Electric Compressor Inverter Layout for Stable Chiller Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electric vehicles, the high temperature of the inverter module due to complex coolant and refrigerant flow paths in modularized structures of electric compressors and heat exchangers leads to difficulties in cooling, potentially causing component damage and malfunctions, necessitating a stable cooling solution.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger module design that separates components using a wall part to improve layout, allowing surface contact cooling with low-temperature chillers, thereby maintaining the control unit at a lower temperature and preventing overheating of circuitry components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If components are modularized into a compact structure, then space utilization is improved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates due to high temperature and complex flow paths
Solution Approach 1:
The modularized structure is segmented into distinct functional zones using a partition wall: a first space housing the compression unit and high-temperature components, and a second space housing the inverter module and control units. This segmentation isolates heat sources from temperature-sensitive electronics, allowing compact packaging while maintaining effective cooling of the inverter module through dedicated coolant flow paths.
2Reliability
If coolant flow path is extended to reach all components, then cooling coverage is improved, but flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
A heat exchanger serves as an intermediary thermal management device between the compression unit and the inverter module. The heat exchanger receives coolant from the high-temperature compression area, transfers thermal energy, and provides cooled fluid to the inverter module space. This intermediary approach enables effective cooling coverage without requiring excessively long or complex direct coolant pathways throughout the entire modular structure.
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 design ensures stable operation and prevents malfunctions by maintaining the control unit at a lower temperature, reducing the risk of overheating and improving the safety and efficiency of the electric compressor's cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchanger components
Implementation Method 2
allowing surface contact cooling with low-temperature chillers
Data Source
AI summary
An electric compressor and a heat exchanger module including the same. The heat exchanger module includes heat exchanger components, a manifold, a bracket mounting the heat exchanger components and the manifold, and an electric compressor. Further, the heat exchanger module may perform cooling through heat exchange by separating an inverter module coupled to a compressor and attaching the separated inverter module to a chiller in which a working fluid at a low temperature flows.