquid. Thus, the measurements can be transmitted to the control device 112 without leaving the cooling box 104, thereby avoiding the need to drill through a wall of the cooling box 104 and the resulting sealing problems.

[0032] The control device 112 is designed to control the exothermic electrical device 110 according to the measurements received from the measuring system via the connection 204.

[0033] For example, the measuring system 202 is designed to measure a flow rate q of the liquid in the cooling box 104. In this case,

[0034] To measure the flow rate q, the measuring system 202 includes, for example, an ultrasonic sensor 206 for measuring the flow rate q. Preferably, the ultrasonic sensor 206 is oriented towards the inlet 106 or the outlet 108 (as in the illustrated example) of the cooling box 104.

[0035] With reference to [Fig.3], to measure the flow rate q, the measuring system 202 includes, for example, first and second temperature sensors 302, 304 designed to respectively provide first and second temperature measurements Tl, T2, and a calculation device 306 designed to calculate the flow rate q from the first and second measurements Tl, T2.

[0036] For example, the calculation device 306 is designed to calculate the flow rate q from an estimate of the electrical power losses Q in the power module 110. To this end, the measuring system 202 further comprises, for example, an electrical power sensor 308 designed to measure the electrical power entering Pin into the power module 110 and the electrical power leaving Pout of the power module 110. The calculation device 306 is then designed to estimate the electrical power losses Q from the electrical power entering and leaving Pin, Pout of the power module 110, for example, using the following formula: Q = Pin - Pout. Thus, the calculation device 306 is, for example, designed to calculate the flow rate q from the following formula: q = Q / (pc(T2 - T1)), where q is the flow rate, Q is the electrical power losses, p is the density of the liquid, c is the specific heat capacity of the liquid, and T1, T2 are the temperature measurements.

[0037] With reference to [Fig. 4], the cooling box 104 can be formed by an internal channel 402 provided in a housing 404 through which the liquid flows. The internal channel 402 contains the exothermic electrical device and serves to direct the liquid towards it.

[0038] With reference to [Fig.5], alternatively or in addition to the measurement of the flow rate q, the measuring system 202 is designed to measure a level N of the liquid in the cooling box 104.

[0039] For example, the measuring system includes an ultrasonic sensor 502 for measuring the liquid level N. For example, the ultrasonic sensor 502 is oriented from bottom to top along the vertical to the ground when the electrical system 102 is in the operating position, as illustrated.

[0040] In conclusion, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It will indeed be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described above, in light of the information just disclosed to them.

[0041] In the detailed presentation of the invention given above, the terms used shall not be interpreted as limiting the invention to the embodiments set forth in this description, but shall be interpreted as including all equivalents which can be foreseen by a person skilled in the art by applying their general knowledge to the implementation of the teaching which has just been disclosed to them.

Claims

Demands

1. An electrical system (102) comprising: - a liquid-cooled box (104) having a liquid inlet (106) and a liquid outlet (108); and - located in the cooling box (104) so ​​as to be immersed in the liquid: • an exothermic electrical device (110), • a control device (112) for the exothermic electrical device (110), and • a measuring system (202); characterized in that it further comprises a connection (204) between the measuring system (202) and the control device (112), by which the measuring system (202) is designed to provide measurements, this connection (204) being located in the cooling box (104) so ​​as to be immersed in the liquid, the control device (112) being designed to control the exothermic electrical device (110) according to the measurements received.

2. Electrical system (102) according to claim 1, wherein the measuring system (202) is designed to measure a flow rate (q) of the liquid in the cooling box (104).

3. Electrical system (102) according to claim 2, wherein the measuring system (202) comprises an ultrasonic sensor (206) for measuring the flow rate (q) of the liquid.

4. Electrical system (102) according to claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic sensor (206) for measuring the flow rate (q) of the liquid is oriented towards the inlet (106) or the outlet (108) of the cooling box (104).

5. An electrical system (102) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the measuring system (202) comprises: - first and second temperature sensors (302, 304) designed to provide first and second temperature measurements (T1, T2) respectively; and - a calculation device (306) designed to calculate the flow rate (q) of the liquid from the first and second temperature measurements (T1, T2).

6. Electrical system (102) according to claim 5, wherein the calculation device (306) is designed to calculate the flow rate (q) of the liquid further from an estimate of electrical power losses (Q) in the exothermic electrical device (110).

7. Electrical system (102) according to claim 6, wherein the measurement system (202) comprises an electrical power sensor (308) designed to measure electrical powers entering (Pin) and leaving (Pout) the exothermic electrical device (110), and wherein the calculation device (306) is designed to estimate the electrical power losses (Q) from the measurements of electrical powers entering and leaving (Pin, Pout) the exothermic electrical device (110).

8. Electrical system (102) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the calculation device (306) is designed to calculate the flow rate (q) of the liquid from the following formula: q = Q / (pc(T2 - Tl)), with q the flow rate, Q the electrical power losses, p the density of the liquid, c the specific heat of the liquid and Tl, T2 the temperature measurements.

9. Electrical system (102) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the measuring system (202) is designed to measure a level (N) of the liquid in the cooling box (104).

10. Electrical system (102) according to claim 9, wherein the measuring system (202) comprises an ultrasonic sensor (502) for measuring the level (N) of the liquid.

11. Electrical system (102) according to claim 10, wherein the ultrasonic sensor (502) is oriented from bottom to top along the terrestrial vertical, when the electrical system (102) is in the operating position.

12. Electrical system (102) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the control device (112) comprises a printed circuit board and electronic components carried and interconnected by the printed circuit board.

13. Installation (100) comprising: an electrical system (102) according to any one of claims 1 to 12; and a fluid circulation circuit (114) comprising: • a heat exchanger (116) to remove heat from the liquid, and • a pump (118) to circulate the liquid between the cooling box (104) and the heat exchanger (116).

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