Dual-Sided Heat Sink Cooling for Electrical Connection Bars

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling solutions for electrical connection bars in high-voltage electrical equipment, such as those in electric or hybrid vehicles, are insufficient for effective heat dissipation, particularly when operating at voltages greater than 60V, leading to potential damage from excessive heat.

Innovation Solution

The integration of an electrical connection bar with a heat sink, where the connection bar comes into direct contact with both opposite faces of the heat sink, enhancing cooling by increasing the surface area for heat dissipation while maintaining a compact equipment size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a cooling box with cooling liquid circulation system is used to cool electrical connection bars, then cooling capability is provided, but the cooling effect is insufficient for high-voltage operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectVSAvoidcooling sufficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from single-sided cooling to dual-sided cooling by having the electrical connection bar contact both opposite faces of the heat sink. This dimensional expansion of the cooling interface dramatically increases the heat dissipation surface area, enabling sufficient cooling for high-voltage operations where conventional single-sided cooling fails.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent integrates the electrical connection bar directly with the heat sink structure, merging the electrical conduction function with thermal management. The connection bar serves dual purposes: electrical energy transmission and heat dissipation, eliminating the need for separate cooling mechanisms and achieving superior cooling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Temperature

If the electrical connection bar is cooled by only one face of the heat sink, then the structure is simple, but the heat dissipation capability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation capabilityVSAvoidcooling structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the electrical connection bar to contact both faces of the heat sink, merging the electrical conduction path with the thermal management path. This integration allows the same structural element to perform both electrical and thermal functions, improving heat dissipation without adding separate cooling components or increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Temperature

If the electrical connection bar surrounds the heat sink by contacting both opposite faces, then cooling efficiency is significantly improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidintegration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the electrical connection bar structure to wrap around and contact both opposite faces of the heat sink. This unified structure serves as both the electrical conductor and the thermal interface, achieving superior cooling efficiency while avoiding the need for separate cooling components, thus limiting the increase in overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 significantly improves the cooling of electrical connection bars, reducing the risk of heat-related damage and allowing for more efficient operation of high-power electrical equipment without increasing the equipment's size or complexity.

Implementation Method 1

The electrical connection bar comes into direct contact with both opposite faces of the heat sink, enhancing cooling by increasing the surface area for heat dissipation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a cooling box provided with a cooling liquid circulation system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3840557B1Electrical equipment comprising an electrical connection bar cooled by two surfaces of a heat sink
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 VALEO ELECTRIFICATION
  • EP3840557B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3840557B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3840557B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to an electrical equipment comprising: - a heat sink comprising an internal volume delimited by at least two opposite faces, - an electrical connection bar 4, said electrical connection bar 4 coming against said two opposite faces of the heat sink so as to be cooled by said heat sink.