Electric Compressor Inverter Cooling via Housing Contact

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electric compressors face challenges in effectively cooling heat generating elements within the inverter, leading to overheating, malfunction, and increased production costs due to the use of separate support bodies that hinder heat exchange with refrigerant.

Innovation Solution

An electric compressor design featuring an inverter cover with a printed circuit board that comes into surface contact with the compressor housing, utilizing a fastening unit with different thermal conductivities and a depression for heat generating elements to enhance heat transfer with low-temperature refrigerant, along with a sensing and control unit to manage refrigerant circulation based on temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a separate support body with thermal grease is used to cool heat generating elements, then heat transfer is improved, but the thickness increases and heat exchange with refrigerant becomes unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat generating element temperatureVSAvoidintake-side plate thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the support body and intake-side plate into a single integrated structure. The heat generating elements are mounted directly on the intake-side plate, eliminating the need for a separate support body and thermal grease layer. This integration maintains effective heat transfer while avoiding the thickness accumulation problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the thermal grease layer and separate support body from the cooling system. By mounting heat generating elements directly on the intake-side plate, the design removes intermediate thermal resistance layers, allowing refrigerant to flow directly over the heat generating elements for efficient cooling without added thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Temperature

If a separate support body is added to enclose heat generating elements, then heat management is improved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat generating element temperatureVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the support function and cooling function into the single intake-side plate structure. The intake-side plate serves both as the mounting surface for heat generating elements and as the cooling channel carrier, eliminating the need for separate support bodies and reducing part count and manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The intake-side plate is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support for heat generating elements, serves as a thermal management component for heat dissipation, and acts as a structural element of the compressor housing. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed and lowers production costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If heat generating elements are mounted with large distance from compressor housing, then assembly is easier, but heat exchange with refrigerant is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly easeVSAvoidheat generating element temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes intermediate spacing layers or support structures that create distance between heat generating elements and the refrigerant flow path. Heat generating elements are mounted directly on the intake-side plate with cooling channels, ensuring minimal thermal resistance and maximum heat exchange efficiency while maintaining assembly simplicity.

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 design ensures reliable cooling of heat generating elements, preventing overheating and malfunctions, while reducing production costs by improving heat transfer efficiency and maintaining stable compressor operation.

Implementation Method 1

heat generating elements that come into surface contact with one surface of the compressor housing and perform heat transfer with low-temperature refrigerant supplied into the compressor housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

perform heat transfer with low-temperature refrigerant supplied into the compressor housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS10205366B2Electric compressor

Publication Date: 2019.02.12 HANON SYST CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed herein is an electric compressor. The electric compressor includes an inverter cover which is mounted to an outer surface of a compressor housing in which compression of refrigerant is implemented, and a printed circuit board which is disposed inside the inverter cover and mounted with a plurality of heat generating elements that come into surface contact with one surface of the compressor housing and perform heat transfer with low-temperature refrigerant supplied into the compressor housing.