In-Vehicle Power Conversion Busbar Heat Dissipation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In-vehicle power conversion devices face challenges in reducing casing size due to the internal placement of cooling bodies for busbars, which increases the overall size of the device.

Innovation Solution

The integration of heat-dissipating busbar portions along the casing allows for external heat transfer to the casing, utilizing it as a heat sink, thereby reducing the need for internal cooling structures and minimizing the device's size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a cooling body is placed inside the casing to cool busbars, then the busbars can be cooled, but the size of the casing is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebusbar coolingVSAvoidcasing size
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the cooling function from the internal casing space by extending busbar portions outside the casing. These external busbar portions serve as heat-dissipating portions that transfer heat to the outside environment, eliminating the need for a separate internal cooling body and thereby reducing the casing size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The busbar serves multiple functions: it conducts electrical power and simultaneously acts as a heat-dissipating component. By extending portions of the busbar outside the casing, the same component performs both electrical connection and thermal management functions, eliminating the need for separate cooling structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If busbars are connected inside the casing, then electrical connections are achieved, but the casing size is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidcasing size
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts certain busbar connection functions from the internal casing space by extending busbar portions outside the casing. This allows electrical connections to be made both inside and outside the casing, optimizing space utilization and reducing the overall casing volume required for housing all connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively dissipates heat generated by busbars outside the casing, using the casing as a heat sink, which reduces the device's size and enhances cooling performance while maintaining design flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

heat generated by a busbar is transferred outside of the casing from heat-generating portions that are outside of the casing, and is also transferred to the casing with the casing acting as a heat sink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the casing acting as a heat sink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat sink: Heat Sink

Data Source

PatentEP3451521B1In-vehicle power conversion device
Publication Date: 2020.06.03 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3451521B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3451521B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3451521B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

In order to provide an in-vehicle power conversion device that is capable of being reduced in size and improving design flexibility, an in-vehicle power conversion device comprises a casing (10) that forms a housing portion (11) for housing a drive unit that converts and transmits electric power (smoothing capacitor (20), power module (30)) and a plurality of busbars (40) that connect input-output parts (battery-side terminal part (51), motor-side terminal part (52)) to and from which electric power is input and output with the drive unit (smoothing capacitor (20), power module (30)) of the casing (10), wherein the busbars (40) (first busbar (41), second busbar (42), third busbar (43)) comprise heat-dissipating portions (411), (421), (431) that are arranged along the casing (10) so as to be capable of transferring heat to the casing (10) outside of the housing portion (11).