Power Conversion Apparatus Single Drain Exit Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power conversion apparatuses face challenges in cooling due to heat generation by child units, leading to increased size and complexity from multiple sealing parts and drain passages, which compromise the waterproof property and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A power conversion apparatus design featuring a single drain exit for all coolant drain openings, connected through a maze-like structure with smaller central diameters in drain passages, and integrated sealing members to enhance waterproofing and simplify the cooling system without increasing the apparatus's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sealing parts with individual drain passages and drain exits are used to discharge cooling liquid from each sealing part, then the cooling liquid can be effectively drained from each sealing location, but the number of drain passages and drain exits increases, leading to increased housing size and device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual drain passages and drain exits into a single common drain passage and a single drain exit. The common drain passage receives cooling liquid from multiple sealing parts through multiple opening portions, consolidating what would otherwise be separate drainage paths. This merging approach maintains effective drainage from each sealing location while reducing the total number of external drain exits, thereby preventing housing size increase and reducing device complexity
2Reliability
If multiple sealing parts with individual drain passages and drain exits are used to discharge cooling liquid from each sealing part, then the cooling liquid can be effectively drained from each sealing part, but the number of components and structural elements increases, leading to increased device complexity and manufacturing difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual drain passages and drain exits into a single common drain passage and a single drain exit. The common drain passage receives cooling liquid from multiple sealing parts through multiple opening portions, consolidating what would otherwise be separate drainage paths. This merging approach maintains effective drainage from each sealing location while reducing the total number of external drain exits, thereby preventing housing size increase and reducing device complexity
3Reliability
If multiple sealing parts with individual drain passages and drain exits are used to discharge cooling liquid from each sealing part, then the cooling liquid can be effectively drained from each sealing part, but the housing structure becomes more complex requiring more machining operations and assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual drain passages and drain exits into a single common drain passage and a single drain exit. The common drain passage receives cooling liquid from multiple sealing parts through multiple opening portions, consolidating what would otherwise be separate drainage paths. This merging approach maintains effective drainage from each sealing location while reducing the total number of external drain exits, thereby preventing housing size increase and reducing device complexity
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 reduces the size of the power conversion apparatus, enhances waterproofing, and simplifies the cooling structure by concentrating drain openings into a single exit, facilitating maintenance and reducing machining complexity, while maintaining efficient cooling of both power modules and electronic components.
Implementation Method 1
each of the first sealing portions and the second sealing portion includes: a first sealing member for preventing the coolant from leaking to outside from the connecting portion concerned, a second sealing member situated in a same plane as the first sealing member such that the second sealing member surrounds the first sealing member, and a drain opening between the first sealing member and the second sealing member for discharging the coolant that stays between the first sealing member and the second sealing member
Implementation Method 2
a power conversion apparatus includes a first cooler for cooling a power module (or power modules), a second cooler for cooling an electronic component (or electronic components), and a housing equipped with the first cooler and the second cooler
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a power conversion apparatus that has a simple drain structure of coolers without increasing a size of the power conversion apparatus. The power conversion apparatus includes a housing equipped with a first cooler and a second cooler. One of the first and second coolers has a plurality of coolant openings. The other cooler is constituted by a plurality of members that are connected to each other. The housing includes a plurality of first sealing portions for sealing connecting portions of a plurality of connecting coolant passages that connect to the coolant openings, and second sealing portions for sealing connecting portions between the members. Each of the sealing portions has a first sealing member, a second sealing member, and a drain opening. The drain openings merge into a single drain exit.