Active cooling circuits for electrical equipment

Abstract

To provide a cooling circuit forming, once assembled, a three-dimensional cooling liquid circulation channel and capable of reducing pressure losses and thermal losses of a cooling circuit that cools assembled electrical components.SOLUTION: A first portion 10 and a second portion of a cooling circuit 100 are complementary and respectively comprise hollow parts 101 and projecting parts 201 configured to fit one into the other so as to form by assembly a circulation channel for a cooling liquid. The circulation channel is configured to generate a flow extending over different levels laid out successively one after the other along the circulation channel. The hollow parts 101 and the projecting parts 201 are configured to fit one into the other thanks to a functional clearance enabling the imbrication of the hollow parts and the projecting parts. At least one of the complementary first circuit portion 10 and second circuit portion includes at least one deflector 15 configured to divert a coolant from the functional clearance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of active cooling of electronic components of electrical equipment, in particular to a cooling circuit arranged for a coolant to circulate in the electrical equipment.

[0002] More precisely, the invention is directed to preventing coolant in electrical equipment, and in particular in charger-type electrical equipment, which includes a "three-dimensional" convoluted cooling circuit, from penetrating into the functional clearance, i.e. the gap that exists between two complementary parts that make up the cooling circuit of the electrical equipment. [Background technology]

[0003] Prior Art In electrical equipment such as DC-DC converters or on-board chargers (OBCs), it is known that cooling circuits are integrated into the frame of the equipment to ensure active cooling of the components of the electrical equipment, inter alia by the circulation of a coolant, for example a cooling liquid such as water or glycol.

[0004] In particular, such a cooling circuit may be formed from two complementary parts, for example the frame and the cover of the electrical equipment comprising complementary parts of the cooling circuit, which parts comprise channels and hollows or protrusions, such that the cooling circuit obtained by assembly may extend in particular in a "three-dimensional" manner, in the sense that the channels through which the coolant flows are redirected in three non-coplanar directions, in other words the circuit then has successive levels at different levels.

[0005] In this case, in particular, the complementary parts constituting the complementary parts of the cooling circuit are designed such that there is a functional clearance that allows them to be assembled one on top of the other. Said functional clearance 50 is illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows a cross section of a circuit with complementary interleaved parts. The coolant is considered to be conveyed in the flow path 10A, but partly enters the functional clearance 50 that exists between the complementary parts 1A and 2A that form the circuit 10A. In other words, the functional clearance 50 is the space between the first part 1A and the second part 2A that exists between their respective walls after they are superimposed one on the other.

[0006] Furthermore, even if the sealing portion is sandwiched between the flat ends of the complementary parts which are in plane-plane contact at the peripheral portions corresponding to the flat ends, the coolant utilizes the functional clearance configured to allow the complementary parts to be interconnected, and some of the coolant leaves the ``three-dimensional'' circulation path of the cooling circuit and penetrates into the functional clearance which allows the complementary parts to be interconnected.

[0007] If the coolant gets inside the functional clearance, it will cause pressure loss and reduced cooling efficiency. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention aims to reduce the above-mentioned pressure and heat losses and relates inter alia to an electrical device comprising two complementary parts, each of which constitutes part of a cooling circuit and which, when assembled, form a "three-dimensional" circulation path for the cooling circuit, a functional clearance being provided between the complementary parts allowing their interconnection and the formation of the circulation path.

[0009] To this end, the present invention provides a deflector in the circulation path to inhibit the coolant from entering the functional clearance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] Disclosure of the Invention More particularly, the invention is directed to a cooling circuit, inter alia, for a casing of an electrical machine, said cooling circuit comprising a first part and a second part, said first and second parts of said cooling circuit being complementary and configured to fit one into the other, each comprising a hollow part and a protrusion which, when assembled, form a circuit for a coolant, said circuit being configured to generate a flow of coolant extending over different levels arranged successively one after the other along said circuit, said hollow part and said protrusions being configured to fit one into the other with a functional clearance allowing overlapping of said hollow parts and said protrusions, and at least one of said first and second complementary circuit parts comprising at least one deflector configured to divert said coolant from said functional clearance.

[0011] The present invention reduces the amount of coolant that can easily get inside the functional clearance outside the circuit.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the at least one deflector includes a rib that projects into at least one of the first and second complementary circuit portions.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the at least one deflector includes a groove cut into at least one of the first and second complementary circuit portions.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the at least one deflector includes a rib and a groove disposed in one and the other of the first and second portions of the cooling circuit, respectively, the rib and the groove configured such that the rib engages the groove during interconnection of the first and second portions of the cooling circuit.

[0015] Advantageously, the circuit of the coolant has a substantially constant cross section.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the cooling circuit has a median plane including at least one contact line between the first and second portions of the cooling circuit, and the circuit includes at least one section forming a steep slope in a direction not parallel to the median plane, the section extending between two consecutive levels of the circuit.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the at least one deflector is arranged upstream and downstream of the at least one steep slope and extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of circulation of the coolant.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the cooling circuit comprises a pair of deflectors opposite each other and arranged on either side of the circuit, upstream or downstream of the at least one steep slope.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the first and second portions of the cooling circuit each include a flat edge belonging to the median plane, and the first and second portions of the cooling circuit are in plane-plane contact along their flat edges.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the circuit for the coolant further comprises at least one guide rib, preferably at least two parallel guide ribs, arranged in at least one section of at least one of the first and second complementary circuit parts in the direction of circulation of the coolant and contributing to the guidance of the coolant in the circuit.

[0021] The invention is also directed to a casing for an electrical machine, said casing comprising a cooling circuit as described above, a first casing member comprising said first portion of said cooling circuit, a second casing member comprising said second portion of said cooling circuit, said first casing member comprising a housing configured to accommodate electronic components of said electrical machine, said housing being opposite said first portion of said cooling circuit, and said second casing member forming a cover configured to be on one side of said casing opposite said housing to form said cooling circuit.

[0022] The invention also relates to an electric device comprising a casing as described above and an electronic component arranged in the housing of the casing at different distances from a plane containing a line of contact between the first and second casing members, the circuit being configured to transport the coolant close to the electronic component to cool the electronic component.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the electrical equipment forms a DC-DC voltage converter and / or an inverter and / or a charger for an electric or hybrid vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given specifically by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, shown as non-limiting examples, in which similar objects are given the same reference numerals, in which: [Figure 1] As already mentioned, a cross-sectional view of a circuit in a prior art cooling circuit is shown, in which a functional clearance allows the passage of coolant. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of a cooling circuit formed by two complementary parts. [Diagram 3] 1 is an exploded view of a cooling circuit for an electrical device according to the present invention, in which a first member forms a frame and a second member forms a cover. [Figure 4A]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of a first portion of a cooling circuit showing the ribs of the deflector. [Figure 4B] 4B shows an example of the first portion of the cooling circuit as in FIG. 4A, viewed from the opposite side. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram of a three-dimensional flow path of the cooling circuit. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing guide ribs of a three-dimensional flow path of a cooling circuit. [Figure 7] FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of an example of a second cooling circuit member forming a cover for an electrical device, showing grooves in the deflector, in particular grooves complementary to the ribs clearly shown in FIG. 4A.

[0025] It should be noted that the drawings describe the invention in detail for carrying out the invention, and it is clear that the drawings can, if necessary, serve to better define the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Detailed Description of the Invention FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a cooling circuit 100 that can be integrated into the casing of an electrical machine in an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

[0027] The cooling circuit 100 comprises a first part 10 of the cooling circuit, which belongs to a first casing member 1 forming, inter alia, part of the frame of the electrical equipment, and a second part 20 of the cooling circuit, which belongs to a second casing member 2 forming, inter alia, a closure for the frame of said electrical equipment.

[0028] The first 10 and second 20 parts of the cooling circuit, when assembled, form a liquid cooling circuit that is configured to allow a coolant, in particular a cooling liquid, for example water and / or glycol, to circulate in a "three-dimensional" circuit formed by the parts 10 and 20 of said cooling circuit. When formed, the "three-dimensional" circuit preferably has a constant cross section in order to minimize pressure losses and extends in a non-coplanar direction, in the sense that the coolant circulating in said "three-dimensional" circuit undergoes non-coplanar changes of direction, and thus the average direction of the coolant undergoes non-coplanar changes. The circuit thus has different levels arranged successively one after the other along the circuit. In other words, the circuit is configured such that the coolant circulating in the channel undergoes changes of direction to move from one level to another.

[0029] In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, the first portion 10 of the cooling circuit, shown in FIG. 4A, includes a hollow portion 101, and the second portion 20 of the cooling circuit, shown in FIG. 7, includes a protrusion 201.

[0030] The hollows 101 and protrusions 201 located in the first 10 and second 20 portions of the cooling circuit, respectively, are complementary and are configured to mate with each other, together forming a liquid cooling circuit that allows circulation of a coolant. As explained above, a functional clearance 50 is necessary to allow one to mate with the other in the first 10 and second 20 portions of the cooling circuit.

[0031] The cooling circuit thus formed is a "three-dimensional" circuit, i.e. it extends in non-coplanar directions, in other words the coolant circulating through the cooling circuit thus formed undergoes non-coplanar changes of direction.

[0032] The cooling circuit therefore includes an abrupt slope 30 which corresponds to a section of the cooling circuit where the coolant circulating in said cooling circuit undergoes a change of direction transverse to a median plane XY which corresponds to the boundary plane between the first part 10 and the second part 20 of the cooling circuit.

[0033] The interface between the first 10 and second 20 parts of the cooling circuit 100 comprises, for example, the flat peripheral edges of the first 10 and second 20 parts of the casing. The median plane XY may be defined as the plane constituting such an interface, in other words the plane in which at least one contact line is set between the first 10 and second 20 parts of the cooling circuit 100 is the median plane XY. A peripheral seal may be provided between the first 10 and second 20 parts of the cooling circuit 100, said peripheral seal then being arranged in the median plane XY. Said peripheral seal then being arranged between the flat peripheral edges of the first 10 and second 20 parts of the cooling circuit 100.

[0034] With reference to Fig. 2, the "three-dimensional" nature of the circuit makes it possible to transport the coolant as close as possible to the electronic components 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, which are arranged in particular on the frame. In electrical equipment, and in particular in vehicle chargers, the electronic components are in fact not all arranged at the same level relative to the median plane as defined above. For example, the electronic components may not be arranged on the same support card. Or, even more so, as in Fig. 2, the electronic components 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 may be assembled on the same support card 60, but not of the same size, i.e. their distance to the median plane XY is different.

[0035] It can thus be seen that the electronic components 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 are not all necessarily in the same plane. As a result of the "three-dimensional" circuit, in other words having several successive levels as explained above with respect to figures 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6 and 7, the coolant is transported to different levels in the frame, in other words at different heights relative to the median plane XY. As a result, it is possible to get the coolant as close as possible to each electronic component that needs to be cooled. The efficiency of the cooling circuit is therefore improved.

[0036] To inhibit portions of the coolant from entering inside the functional clearance 50, the first 10 and second 20 complementary portions of the cooling circuit include deflectors that are primarily positioned in areas of the "three-dimensional" circuit path identified as "strategically critical."

[0037] In particular, the deflector is formed from a groove 25 and a rib 15. Said rib 15 and said groove 25 are complementary in the sense that one of the first and second parts 1, 2 of the casing comprises at least one rib 15, which rib 15 engages with at least one corresponding groove 25 arranged in the other part of the cooling circuit. In particular, the guide rib 40 extends into the level of the circulation path.

[0038] According to one embodiment, there may be only ribs 15, even though this may reduce efficiency.

[0039] The deflector thus formed is configured to divert the flow of coolant and inhibit it from entering the interior of the functional clearance 50 .

[0040] Preferably, the deflectors 15, 25 are provided in the section of the "three-dimensional" circulation path, located upstream of a section where there is a sudden change of direction. According to a preferred embodiment, the deflectors are provided upstream of a significant steepness 30 present in the three-dimensional flow path. For example, the deflectors are provided when there is a steepness 30 present in the three-dimensional flow path, with an angle of about 90 degrees and a height greater than half the width of the flow path, said height being greater than the height of the section of the flow path upstream of said steepness 30. In this case, the deflectors are arranged especially upstream of the steepness 30.

[0041] According to one embodiment, two deflectors are provided upstream of each escarpment 30 on either side of the three-dimensional flow path, said deflectors extending along a direction parallel to the corresponding escarpment 30. In particular, the cooling circuit may include a plurality of deflectors correspondingly including at least one rib 15 protruding into at least one of the first complementary circuit portion 10 and the second complementary circuit portion 20 and at least one groove 25 hollowed out in at least one of the first complementary circuit portion 10 and the second complementary circuit portion 20.

[0042] Each escarpment 30 in turn comprises a rib 15. Preferably, each deflector is constituted by a rib 15 arranged in one or both of the first and second parts 10 and 20 of the cooling circuit and a groove 25 arranged in the other of the first and second parts 10 and 20 of the cooling circuit, into which the corresponding rib 15 engages when the first and second parts 10 and 20 of the cooling circuit 100 are assembled.

[0043] In the latter case, when each rib 15 is engaged in a groove 25, there is the additional advantage that one of the first part 10 and the second part 20 guides the other during their interconnection, and even makes the cooling circuit 100 thus obtained more rigid.

[0044] The circuit may further include in some sections, especially in the turning section, guide ribs 40 for guiding the coolant in the circuit. The guide ribs 40 have, for example, a height between 2 mm and 3 mm.

[0045] According to a preferred embodiment, a cooling circuit 100 according to the invention is integrated into a casing for an electrical machine, said casing comprising a first casing part 1 comprising a first portion 10 of the cooling circuit and a second casing part 2 comprising a second portion 20 of the cooling circuit.

[0046] In this case, the first casing member 1 comprises a housing configured to accommodate the electronic components 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 of said electric equipment, said housing being opposite a first portion 10 of the cooling circuit, and the second casing member 2 forms a cover configured to come on one side of the casing opposite said housing, forming the cooling circuit 100. The second casing member 2 may also comprise a housing configured to accommodate the electronic components of said electric equipment, said housing being opposite a second portion 20 of the cooling circuit.

[0047] In other words, the first part 1 and the second part 2 fit into each other, for example the frame 1 and the cover 2 of an electrical device, one into the other, and the first part 10 and the second part 20 of the cooling circuit, which are respectively arranged on the one side of the first part 1 and the second part 2 of the cooling circuit, are assembled to form a circulation path. The median plane XY is then usually parallel to the plane in which the cover 2 extends and perpendicular to the side wall of the frame 1.

Claims

1. A cooling circuit (100), in particular for a casing of an electrical machine, comprising: A first portion (10) and a second portion (20), the first and second parts (10, 20) of the cooling circuit are complementary and configured to fit one into the other, each including a hollow portion (101) and a protrusion (201) which, when assembled, form a circuit for a coolant, the circuit being configured to generate a flow of coolant extending over different levels arranged successively one after the other along the circuit; The cooling circuit includes at least one deflector (15, 25) configured to divert the coolant from the functional clearance (50), the hollow portion (101) and the protrusions (201) being configured to fit one into the other with a functional clearance (50) that allows the hollow portion (101) and the protrusions (201) to overlap, and at least one of the first part (10) and the second part (20) includes at least one deflector (15, 25) configured to divert the coolant from the functional clearance (50).

2. The cooling circuit of claim 1, wherein the at least one deflector includes a rib (15) projecting into at least one of the first portion (10) and the second portion (20).

3. The cooling circuit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one deflector comprises a groove (25) hollowed out in at least one of the first portion (10) and the second portion (20).

4. 4. The cooling circuit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one deflector comprises a rib (15) and a groove (25) respectively arranged on one and the other of the first and second portions (10) and (20) of the cooling circuit, the rib (15) and the groove (25) being configured such that the rib (15) engages the groove (25) during interconnection of the first and second portions (10) and (20) of the cooling circuit.

5. A cooling circuit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the circuit for the coolant has a substantially constant cross section.

6. 6. The cooling circuit according to claim 1, having a median plane (XY) including at least one contact line between the first part (10) and the second part (20) of the cooling circuit, the circuit including at least one section forming a steep slope (30) in a direction not parallel to the median plane (XY), the section extending between two successive levels of the circuit.

7. 7. The cooling circuit according to claim 6, wherein said at least one deflector (15, 25) is arranged upstream and downstream of said at least one steep slope (30) and extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of circulation of the coolant.

8. 8. A cooling circuit according to claim 6 or 7, comprising a pair of deflectors (15, 25) opposite each other and arranged on either side of said circulation path, upstream or downstream of said at least one steep slope (30).

9. The cooling circuit according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the first and second portions of the cooling circuit each include a flat edge which belongs to the median plane, and the first and second portions of the cooling circuit are in plane-plane contact along their flat edges.

10. 10. The cooling circuit according to claim 1, wherein the circulation path for the coolant further comprises at least one guide rib (40), preferably at least two parallel guide ribs (40), arranged in at least one section of at least one of the first part (10) and the second part (20) in the circulation direction of the coolant, and contributing to guiding the coolant in the circulation path.

11. A casing for an electrical device, comprising: The casing comprises a cooling circuit (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, a first casing member (1) containing the first portion (10) of the cooling circuit and a second casing member (2) containing the second portion (20) of the cooling circuit; the first casing member includes a housing configured to house electronic components of the electrical device, the housing being opposite the first portion of the cooling circuit; The second casing member (2) forms a cover arranged to come to one side of the casing opposite the housing and forms the cooling circuit.

12. An electrical device comprising:

12. A cooling circuit comprising: a casing according to claim 11; and an electronic component arranged in the housing of the casing at different distances from a plane containing a line of contact between the first part (10) and the second part (20) of the cooling circuit (100), The circuit is configured to transport the coolant to the vicinity of the electronic components (61, 62, 63, 64, 65) to cool the electronic components (61, 62, 63, 64, 65).

13. 13. Electrical equipment according to claim 12 forming a DC-DC voltage converter and / or an inverter and / or a charger for an electric or hybrid vehicle.

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