Electronic power conversion device for electric or hybrid vehicles

Abstract

An electronic power conversion device (1) for an electric or hybrid vehicle, connectable to at least one battery of the electric or hybrid vehicle, comprises an external housing (2), an electronic circuit (3) housed inside the housing (2), connectable to the battery and configured to convert an input current / voltage to a specified output current / voltage, a liquid cooling chamber (5) formed in a part of the housing (2) for cooling the electronic circuit (3), a heating chamber (10) formed in a part of the housing (2) and provided with a fluid inlet port (11) and a fluid outlet port (12) connected to a heating circuit of the battery, and a fluid heating means (13) inside the heating chamber (10).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic power conversion device for electric or hybrid vehicles, of the type of an On-Board Charger (OBC) or a DC-DC converter, which can be installed in an electric or hybrid vehicle and connected to the battery of the vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Referring to the field of electric or hybrid vehicles, it is mandatory to use an electronic power device set on-board the vehicle, such as an OBC (On-Board Charger) or a DC-DC converter, for converting an input voltage / current into an output voltage / current.

[0003] Such devices typically include power electronics that require dedicated cooling systems to maintain the temperature at an acceptable level during use.

[0004] Typically, the electronics in known types of energy conversion devices are enclosed within a metallic housing, preferably made entirely from aluminium.

[0005] Specifically, an aluminum enclosure is used to allow for effective heat dissipation by air dispersion during energy conversion.

[0006] In addition, known types of devices generally comprise a fluid cooling circuit, which is made at the point where a part of the housing is located and which is used to cool parts of the internal electronics.

[0007] In particular, a device of known type comprises a cooling chamber made at a point where a portion of the housing is located, provided with a coolant inlet and outlet, and provided with at least one wall or surface portion placed in contact with the electronics to be cooled.

[0008] Thus, the inlet and the continuous changing of the coolant inside the chamber make it possible to keep the electronics at a suitable temperature.

[0009] With reference to the automotive sector, and in particular to electric or hybrid vehicles, the use of battery heating devices is also known.

[0010] In fact, in the case of very low outside temperatures, it is mandatory to heat the vehicle battery to ensure optimal operation: in fact, it is well known that this type of battery is very sensitive to temperatures (both low and high), with a significant decrease in performance below zero degrees.

[0011] Such heaters are typically connected to a dedicated battery heating / cooling circuit and adapted to operate when required to heat a fluid within the circuit.

[0012] Such heaters are therefore generally operated, using a specific heating circuit, to bring the battery to an optimum temperature, or in any case above the minimum temperature that ensures correct operation of the battery.

[0013] However, the known solutions have several drawbacks.

[0014] Indeed, the obligation of automobile manufacturers to ensure correct operation of the battery, and thus the vehicle, in all weather conditions, including high temperatures and temperatures well below zero, requires the simultaneous use of specific systems and dedicated devices for cooling and heating the battery itself.

[0015] As a result, such cooling and heating systems increase the overall cost of the vehicle, as well as the installation complexity, overall size, complexity of the control electronics, and maintenance costs of such systems.

[0016] Heaters of this known type in particular are generally expensive and involve large overall dimensions. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0017] A primary goal of the present invention is to devise an electronic power conversion system for electric or hybrid vehicles that can reduce the overall cost of manufacturing the vehicle.

[0018] Another goal of the present invention is to devise an electronic power conversion device for electric or hybrid vehicles that is able to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within a simple, rational, easy and effective solution. [Means for solving the problem]

[0019] The aforementioned object is achieved by the present electronic power conversion device for electric or hybrid vehicles according to patent claim 1.

[0020] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of two possible, preferred but not exclusive, embodiments of an electronic power conversion device for electric or hybrid vehicles, illustrated by way of non-limiting examples in the accompanying diagrams. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a first possible embodiment according to the invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 shows a first possible embodiment according to the invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 shows a first possible embodiment according to the invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 shows a second possible embodiment according to the invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 shows a second possible embodiment according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Referring in detail to these drawings, reference numeral 1 generally indicates an electronic power conversion apparatus for an electric or hybrid vehicle.

[0023] In particular, according to a possible embodiment, the device 1 consists of an OBC (On-Board Charger) that can be installed in an electric or hybrid vehicle and that can be connected to the battery of the vehicle.

[0024] In addition, according to another possible embodiment, the device 1 consists of a DC / DC converter that can be installed in an electric or hybrid vehicle and can be connected to the vehicle's battery.

[0025] The device 1 comprises at least one external housing 2 and at least one electronic circuit 3 housed inside the housing 2 and connectable to the vehicle's battery.

[0026] The electronic circuit 3 is configured to convert an input current / voltage to a defined output current / voltage, in particular the electronic circuit 3 may consist of one or more power or control electronic boards of the type conventionally used in OBCs (On-Board Chargers) or DC-DC converters that can be installed in electric or hybrid vehicles.

[0027] The device 1 may be provided with at least one lid 4 for closing the housing 2 .

[0028] In addition, the device 1 comprises at least one liquid cooling chamber 5 implemented in part of the housing 2 and adapted to allow cooling of the electronic circuit 3 .

[0029] The cooling chamber 5 is provided with a liquid inlet port 6 and a liquid outlet port 7 .

[0030] The cooling chamber 6 is also provided with at least one wall, or portion of a surface 8', 8'', positioned to contact the electronic circuit 3 to be cooled.

[0031] Thus, the inlet and the continuous changing of the liquid inside the cooling chamber 5 make it possible to keep the electronic circuit 3 at a suitable temperature.

[0032] With reference to a first possible embodiment, shown by way of example in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , the cooling chamber 5 is constituted by a hollow part of the housing 2 itself, which is hermetically sealed by a closing plate 9 .

[0033] As shown in detail in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the cooling chamber 5 is comprised of a wall 8' positioned to be in contact with one or more electronic elements of the electronic circuit 3 to be cooled.

[0034] On the other hand, with reference to a second possible embodiment shown by way of example in Figures 4 and 5, the cooling chamber 5 is constituted by a hollow part of the housing 2 itself, which is hermetically sealed by the same support 8'' of the electronic circuit 3, made by IMS (Insulated Metal Substrate) technology.

[0035] In this case, the liquid circulating inside the cooling chamber 5 is therefore in direct contact with the aluminium base of the same electronic circuit 3 of the IMS type.

[0036] However, different embodiments of the cooling chamber 5 cannot be excluded.

[0037] Advantageously, the main novel feature of the device 1 according to the invention consists in that the device 1 itself comprises at least one heating chamber 10. The heating chamber 10 is made at the point where at least a part of the housing 2 is located and is provided with at least one inlet port 11 for a fluid and at least one outlet port 12 for a fluid. The inlet port 11 and the outlet port 12 of the heating chamber 10 are connected to the heating circuit of the battery of the vehicle.

[0038] In addition, the device 1 comprises heating means 13 housed inside the heating chamber 10 and adapted to heat a fluid circulating inside the heating chamber itself.

[0039] Advantageously, the same device 1 can thus be used to heat the battery of a vehicle instead of a conventional heating device.

[0040] In fact, when necessary, i.e. when the outside air temperature drops below a prescribed minimum temperature, the operation of the heating means 13 makes it possible to heat the fluid circulating inside the heating chamber 10, which then reaches the battery by means of a specific heating circuit connected to the outlet port 12.

[0041] In this way, the device 1 according to the invention can be used to bring the battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle to an optimum temperature or, in any case, above the minimum temperature that allows the correct operation of the battery itself to be guaranteed.

[0042] Referring to the preferred embodiment of the apparatus 1 shown in the drawings, the heating chamber 10 coincides with the cooling chamber 5 of the apparatus itself, while the inlet port 6 and outlet port 7 coincide with the inlet port 11 and outlet port 12.

[0043] So in effect the inlet ports 6, 11 and outlet ports 7, 12 are connectable to a temperature conditioning circuit in the vehicle's battery which can be used to both heat and cool the battery itself.

[0044] In fact, device 1, which is an OBC (On-Board Charger), or DC-DC converter type device, typically installed in a vehicle and connected to a circuit conventionally used to cool the battery of the vehicle, can advantageously use the same circuit as a battery heating circuit.

[0045] In addition, the fact that the device 1 is provided with a single chamber 5, 10, which can be used both as the cooling chamber 5 and as the heating chamber 10, makes it possible to greatly reduce the size of the device 1.

[0046] In particular, the device 1 makes it possible to integrate all the electronics and functions carried out by conventional heating devices of known type inside a conventional sized OBC (On-Board Charger), or DC-DC converter, which makes it possible to significantly reduce the overall dimensions inside the vehicle.

[0047] The heating means 13 comprises at least one heating element 13 housed inside the heating chamber 10 and operatively connected to the electronic circuitry 3 .

[0048] With reference to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the heating means 13 consists of a single heating element extending along a defined path inside the heating chamber 10 .

[0049] Preferably, this heating element 13 comprises at least one electrical resistor. In particular, the heating element 13 consists of a heating coil.

[0050] However, different embodiments cannot be excluded: for example, the coil can be replaced by other types of heating elements, such as a welding resistor.

[0051] Advantageously, the electronic circuit 3 already used for power conversion can be partly used to regulate the power of the heating element 13 itself. In particular, input-output connectors, microcontrollers or control DSPs, auxiliary power supply circuits, input and / or output filters as well as other components or devices can be considered to have similar functions.

[0052] Indeed, it has been found that the invention as described accomplishes its intended objects.

[0053] In particular, it is emphasized that the device according to the invention makes it possible to reduce the overall manufacturing costs of the vehicle.

[0054] In particular, the device according to the invention, in addition to performing the functions normally performed by a conventional OBC (On-Board Charger) or DC-DC converter, also allows for the control of the heating of the battery, if required.

Claims

1. An electronic power conversion device (1) for an electric or hybrid vehicle, connectable to at least one battery of the electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising: At least one external housing (2); At least one electronic circuit (3) housed inside the housing (2), connectable to the battery and configured to convert an input current / voltage to a predefined output current / voltage; At least one liquid cooling chamber (5) made in a portion of the housing (2) for cooling the electronic circuit (3), The electronic power converter (1) comprises: at least one heating chamber (10) made in at least a part of said housing (2) and provided with at least one inlet port (11) for a fluid and at least one outlet port (12) for said fluid, said inlet port (11) and said outlet port (12) being connected to a heating circuit of said battery and to a heating means (13) for a fluid inside said heating chamber (10); said heating means (13) comprising at least one heating element housed inside said heating chamber (10) and operatively connected to said electronic circuit (3); The heating element extends along a predetermined path inside the heating chamber (10) and comprises at least one heating coil; said electronic circuit (3) comprising means for managing and controlling said heating elements, said liquid cooling chamber (5) is provided with at least one wall or surface (8', 8'') portion positioned in contact with said electronic circuit (3) to be cooled, said wall or surface (8'') being made by IMS (Insulated Metal Substrate) technology, said IMS (Insulated Metal Substrate) technology aluminium base of said electronic circuit (3) being embedded in said wall or surface (8'') so as to be in direct contact with the circulation of liquid inside said liquid cooling chamber (5); The heating chamber (10) coincides with the liquid cooling chamber (5), and the inlet port (11) and the outlet port (12) are connectable to a temperature conditioning circuit of the battery, which can be used for both heating and cooling the battery.

2. 2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating element comprises at least one electrical resistor.

3. A device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it consists of an OBC battery charger.

4. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it consists of a DC-DC converter.

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