Power Conversion Device Partitioned Housing Thermal Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In power conversion systems for AC-DC dual current electric railroad vehicles, components subjected to forced air cooling are adequately cooled, but other components outside the cooling air passage may not be sufficiently cooled, leading to temperature differences within the housing that can adversely affect electronic components.
Innovation Solution
A power conversion device with a partitioned housing featuring an open part for external air inflow, airtight parts for sensitive components, ventilation holes with circulation fans to regulate airflow based on temperature differences between partitions, and a heatsink for heat dissipation, ensuring balanced temperature distribution across the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If components are placed in a cooling air passage for forced air cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but temperature differences between different parts of the housing increase causing excessive heat in non-cooled areas
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple partitions (first partition, second partition, third partition) that separate the cooling air passage from non-cooling areas. This segmentation allows different temperature zones to be maintained independently while preventing excessive heat buildup in any single region.
Solution Approach 2:
Heat dissipation plates are introduced as intermediary components in the non-cooled partitions. These plates conduct heat away from electronic components through thermal conduction, acting as heat sinks that prevent localized overheating without requiring direct exposure to the cooling air passage.
2Reliability
If electronic components are sealed in airtight partitions to protect from dust and moisture, then protection is improved, but heat dissipation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Heat dissipation plates serve as intermediary thermal pathways within the sealed airtight partitions. These plates conduct heat from electronic components to the partition walls, which then transfer heat to the external environment, enabling heat dissipation while maintaining the sealed protective environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat dissipation function is extracted from the sealed partition interior and transferred to the partition boundaries. By placing heat dissipation plates on or within the partition walls, the system separates the protective sealing function from the heat dissipation function, allowing both to coexist effectively.
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 reduces temperature differences between partitions, preventing excessive heat buildup in sensitive components, enhancing the reliability and longevity of the power conversion device.
Implementation Method 1
a heatsink (23) that is placed in a housing forming the first airtight part (20) and that is configured to release to outside of the power conversion device (1), at least some of heat transferred from the electronic component placed in the first airtight part (20)
Implementation Method 2
a circulation fan (25) that is provided in at least one of the ventilation holes (22)... a circulation fan controller (8) configured to regulate an amount of airflow blown by the circulation fan (25) in accordance with a temperature difference between the first airtight part (20) and the second airtight part (30)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An inside of a housing of a power conversion device (1) is partitioned by partitioning walls, and the power conversion device (1) is configured from: an open part (10), into which external air flows; a first airtight part (20) that is adjacent to the open part (10) and into which no external air flows; and a second airtight part (30) that is adjacent to the first airtight part (20) and into which external air does not flow. At least two ventilation holes (22) are formed in a partition wall (21) between the first airtight part (20) and the second airtight part (30). A circulation fan (25) is provided to at least one of the at least two ventilation holes (22). The outer surface of the first airtight part (20) is provided with a heatsink (23) that dissipates heat transferred from an electronic component placed in the first airtight part (20), the heatsink being exposed to the open part (10).