Thermoelectric Cooling for Smoothing Capacitor Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for effective cooling solutions for smoothing capacitors in electric drive systems, particularly in hybrid-electric and electric vehicles, where power electronics generate significant heat, and existing cooling methods are inadequate.
Innovation Solution
The integration of thermoelectric devices thermally coupled to smoothing capacitors and bus bars, along with cooling elements and phase-change components, to actively dissipate heat and maintain operational temperatures, utilizing thermoelectric generators to harness heat energy for cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wide-band gap inverter is utilized to change DC power to AC power, then power conversion efficiency is improved, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures the waste heat generated by the wide-band gap inverter and uses it to power thermoelectric cooling devices that cool the smoothing capacitors. This converts the harmful heat into a useful resource, simultaneously maintaining high power conversion efficiency while managing the thermal byproduct.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the inverter module and smoothing capacitor cooling into an integrated thermal management system. The heat-generating inverter and the cooling-required capacitor are thermally linked through heat transfer components, merging their thermal functions into a unified system.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional cooling methods are used for smoothing capacitors, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but cooling effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces thermoelectric devices as intermediary components between the smoothing capacitor and the heat source. These devices actively transfer heat from the capacitor terminals, providing superior cooling effectiveness compared to conventional passive methods while maintaining reasonable manufacturing complexity.
3Reliability
If thermoelectric devices are thermally coupled to capacitor terminals, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermoelectric devices serve multiple functions: they cool the smoothing capacitor terminals, transfer waste heat from the inverter, and can be integrated with existing thermal management components. This multi-functionality justifies the increased device complexity by delivering superior cooling performance.
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 solution effectively manages heat dissipation, maintaining components at operational temperatures and potentially reducing waste heat loss by using thermoelectric generators to power cooling mechanisms, enhancing the performance and efficiency of electric drive systems.
Implementation Method 1
a thermoelectric device including a first side and a second side positioned opposite the first side, where the first side is thermally coupled to at least one of the at least one terminal and the bus bar
Implementation Method 2
a cooling element thermally coupled to the second side of the thermoelectric device, where the cooling element dissipates heat from the thermoelectric device
Data Source
AI summary
An electric drive system includes a smoothing capacitor including at least one terminal, a bus bar electrically coupled to the at least one terminal, a thermoelectric device including a first side and a second side positioned opposite the first side, where the first side is thermally coupled to at least one of the at least one terminal and the bus bar, and a cooling element thermally coupled to the second side of the thermoelectric device, where the cooling element dissipates heat from the thermoelectric device.