Concave Pressing Member for Uniform Cooling Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pressing members for power conversion apparatuses in electric vehicles cause uneven cooling due to plastic deformation of the plate, leading to concentrated pressing force on cooling pipes and inadequate pressure distribution across the stack, resulting in inefficient heat dissipation for semiconductor modules.
Innovation Solution
A pressing member design featuring a plate with a concave surface facing the elastic member, preventing deformation by distributing pressure evenly across the plate and enhancing rigidity, while the elastic member presses the plate in a fixed direction, ensuring uniform pressure on semiconductor modules and cooling pipes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional pressing member with a flat plate is used, then the structure is simple, but the plate deforms under pressing force causing uneven pressure distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member employs a concave plate surface instead of a flat plate, creating a curved geometry that conforms to the stack unit shape. This curvature allows the pressing force to be distributed more uniformly across the contact area, preventing plate deformation while maintaining structural simplicity. The concave surface matches the convex shape of the stack unit, ensuring even pressure distribution without complex additional components.
2Strength
If the plate rigidity is increased to prevent deformation, then deformation is suppressed, but the pressing force becomes concentrated on cooling pipes
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member features a concave plate surface with varying local geometry that adapts to different regions of the stack unit. The concave shape creates areas of different curvature that naturally distribute pressure more evenly across both semiconductor modules and cooling pipes. This local geometric variation allows the plate to maintain appropriate rigidity while preventing pressure concentration on specific components.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the plate is made more rigid to maintain shape, then deformation is reduced, but cooling efficiency decreases due to concentrated pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The concave plate surface maintains stable geometric shape under pressing loads while the curved geometry ensures uniform pressure distribution across the stack unit. This stable curved configuration prevents plate deformation and simultaneously avoids pressure concentration on cooling pipes, thereby maintaining optimal thermal contact and cooling efficiency between semiconductor modules and cooling pipes.
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
The solution effectively suppresses plate deformation, maintaining uniform pressure distribution and enhancing cooling efficiency by preventing the low-rigidity portions of the plate from being deformed, thus ensuring consistent thermal conductivity between semiconductor modules and cooling pipes.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member disposed in a side of the plate opposite to a side of the plate where the fixed unit is disposed, the elastic member pressing the plate towards a fixed unit side in the fixed direction
Data Source
AI summary
A pressing member is used for pressing semiconductor modules and cooling pipes which are alternately disposed, and includes a plate and an elastic member. The plate includes a contact plate section that faces an end surface of the fixed unit in the fixed direction and contacts with the end surface of the fixed unit, and plate ribs standing in the fixed direction from an end portion of the contact plate section in a width direction of the contact plate section. The elastic member is disposed in a side of the plate opposite to a side of the plate where the fixed unit is disposed, the elastic member pressing the plate towards a fixed unit side in the fixed direction. The contact plate section has an inner plate surface including a concave surface formed at a portion apart from the plate ribs in a contact region.