Coolant Pump Thermal Bridge for Control Unit Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric motor vehicle coolant pumps face challenges in effectively cooling the motor control unit due to heat transfer from power semiconductors and motor coils, which can lead to overheating and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
The coolant pump incorporates a plastic partition with a heat transfer opening and a high thermal conductivity heat conductor that creates a thermal bridge between the motor control and the containment shell, minimizing heat input from motor coils into the control room while enabling targeted heat dissipation, using a thermally conductive adhesive or compound for a gap-free connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a partition wall with high thermal conductivity material is used to cool the motor control unit, then the cooling effect is improved, but heat from the motor coils is also transferred to the control chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall combines materials with different thermal conductivity properties in different regions: the first region (first side) uses high thermal conductivity material to conduct heat away from the motor control unit, while the second region (second side) uses low thermal conductivity material to block heat from the motor coils. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction by allowing selective heat transfer in different directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall is divided into two distinct regions with different thermal properties: a first region facing the motor control unit with high thermal conductivity for cooling, and a second region facing the motor coils with low thermal conductivity for insulation. This segmentation allows the single partition wall structure to simultaneously perform both cooling and insulation functions, addressing the technical contradiction.
2Reliability
If the control chamber is hermetically sealed to protect electronics, then reliability is improved, but heat dissipation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall acts as an intermediary structure between the hermetically sealed control chamber and the motor section. It provides a controlled thermal pathway through the first region (high thermal conductivity) that allows heat to be conducted from the motor control unit to the coolant, while maintaining the hermetic seal of the control chamber. This mediator enables simultaneous achievement of sealing and heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat dissipation function is extracted from the hermetic seal structure by introducing a dedicated thermal conduction path through the partition wall's first region. This allows the control chamber to remain hermetically sealed while heat is actively conducted away through the partition wall to the coolant flowing in the motor section.
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 configuration ensures efficient thermal insulation of the control space from motor coils and effective heat dissipation, reducing the risk of overheating and enhancing the reliability of the motor control unit.
Implementation Method 1
The heat conductor has a higher specific thermal conductivity than the partition wall material and serves as a thermal bridge between the motor control and the containment shell
Implementation Method 2
The partition wall is preferably made of a material with good thermal conductivity to ensure good heat flow from the motor control through the partition to the coolant
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to an electric motor vehicle coolant pump (10) with a pump rotor (20), a motor section (14) with a permanently magnetic motor rotor (30), a motor stator (32) having motor coils (33), and a can (40) which separates the motor stator (32) from the motor rotor (30) in a fluid-tight fashion, and a control section (16) having a control space (70) in which the motor controller (71) is arranged. The control space (70) is separated from the motor section (14) by a plastic dividing wall (50) lying essentially in a transverse plane. The dividing wall (50) has a heat-transmitting opening (64) in which a thermal conductor (66) is arranged, one of the longitudinal ends of which thermal conductor (66) being in heat-conducting contact with the can (40), and the other longitudinal end of which thermal conductor (66) being in heat-conducting contact with the motor controller (71). The specific thermal conductivity of the thermal conductor (66) is higher than the specific thermal conductivity of the dividing wall plastic.