Stationary inductive charging equipment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stationary inductive charging device (1) comprising a coil (2) for generating an alternating electromagnetic field, power electronics (3) for supplying energy to and controlling the coil (2), components (7) of the power electronics (3), and a cooling plate (8) thermally connected to the coil (2). Efficient cooling of the power electronics (3) and the coil (2) is produced by a cooling device (14) which extends in the cooling plate (8) and has a cooling passage system (15) with a number of cooling passages (17) for guiding a cooling medium, and a discharge device (16) for driving the cooling medium in the cooling passage system (15). Effective heat dissipation from the cooling plate (8) or cooling medium occurs by a ventilation device (21) having an air passage system (22) thermally connected to the cooling plate (8) and having at least one air passage (24) for guiding air, at least one fan (23) for driving air in the air passage system (22), at least one air inlet (26) communicating with the surroundings (25) of the inductive charging device (1), and at least one air outlet (27) communicating with the surroundings (25).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates preferably to a stationary inductive charging device for use in an inductive vehicle charging system used to charge the batteries of a battery electric vehicle, and more particularly to an inductive vehicle charging system including such a stationary inductive charging device.

[0002] A vehicle charging system of this kind comprises a stationary inductive charging device, which may also be referred to here as a floor assembly or ground assembly, which is usually arranged in a fixed position, for example in a vehicle yard and connected to a power grid, and a mobile inductive charging device, which may also be referred to as a vehicle assembly or vehicle assembly, which is arranged in the respective vehicle, in particular in the vehicle floor. The mobile inductive charging device is here coupled to the battery of the vehicle in a suitable manner, for example via a corresponding vehicle-side charging device. For charging the battery, the vehicle together with its mobile inductive charging device is positioned relative to the stationary inductive charging device, so that electrical energy can be transferred from the stationary inductive charging device to the mobile inductive charging device by means of induction, i.e. via an alternating electromagnetic field. In an inductive vehicle charging system, a plug that has to be inserted into a vehicle-side charging socket can be dispensed with.

[0003] The stationary inductive charging device comprises a coil for generating an alternating electromagnetic field, which may also be referred to as a resonator coil, and power electronics for supplying energy to the coil and for driving and controlling the coil. During the operation of the stationary inductive charging device, heat is generated in the components of the power electronics as well as in the coil. In the case of high power output, a relatively large amount of heat is generated here, which must be dissipated in order to avoid damage to the power electronics and the coil or to extend their lifespan.

[0004] The present invention is addressed to the task of providing an embodiment for a stationary inductive charging device which is distinguished by efficient heat dissipation and here in particular by low acoustic emissions.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0006] The invention is based on the general consideration that a stationary inductive charging device comprises a cooling plate, a cooling device and a ventilation device. The cooling plate dissipates heat from the power electronics components and the coil. The cooling device dissipates heat from the cooling plate and supplies it to a cooling medium. The ventilation device dissipates heat from the cooling medium and possibly also from the cooling plate and supplies it to the surroundings of the inductive charging device. For this purpose, the cooling plate is thermally connected to the power electronics components and the coil on its upper plate surface. The cooling device comprises a cooling channel system extending in the cooling plate with a plurality of cooling channels for guiding the cooling medium and a discharge device for driving the cooling medium in the cooling channel system. The ventilation device comprises an air channel system thermally connected to the upper plate surface with at least one air channel for guiding air, at least one fan for driving air in the air channel system, at least one air inlet communicating with the surroundings of the inductive charging device and at least one air outlet communicating with the surroundings. Particularly important here are the respective air channels thermally connected to the cooling plate. This allows the heat from the cooling plate or the cooling medium to be dissipated and fed to the air that finally carries the heat to the surroundings. In other words, the cooling plate is used in the area of ​​the respective air passages to dissipate heat, while the cooling plate is used to absorb heat in the area of ​​the power electronics and the coil. In the cooling plate, this heat absorption and this heat release take place at different points spaced apart from each other. A cooling device with cooling passages laid in the cooling plate is used here to assist the heat transport in the cooling plate from the heat absorption points to the heat release points. In other words, the cooling device connects the cooling passage system to a heat source, in particular the power electronics and the coil to which the cooling plate is thermally coupled, and to at least one heat sink formed by the respective air passages and to which the cooling plate is thermally coupled at a distance from the heat source. By using the respective air passages, a relatively large amount of heat can be dissipated from the cooling plate, which results in an effective heat dissipation.Power electronic components which generate a relatively large amount of heat during operation are, for example, present in active rectifiers, so-called PFC (Power Factor Correction), active inverting rectifiers or inverters. Such components are in particular power transistors.

[0007] In addition, efficient heat dissipation has further advantages. Due to improved heat transfer to the air, the air volume flow required for heat dissipation can be reduced. In addition, a reduced air volume flow leads to a reduction in the discharge power of the respective fan, which can be operated at a particularly reduced rotational speed. This leads to a significant reduction in the noise that can occur due to the operation of a power-up fan at a high rotational speed. The inductive charging device according to the invention is therefore also distinguished by reduced noise emissions. According to an advantageous embodiment, the stationary inductive charging device can have a housing with a cooling plate on its underside and a cover plate on its upper side. Furthermore, the power electronics can be covered by the electronics housing in the housing. Furthermore, the coil can be covered by the coil housing in the housing. The respective air passage here can be delimited below by the cooling plate or by a separate passage bottom plate with respect to the cooling plate, above by a cover plate and laterally by the side wall of the electronics housing facing the coil housing as well as by the side wall of the coil housing facing the electronics housing. This results in an inexpensive realization of the respective cooling passages using existing components.

[0008] Alternatively, the respective air passage can be formed in a passage body which is a separate part with respect to the cooling plate. A passage body of this kind can be optimized with respect to its heat transfer coefficient, so that the heat transfer to the air flowing therein is improved. For example, the passage body can consist of a metal, preferably a light metal, for example an aluminum alloy. It is further conceivable to arrange heat transfer structures, such as ribs, webs, turbulence plates, etc., in the passage body in order to improve the heat transfer to the air. It is further conceivable to form a number of cross sections or partial passages which run parallel to one another in the passage body and through which flow can pass, which are separated from one another by ribs or walls. The passage body can be designed as a profiled body and can be produced, in particular by extrusion or extrusion. This provides a larger surface area for the heat transfer, which improves the efficiency of the heat transfer.

[0009] Independently of the remaining configuration of the respective air passage, in another embodiment, it may be envisaged that each air passage has a passage bottom plate which defines the air passage downwards and which is a separate part with respect to the cooling plate and is thermally connected to the cooling plate. This passage bottom plate may in particular be a component of the above-mentioned passage body. The use of such a passage bottom plate or such a passage body allows cooling passages which open upwards in the cooling plate, so that the cooling medium comes into contact with the passage bottom plate or the passage body directly contacting this cooling medium, which promotes heat dissipation.

[0010] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, each fan, i.e. only one fan or all fans, is arranged in each air passage at a distance from the air inlet and at a distance from the air outlet. The respective distances here are at least as great as the passage width measured transversely to the air flow direction. By offsetting the fan in the central region of the air passage away from the air inlet and the air outlet, the sound generation of the fan takes place in this central region. The sound path to the air inlet and to the air outlet is attenuated, so that sound emissions to the surroundings are reduced. Insofar as several fans are arranged in series, they are arranged in the air passage at a distance from one another in an expedient manner.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, it may be envisaged that the power electronics components are arranged in an electronics area of ​​the cooling plate, in particular on the plate surface, and the coils are arranged in a coil area of ​​the cooling plate, in particular on the plate surface, and the respective air passages and the respective fans are arranged in a heat exchanger area of ​​the cooling plate, in particular on the plate surface, which is arranged between the electronics area and the coil area in the longitudinal direction of the inductive charging device. In this case, a heat sink is present between the two heat sources, which likewise facilitates efficient heat dissipation.

[0012] It may be expediently assumed here that the cooling passage system comprises an electronics subsystem with at least one cooling passage extending into the electronics region. The cooling passage system may then comprise a coil subsystem with at least one cooling passage extending into the coil region. Optionally, the cooling system may further comprise a heat exchanger subsystem with at least one cooling passage extending into the heat exchanger region. By dividing the cooling passage system into a number of subsystems, the subsystems or their cooling passages can be optimized with respect to the heat transfer coefficient for the respective assigned region. In particular, the heat absorption in the electronics region and the coil region and the heat dissipation in the heat exchanger region can be improved.

[0013] Here, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, the above-mentioned three subsystems, in particular the electronics subsystem, the coil subsystem and the heat exchanger subsystem, are connected in series through one connected cooling passage in each case, so that the cooling medium is guided first through the more heat-sensitive electronics area, then through the less heat-sensitive coil area and finally through the heat exchanger area. By using such an embodiment, it is achieved that the sensitive components in the electronics area are cooled by the cooling medium with the lowest temperature, while the less sensitive components in the coil area can still be sufficiently cooled by the cooling medium having a slightly higher temperature, which, in the case of a maximum temperature, transfers its thermal energy to the air flowing through the air passage in the heat exchanger area.

[0014] In another embodiment, it is proposed that heat exchanger structures are arranged in at least one cooling passage of the electronics subsystem and / or the coil subsystem and / or the heat exchanger subsystem. These heat exchanger structures improve the heat transfer between the cooling medium and the cooling plate. The heat exchanger structures can be, for example, ribs, webs, protrusions, fins or turbulence plates. Such heat exchanger structures can be arranged in heat-absorbing cooling passages, for example in the region of components that release relatively more heat during operation of the power electronics, or in heat-releasing cooling passages, for example in the region of the respective air passages.

[0015] In another embodiment, it is proposed that at least one cooling passage of the heat exchanger subsystem opens in the region of the respective air passage at the upper side of the plate, whereby the cooling medium comes into direct contact with the respective air passage during operation of the inductive charging device. In other words, in the region of the respective air passage, the respective cooling passage has an opening side at the upper side of the plate, which is covered by the air passage. In this case, the respective cooling passage further comprises the above-mentioned passage body and / or the further-mentioned passage bottom plate. A bottom section of the passage body or a section of the passage bottom plate thus forms the boundary of the cooling passage. This provides a direct heat transfer from the cooling medium to the passage body or the passage bottom plate.

[0016] In another embodiment, the heat exchanger subsystem can have at least one cooling passage connected in series downstream of the electronics subsystem. In this case, the cooling medium flows first through the electronics subsystem during operation of the inductive charging device and then through the respective cooling passage of the heat exchanger subsystem. As a result, heat transferred to the cooling medium in the electronics area can be released from the cooling medium again already in the heat exchanger area.

[0017] In another embodiment, it is proposed that the heat exchanger subsystem has at least one cooling passage arranged between two cooling passages of the coil subsystem and thus connected in series, so that the cooling medium flows alternately between the coil area absorbing heat and the heat exchanger area releasing heat.

[0018] In another embodiment, it is proposed that a cooling passage of the cooling passage system forms a coil feed, which guides the cooling medium from the discharge device to the coil subsystem, and another cooling passage of the cooling passage system forms an electronics feed, which is separate from the coil feed, which guides the cooling medium from the discharge device to the electronics subsystem. Furthermore, the cooling passage system can have a cooling passage that forms a common return and integrates the cooling medium from at least two subsystems. This results in a simplified construction for the cooling passage system. Separately configured feeds for the coil and the power electronics allow for individual adaptation or optimization of the cooling power.

[0019] In another development, it is proposed that the electronics feeder forms a distributor for the electronics subsystem, from which a number of cooling passages for the electronics subsystem branch off in parallel and are led to a collector for the electronics subsystem. It is clear that a corresponding design with a distributor, a collector and their interconnected cooling passages can also be realized for the coil subsystem.

[0020] Expediently, at least one cooling channel of the heat exchanger subsystem can be connected downstream of the collector and lead to a common return, so that the cooling medium used to cool the power electronics flows first through the electronics subsystem and then through the heat exchanger subsystem.

[0021] In another embodiment, the coil subsystem can have a plurality of cooling passages extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the inductive charging device and spaced apart from one another in the lateral direction of the inductive charging device. Alternatively, the coil subsystem can have a plurality of connecting passages extending parallel to the lateral direction and connecting adjacent cooling passages to one another in the coil region. The heat exchanger subsystem can here have at least one cooling passage extending parallel to the lateral direction and connecting adjacent cooling passages of the coil subsystem to one another in the heat exchanger region. In this way, one of the plurality of connecting passages is positioned, so to speak, in the heat exchanger region, whereby this connecting passage is used as a cooling passage for heat transfer to the air in the heat exchanger region.

[0022] In another advantageous embodiment, the at least one fan can be arranged in a region remote from the air inlet and from the air outlet, in particular in a central region in the air flow direction of the air passage, so that substantial acoustic emission occurs in this remote or central region of the air passage. Thus, by increasing the distance to the air inlet opening and to the air outlet opening relative to the surroundings, a higher level of acoustic attenuation occurs between the fan as sound generator and the opening emitting sound to the surroundings, which reduces the acoustic load actually delivered to the surroundings.

[0023] In another embodiment, it is proposed that one air passage of the air passage system forms an inlet passage for guiding air from the respective air inlet to the respective fan, whereas the other air passage of the air passage system forms an outlet passage for guiding air from the respective fan to the respective air outlet, the air inlets and the air outlets being here present at mutually distant ends of the cooling plate, in particular at lateral ends spaced apart from one another in the lateral direction.

[0024] In another advantageous embodiment, the ventilation device can have two fans, in particular a first fan and a second fan. It is basically conceivable to operate these two fans in parallel. However, a row-type arrangement of the fans is preferred. Here, expediently, an inlet passage is guided to the first fan. A further air passage of the air passage system forms a connecting passage that guides air from the first fan to the second fan. An outlet passage can here be guided from the second fan to the respective air outlet. The use of two fans makes it possible to compensate for the flow resistance or pressure drop that occurs during the flow through the air passage. Flow resistance and pressure drop occur in particular if the respective air passage is equipped with ribs, webs, fins, turbulence plates or other heat transfer structures.

[0025] In another advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the inductive charging device has a frame structure, the edge side of which is connected to the cooling plate. This frame structure can have an inlet area which extends in the electronics area and in the coil area and optionally in the heat exchanger area to a first lateral end of the cooling plate and which is open to the surroundings, and an air collection channel connecting the air inlet openings to the respective air inlets. In addition, the frame structure can have an outlet area which extends in the electronics area and in the coil area and optionally in the heat exchanger area to a second lateral end of the cooling plate opposite the first lateral end and which is open to the surroundings, and an air distributor channel connecting the respective air outlets to the air outlet openings. By this measure, the frame structure is integrated into the air guide.

[0026] At the same time, this allows the frame structure to contribute to the cooling or heat dissipation of the cooling plate.

[0027] Here, in a particularly expedient development, the inlet region additionally extends over a portion of the first longitudinal end of the cooling plate in the electronics region. Additionally or alternatively, the inlet region can also extend over a portion of the second longitudinal end of the cooling plate in the coil region. Additionally or alternatively, the outlet region can also extend over a portion of the first longitudinal end of the cooling plate in the electronics region. Additionally or alternatively, the outlet region can also extend over a portion of the second longitudinal end of the cooling plate in the coil region. The inlet and outlet regions can thus be configured in a plan view as an L- or C-shape extending parallel to the height direction, i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the transverse direction. The frame structure is connected to the cooling plate on the edge side along the transverse ends and along the longitudinal ends. The widening of the inlet and / or outlet regions at the longitudinal ends of the cooling plate can improve the heat transfer coupling between the inlet region and the cooling plate or between the outlet region and the cooling plate. This is because more surface area is available. Furthermore, the enlarged inlet or outlet area reduces the air velocity when entering or leaving the framework, which inevitably reduces the noise caused by the air flow. Thus, with the inlet and outlet areas extending over a wide area that is as diffuse as possible, it is achieved that the least possible noise emissions occur into the surroundings.

[0028] According to another advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that at least one cooling passage of the cooling passage system, preferably the feed passage, extends to an edge region of the cooling plate that is assigned to the inlet region. Additionally or alternatively, at least one cooling passage of the cooling passage system, preferably the return passage, can extend to an edge region of the cooling plate that is assigned to the outlet region.

[0029] Expediently, at least one cooling rib can be arranged in at least one, several or all of the air inlet openings, which is thermally connected to the cooling plate. Additionally or alternatively, at least one cooling rib can be arranged in at least one, several or all of the air outlet openings, which is thermally connected to the cooling plate. This significantly improves the heat transfer between the cooling plate and the air in the inlet or outlet region.

[0030] In another embodiment, it is proposed to arrange at least one air filter in the inlet area. In particular, an air filter may be arranged in at least one, or in several, or in all air inlet openings. This can reduce contamination of the ventilation device, in particular of the respective fan and the respective air passages, as well as the heat exchanger structure optionally present inside the ventilation device.

[0031] The cooling device can be configured as a cooling circuit, in which case the discharge device is a pump, whereas the cooling medium is a cooling liquid. The cooling circuit can, in particular, have a compensation vessel arranged upstream or on the suction side of the pump, expediently. Alternatively, the cooling device can also be configured as a cold circuit, in which case the discharge device is a compressor, whereas the cooling medium is a refrigerant. The cooling medium in the cooling circuit remains liquid, whereas the refrigerant in the cold circuit alternately undergoes a phase change from liquid to gaseous phase and back again from gaseous phase to liquid phase. An expansion valve is arranged expediently in the cold circuit. The evaporator area of ​​the cold circuit, in which the refrigerant evaporates, is expediently located in the area of ​​the respective heat source in order to provide efficient cooling there. The condenser area of ​​the cold circuit is then expediently located in the area of ​​the respective heat sink in order to enable efficient heat dissipation there. Depending on the number of heat sources, several evaporator areas may be provided.

[0032] An inductive vehicle charging system according to the invention, which is used to charge the batteries of battery electric vehicles, comprises a stationary inductive charging device of the above-mentioned type and a mobile inductive charging device arranged in or on the respective vehicle. In a ready-to-operate state, the stationary inductive charging device is fixedly located in or on the ground of the vehicle yard and is electrically connected to the power grid. The mobile inductive charging device is located in or on the floor of the vehicle and is electrically connected to a battery charger arranged in the vehicle, which is itself electrically connected to the vehicle's battery.

[0033] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the drawings and the accompanying drawing description based on the drawings.

[0034] It is self-evident that the features mentioned above and those to be further described below can be used not only in the respective described combinations, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The components mentioned above and those to be further described below of higher-level units, such as, for example, apparatus, devices or assemblies shown separately, may form separate components or components of the unit, or may be integrated regions or divisions of the unit, even if shown differently in the drawings.

[0035] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail in the following description, where like reference numbers refer to identical or similar components or functionally the same components. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0036] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 shows a schematic, highly simplified, elementary horizontal section of a stationary inductive charging device in the area of ​​a ventilation device. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a schematic representation of another embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 shows a schematic and highly simplified elementary horizontal section of a stationary inductive charging device in the region of a cooling device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showing a schematic representation of another embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, but showing a schematic representation of a further embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a highly simplified cross-sectional view showing a schematic representation of a stationary inductive charging device in the entrance area of ​​a frame structure. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6 but showing an outlet area of ​​a frame structure in another embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a stationary inductive charging device in an edge-side opening area corresponding to viewing direction VIII in FIGS. 6 and 7 . [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a highly simplified longitudinal section view showing a schematic representation of a stationary inductive charging device in the region of the frame structure of FIG. 7.

[0037] According to figures 1 to 5, the stationary inductive charging device 1 comprises at least one coil 2, shown in figures 1 and 2, for generating an alternating electromagnetic field. In figures 1 and 2, the coil 2 is shown with dashed lines. This coil 2 here may be an individual coil or may be formed by a coil assembly consisting of several coils.

[0038] The inductive charging device 1 has a longitudinal direction X, a lateral direction Y extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and a height direction Z extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and perpendicular to the lateral direction Y. In the correct ready-for-operation positioning of the stationary inductive charging device 1, the height direction Z extends parallel to the direction of gravity. The longitudinal direction X, the lateral direction Y and the height direction Z of the inductive charging device 1 are indicated by double-headed arrows in Figs. 1 to 9, where the cross sections in Figs. 1 to 5 extend perpendicular to the height direction Z, so that only the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y are perceptible there. In contrast to this, in Figs. 6 and 7, the cross sections extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, so that only the lateral direction Y and the height direction Z are perceptible there. In Figs. 8 and 9, the cross sections finally extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, so that only the longitudinal direction X and the height direction Z are perceptible there.

[0039] Furthermore, the inductive charging device 1 comprises power electronics 3, which are shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, for the energy supply of the coil 2 and for controlling the drive of the coil 2. In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, three possible units of the power electronics 3 are shown by way of example, in particular an active rectifier 4, an active inverter 5 and a control device 6. The power electronics 3 here comprises a number of components 7 assigned to these units. In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, three such components 7 are shown by way of example with dashed lines. These are components 7 which generate, among other things, a lot of heat during the operation of the power electronics 3, for example power transistors.

[0040] Furthermore, the inductive charging device 1 comprises a cooling plate 8, which is shown in different embodiments in Figures 1 to 5, which serves to dissipate heat from the coil 2 and the power electronics 3. For this purpose, the cooling plate 8 is thermally connected with the components 7 of the power electronics 3 and the coil 2 on its upper side, which faces the viewer in Figures 1 to 5. Expediently, the cooling plate 8 forms the bottom plate of the inductive charging device 1 or the underside of the inductive charging device 1. The inductive charging device 1, in conjunction with the cooling plate 8, is therefore placed on a stable base.

[0041] Among other things, the inductive charging device 1 has a housing 9, which on the underside has a cooling plate 8 configured as a bottom plate and on the top side of the inductive charging device 1 has a cover plate 10, which is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 9, and which is surrounded on the lateral or edge sides by a frame structure 11. The housing 9 is designed to be rideable or surmountable. For this purpose, the frame structure 11 can be designed in the shape of a ramp or wedge, which can be seen in Figs. 6, 7 and 9. In the ready-for-operation state, the inductive charging device 1 is connected to the power grid by means of electrical terminals 12.

[0042] The stationary inductive charging device 1 typically forms a major component of an inductive vehicle charging system 13, not shown, which in addition has a mobile inductive charging device on the vehicle side, not shown here.

[0043] Furthermore, the inductive charging device 1 comprises a cooling device 14, which is shown in Figs. 3 to 5, which has a cooling channel system 15 and a discharge device 16. The cooling channel system 15 has a number of cooling channels 17 which extend inside the cooling plate 8 and which guide the cooling medium. The discharge device 16 drives the cooling medium in the cooling channel system 15. The cooling device 14 can further comprise a compensation container 18 which has a closable filling opening 19. A suction line 20 connects the compensation container 18 to the discharge device 16. In Figs. 3 to 5, the preferred flow direction of the cooling medium in the cooling channel system 15 is indicated by means of arrows.

[0044] The inductive charging device 1 further comprises a ventilation device 21, which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which comprises an air passage system 22 and at least one fan 23. The air passage system 22 comprises at least one air passage 24 for guiding air, which is thermally connected to the cooling plate 8 or to the upper surface of the plate. In the example of Figs. 1 and 2, three fans 23 are provided, which are arranged in series or in parallel with respect to the air flow. The air flow which occurs during the operation of the ventilation device 21 is indicated by arrows in Figs. 1 and 2. The ventilation device 21 further comprises at least one air inlet 26 which communicates with the surroundings 25 of the inductive charging device 1 and at least one air outlet 27 which communicates with the surroundings 25. In the example of Figs. 1 and 2, the air passage system 22 comprises three air passages 24, which are explained in more detail further below.

[0045] Furthermore, the three fans 23 shown in Figures 1 and 2 are arranged in a separate area with respect to the air inlet 26 and the air outlet 27, i.e. in a central area 70 in the air flow direction of the air passage 24, which area 70 is indicated by a curved bracket in Figures 1 and 2. By positioning these or all fans 23 in the central area 70, the main acoustic emission is also generated in this central area 70. Thus, by increasing the distance from the opening of the air inlet 26 to the surroundings 25 as well as the opening of the air outlet 27 to the surroundings 25, a higher level of acoustic attenuation is created between the fans 23 as sound generators and the openings that emit sound into the surroundings 25. This reduces the acoustic load actually delivered to the surroundings 25.

[0046] 1 and 2, each air duct 24 can be formed in a duct body 28, which represents a separate component with respect to the cooling plate 8 and also with respect to the frame structure 11. The duct body 28 can be manufactured, for example, from a metal with a preferably high thermal conductivity. Each duct body 28 can have a number of ribs or webs, not shown here, which divide the associated air duct 24 into a corresponding number of partial ducts and thereby provide a large surface area for the heat transfer between the duct body 28 and the air guided in the air duct 24. Each duct body 28 can be screwed or brazed or welded to the cooling plate 8.

[0047] In contrast, an embodiment in which no separate passage body 28 is used is preferred. Instead, existing components are preferably used to form the respective air passage 24. As already mentioned, the housing 9 has a cooling plate 8 on its underside and a cover plate 10 on its upper side. Furthermore, the power electronics 3 may be covered in the housing 9 by an electronics housing 65. Similarly, the coil 2 may be covered in the housing 9 by a coil housing 66. The respective air passage 24 may here be defined below by the cooling plate 8 or by a separate passage bottom plate 67 with respect to the cooling plate 8, above by the cover plate 10 and laterally by a side wall 68 of the electronics housing 65 facing the coil housing 66 as well as by a side wall 69 of the coil housing 66 facing the electronics housing 65.

[0048] As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the components 7 or units 4, 5, 6 of the power electronics 3 are arranged on the upper side of the cooling plate 8 in an electronics area 29. The coils 2, in turn, are arranged on the upper side of the cooling plate 8 in a coil area 30. The respective air passages 24 and the respective fans 23 are arranged on the upper side of the cooling plate 8 in a heat exchanger area 31. The heat exchanger area 31 is here arranged between the electronics area 29 and the coil area 30 in the longitudinal direction X. The electronics area 29, the coil area 30 and the heat exchanger area 31 are each indicated by bent brackets in Figures 1 to 5.

[0049] According to Figs. 3-5, the cooling passage system 15 may have an electronics subsystem 32 including at least one cooling passage 17 extending into the electronics region 29. Furthermore, the cooling passage system 15 may have a coil subsystem 33 including at least one cooling passage 17 extending into the coil region 30. Finally, the cooling passage system 15 may have a heat exchanger subsystem 34 extending into a heat exchanger region 31 which also includes at least one cooling passage 17. A heat exchanger structure 35 may be arranged in the at least one cooling passage 17. In the example of Figs. 3-5, one heat exchanger structure 35 is arranged in each cooling passage 17 of the heat exchanger subsystem 34. Furthermore, in the electronics subsystem 32, in the example of Figs. 3 and 5, two planar passage sections 35' are shown, and in the example of Fig. 4, three planar passage sections 35' are shown, each with one heat exchanger structure 35 arranged therein. These surface-shaped channel sections 35' are expediently formed at the locations where the components 7 that generate the most heat are located. The respective heat exchanger structures 35 can be formed by ribs, projections, fins, turbulence plates, etc.

[0050] In the heat exchanger subsystem 34, the cooling channels 17 may be open at the upper side of the cooling plate 8 in the region of the respective air channels 24 and may be covered from above by the respective channel body 28 or by the respective channel bottom plate 67 or may be closed towards the top, so that the cooling medium can come into contact directly with the respective channel body 28 or with the respective channel bottom plate 67 during operation of the inductive charging device 1.

[0051] 3 and 4, the heat exchanger subsystem 34 comprises a number of cooling passages 17' that are arranged downstream of, i.e. downstream from, the cooling passages 17 of the electronics subsystem 32. Furthermore, the heat exchanger subsystem 34 comprises further cooling passages 17'' that are connected in series with the cooling passages 17 of the coil subsystem 33. Each of these cooling passages 17'' of the heat exchanger subsystem 34 is here arranged between two cooling passages 17 of the coil subsystem 33.

[0052] In the example of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the cooling passage 17 of the cooling passage system 15 forms a coil feed 36, which guides the cooling medium from the discharge device 16 to the coil subsystem 33. Another cooling passage 17 of the cooling passage system 15 forms an electronics feed 37, which is separate from the coil feed 36, which guides the cooling medium from the discharge device 16 to the electronics subsystem 32. The further cooling passage 17 of the cooling passage system 15 forms a common return 38, which guides the cooling medium to the compensation vessel 18. Alternatively, the electronics feed 37 can form or transition to a distributor passage 39, from which a number of cooling passages 17 of the electronics subsystem 32 branch off, and the cooling medium is guided in parallel to a collector passage 40. In the example shown here, these cooling passages 17' connected downstream of the electronics subsystem 32 are connected to the collector passage 40. From the collector passage 40, the cooling medium thus reaches the cooling passage 17' of the heat exchanger subsystem 34.

[0053] 3 and 4, the coil subsystem 33 has a number of cooling passages 17 which extend parallel to the longitudinal direction X of the inductive charging device 1 and are spaced apart from one another in the lateral direction Y of the inductive charging device 1. The coil subsystem 33 here has a number of connecting passages 41 which extend parallel to the lateral direction Y and connect adjacent cooling passages 17 to one another inside the coil area 30. The further already mentioned cooling passages 17'' of the heat exchanger subsystem 34, which are connected in series with the cooling passages 17 of the coil subsystem 33, also extend parallel to the lateral direction Y and connect each two adjacent cooling passages 17 of the coil subsystem 33, in particular inside the heat exchanger area 31.

[0054] In Fig. 5, another interconnection or arrangement of the cooling passages 17 is shown purely by way of example. Here, the three subsystems mentioned above, in particular the electronics subsystem 32, the coil subsystem 33 and the heat exchanger subsystem 34, are connected in series by one connecting cooling passage 17' each, so that the cooling medium is guided first through the more heat-sensitive electronics area 29, then through the less heat-sensitive coil area 30 and finally through the heat exchanger area 31. This achieves that the sensitive components in the electronics area 29 are cooled by the cooling medium with the lowest temperature, while the less sensitive components in the coil area 30 can still be sufficiently cooled by the cooling medium having a slightly higher temperature, which in the case of a maximum temperature transfers its thermal energy to the air flowing through the air passage 24 in the heat exchanger area 31.

[0055] According to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, one of the air ducts 24 of the air duct system 22 forms an inlet duct 42, which guides air from the respective air inlet 26 to the respective fan 23. The other air duct 24 of the air duct system 22, on the other hand, forms an outlet duct 43, which guides air from the respective fan 23 to the respective air outlet 27. In the example shown, at least two fans 23 are provided, which form two fan stages, in particular a first fan stage 44 and a second fan stage 45, which are arranged one behind the other or in series in the air flow direction. In the example shown here, the first fan stage 44 has exactly one fan 23, whereas the second fan stage 45 has exactly two fans 23 operating in parallel. The inlet duct 42 here guides air from the air inlet 26 to the first fan stage 44. The further air passage 24 of the air passage system 22 forms a connecting passage 46 which guides the air from the first fan stage 44 to the second fan stage 45. The outlet passage 43 guides the air from the second fan stage 45 to the air outlet 27.

[0056] The frame structure 11 is connected at its edge side to the cooling plate 8 and extends in a circumferential direction U around the inductive charging device 1 or its housing 9. The circumferential direction U is indicated by a double arrow in Figs. 1 to 5, 8 and 9 and extends around a height direction Z. The frame structure 11 has an inlet area 47 which here extends to a first lateral end 48 of the cooling plate 8 in the electronics area 29, in the heat exchanger area 31 and in the coil area 30. The inlet area 47 has a number of air inlet openings 49 visible in Fig. 6 and includes an air collection channel 50 connecting the air inlet openings 49 to the air inlet 26. Furthermore, the frame structure 11 has an outlet area 51 which extends to a second lateral end 52 of the cooling plate 8 opposite the first lateral end 48 in the electronics area 29, in the heat exchanger area 31 and in the coil area 30 in the lateral direction Y. This outlet region 51 has, according to FIG. 7, a plurality of air outlet openings 53 and includes an air distributor passage 54 which connects the air outlet 27 to the air outlet openings 53 .

[0057] 1 and 3 to 5, the inlet region 47 also extends over a portion of the first longitudinal end 55 of the cooling plate 8, as well as over a portion of the second longitudinal end 56 of the cooling plate 8 opposite the first longitudinal end 55 in the longitudinal direction X. The outlet region 51 also extends here over a portion of the first longitudinal end 55 and over a portion of the second longitudinal end 56. As a result, the inlet region 47 and the outlet region 51 are formed in a line-of-sight C-shape extending parallel to the height direction Z.

[0058] 2, the inlet region 47 extends exclusively along the first lateral edge 48, whereas the outlet region 51 extends exclusively along the second lateral edge 52. In this case, the inlet region 47 and the outlet region 51 are formed in a line-of-sight I-shape that runs parallel to the height direction Z.

[0059] In the example of Figures 3 and 5, all cooling passages 17 of the cooling passage system 15 run away from the edge region where the frame structure 11 is present. In contrast to this, in the example of Figure 4, it is assumed that at least one cooling passage 17, here the coil feed 36 as well as the connecting passage 41, runs in an edge region of the cooling plate 8 assigned to the inlet region 47 of the frame structure 11. In addition, it is assumed in this example that at least one further cooling passage 17, here the common return 38 as well as the connecting passage 41, runs in another edge region of the cooling plate 8 assigned to the outlet region 51 of the frame structure 11.

[0060] According to FIG. 6, at least one heat exchanger structure 57 may be arranged in the inlet region 47, which is thermally connected to the cooling plate 8. For example, the respective heat exchanger structure 57 may be glued or soldered to the cooling plate 8 or to its upper surface. The respective heat exchanger structure 57 here guides the air from the respective air inlet opening 49 to the air collecting channel 50. Additionally or alternatively, according to FIG. 7, at least one heat exchanger structure 58 may be arranged in the outlet region 51, which is thermally connected to the cooling plate 8. The respective heat exchanger structure 58 here guides the air from the air distributor channel 54 to the respective air outlet opening 53. The respective heat exchanger structure 57, 58 may here be formed by fins 59 or ribs 59 or by another heat transfer structure according to FIG. 9.

[0061] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the inlet opening 49 is connected to the air collecting passage 50 via a connecting opening 60. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a separating wall 61 is formed in the outlet region 51, which separates the air distributor passage 54. This separate wall 61 increases the stability of the frame structure 11 or the housing 9. A connecting opening 62 forms the connection between the air distributor passage 54 and the outlet opening 53. It is clear that the outlet region 51 can also be configured identically to the inlet region 47 shown in FIG. 6. It is also conceivable that the inlet region 47 can also be configured identically to the outlet region 51 shown in FIG. 7.

[0062] The inlet openings 49 and the outlet openings 53 can in principle be configured in any way. Particularly advantageously, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the inlet openings 49 or the outlet openings 53 are arranged next to each other in the circumferential direction U and are separated from each other by arc-shaped support elements 63. These support elements 63 increase the stability of the housing 9 or the frame structure 11.

[0063] Optionally, according to Fig. 6, at least one air filter 64 may be arranged in the inlet region 47, through which the drawn-in air flows. In the example of Fig. 6, this air filter 64 is arranged in such a way that the air flows through it when it is redirected by the cooling ribs 47 into the connecting opening 60, i.e. before it flows into the air collecting channel 50.

Claims

1. A stationary inductive charging device (1), a coil (2) for generating an alternating electromagnetic field; power electronics (3) for supplying energy to the coil (2) and for driving and controlling the coil (2); a cooling plate (8) thermally connected to the power electronics (3) components (7) and to the coil (2); a cooling device (14) including a cooling passage system (15) extending within the cooling plate (8) and having a plurality of cooling passages (17) for guiding a cooling medium, and a discharge device (16) for driving the cooling medium within the cooling passage system (15); a ventilation device (21) including an air passage system (22) having at least one air passage (24) heat-transferably connected to the cooling plate (8) and guiding air, at least one fan (23) for driving air in the air passage system (22), at least one air inlet (26) communicating with a surrounding (25) of the inductive charging device (1), and at least one air outlet (27) communicating with the surrounding (25); A stationary inductive charging device (1) comprising:

2. The stationary inductive charging device (1) has a housing (9) having the cooling plate (8) on its underside and a cover plate (10) on its upper side; The power electronics (3) are enclosed within the housing (9) by an electronics housing (65); The coil (2) is covered by a coil housing (66) within the housing (9), 2. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 1, wherein each of the air passages (24) is defined below by the cooling plate (8) or by a passage bottom plate (67) separate from the cooling plate (8), above by the cover plate (10), and laterally by a side wall (68) of the electronics housing (65) facing the coil housing (66) and a side wall (69) of the coil housing (66) facing the electronics housing (65).

3. 2. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 1, wherein each of the air passages (24) is formed in a passage body (28) that is a separate part with respect to the cooling plate (8).

4. 3. The inductive charging device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the air passages (24) has a passage bottom plate (67) that defines the air passage (24) downwardly and is a separate part with respect to the cooling plate (8) and is thermally connected to the cooling plate (8).

5. 3. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the fans (23) is positioned in each of the air passages (24) spaced apart from the air inlet (26) and spaced apart from the air outlet (27).

6. The components (7) of the power electronics (3) are arranged in an electronics area (29) of the cooling plate (8); The coil (2) is disposed in a coil region (30) of the cooling plate (8); 3. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the air passages (24) and each of the fans (23) are arranged in a heat exchanger area (31) of the cooling plate (8) arranged between the electronics area (29) and the coil area (30) in the longitudinal direction (X) of the inductive charging device (1).

7. the cooling passage system (15) includes an electronics subsystem (32) having at least one cooling passage (17) extending into the electronics region (29); the cooling passage system (15) includes a coil subsystem (33) having at least one cooling passage (17) extending into the coil region (30); 7. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 6, wherein the cooling passage system (15) comprises a heat exchanger subsystem (34) having at least one cooling passage (17) extending within the heat exchanger area (31).

8. 8. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 7, wherein the electronics subsystem (32), the coil subsystem (33), and the heat exchanger subsystem (34) are arranged in series within the cooling passage system (15), such that the cooling medium flows first through the electronics subsystem (32), then through the coil subsystem (33), and finally through the heat exchanger subsystem (34) during operation of the cooling device (14).

9. 8. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 7, wherein a heat exchanger structure (35) is disposed in at least one cooling passage (17) of the electronics subsystem (32), the coil subsystem (33), and / or the heat exchanger subsystem (34).

10. 8. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 7, wherein at least one cooling passage (17) of the heat exchanger subsystem (34) opens in the upper surface of the cooling plate (8) in the region of each of the air passages (24), whereby the cooling medium directly contacts each of the air passages (24) during operation of the inductive charging device (1).

11. 8. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 7, wherein the heat exchanger subsystem (34) has at least one cooling passage (17, 17') connected in series downstream of the electronics subsystem (32) or the coil subsystem (33).

12. 8. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 7, wherein the heat exchanger subsystem (34) is disposed between two cooling passages (17) of the coil subsystem (33) or the electronics subsystem (32), and thus has at least one cooling passage (17, 17'') connected in series.

13. the cooling passage (17) of the cooling passage system (15) forms a coil feed (36) that guides the cooling medium from the discharge device (16) to the coil subsystem (33); the cooling passages (17) of the cooling passage system (15) form an electronics feed (37) separate from the coil feed (36) that guides the cooling medium from the discharge device (16) to the electronics subsystem (32); 8. The inductive charging device (1) according to claim 7, wherein one cooling passage (17) of the cooling passage system (15) forms a common return path (38).

14. 14. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 13, wherein the electronics feed section (37) forms a distributor (39) of the electronics subsystem (32), from which a plurality of cooling passages (17) of the electronics subsystem (32) branch off in parallel and lead to a collector (40) of the electronics subsystem (32).

15. 15. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 14, wherein at least one cooling passage (17) of the heat exchanger subsystem (34) is connected in series downstream of the collector (40) and leads to the common return path (38).

16. The coil subsystem (33) has a plurality of cooling passages (17) extending parallel to a longitudinal direction (X) of the inductive charging device (1) and spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction (Y) of the inductive charging device (1); The coil subsystem (33) has a plurality of connecting passages (41) extending parallel to the transverse direction (Y) and connecting adjacent cooling passages (17) to each other within the coil region (30); 8. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 7, wherein the heat exchanger subsystem (34) has at least one cooling passage (17, 17'') extending parallel to the lateral direction (Y) and connecting adjacent cooling passages (17) of the coil subsystem (33) to each other within the heat exchanger region (31).

17. one air passage (24) of the air passage system (22) forms an inlet passage (42) that guides air from each of the air inlets (26) to each of the fans (23); 3. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 1 or 2, wherein one air passage (24) of the air passage system (22) forms an outlet passage (43) that guides air from each of the fans (23) to each of the air outlets (27).

18. The ventilation device (21) has at least two fans (23) forming at least two fan stages, in particular a first fan stage (44) and a second fan stage (45), the inlet passage (42) directs air from each of the air inlets (26) to the first fan stage (44); the air passage (24) of the air passage system (22) forms a connecting passage (46) that guides air from the first fan stage (44) to the second fan stage (45); 18. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 17, wherein the outlet passages (43) lead from the second fan stage (45) to each of the air outlets (27).

19. The components (7) of the power electronics (3) are arranged within an electronics area (29) of the cooling plate (8); The coil (2) is disposed in a coil region (30) of the cooling plate (8); Each of the air passages (24) and each of the fans (23) are arranged in a heat exchanger region (31) of the cooling plate (8) that is arranged between the electronics region (29) and the coil region (30) in the longitudinal direction (X) of the inductive charging device (1); The inductive charging device (1) has a frame structure (11) whose edge side is connected to the cooling plate (8), the frame structure (11) has an inlet region (47) having a plurality of air inlet openings (49) extending to a first lateral end (48) of the cooling plate (8) within the electronics region (29) and the coil region (30) and opening to the periphery (25), and air collection passages (50) connecting the air inlet openings (49) to each of the air inlets (26); 3. The inductive charging device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame structure (11) has an outlet area (51) extending to a second lateral end (52) opposite the first lateral end (48) in the lateral direction (Y) and including a plurality of air outlet openings (53) opening to the surroundings (25), and air distributor passages (54) connecting each of the air outlets (27) to the air outlet openings (53).

20. 20. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 19, wherein the inlet area (47) extends over a portion of the first longitudinal end (55) of the cooling plate (8) within the electronics area (29).

21. 20. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 19, wherein the inlet area (47) also extends over a portion of the second longitudinal end (56) of the cooling plate (8) within the coil area (30).

22. 20. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 19, wherein the outlet area (51) also extends over a portion of the first longitudinal end (55) of the cooling plate (8) within the electronics area (29).

23. 20. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 19, wherein the outlet area (51) also extends over a portion of the second longitudinal end (56) of the cooling plate (8) within the coil area (30).

24. 20. The inductive charging device (1) of claim 19, wherein at least one cooling passage (17, 36) of the cooling passage system (15), preferably a feed passage (36), extends to an edge region of the cooling plate (8) assigned to the inlet region (47).

25. 20. The inductive charging device (1) according to claim 19, wherein at least one cooling passage (17, 38), preferably a return passage (38), of the cooling passage system (15) extends to an edge region of the cooling plate (8) assigned to the outlet region (51).

26. The cooling device (14) is configured as a cooling circuit, The discharge device (16) is a pump, 3. The inductive charging device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cooling medium is a coolant.

27. The cooling device (14) is configured as a cooling / heating circuit, The discharge device (16) is a compressor, the cooling medium is a refrigerant, 3. The inductive charging device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cooling and heating circuit comprises an expansion valve.

28. An inductive vehicle charging system (13) for charging a battery of a battery electric vehicle, comprising: A stationary inductive charging device (1) according to claim 1 or 2; and a mobile inductive charging device disposed within each of the vehicles.

Images