IGBT cooling method
OwnerRonald David Conryinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for cooling power electronic devices such as IGBT's. The method comprises placing the IGBT board in a containment structure and flooding the containment with circulating liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant is boiled within the containment and the resulting gas is then removed for continued circulation within a heat engine. The phase change of the refrigerant provides excellent cooling properties. In addition, the ability to place the cooling medium directly over the IGBT's themselves represents a significant advantage.
Claims20
A method for cooling an IGBT during operation, comprising:
- a. providing a at least one IGBT;
- b. providing a containment;
- c. placing said at last one IGBT within said containment;
- d. providing a refrigerant, with said refrigerant being selected to have a suitable boiling point so that the heat generated by said at least one IGBT during operation will cause said refrigerant to boil;
- e. flooding said containment with refrigerant so that said at least one IGBT is immersed in said refrigerant;
- and
- f. regulating the amount of said refrigerant within said containment so that said at least one IGBT remains immersed during operation.
A method for cooling a plurality of IGBT's during operation, comprising:
- a. providing a plurality of IGBT's;
- b. mounting said plurality of IGBT's on a common IGBT board, said IGBT board having an IGBT side and a back side;
- c. providing a containment;
- d. placing said IGBT board within said containment;
- e. providing a refrigerant, with said refrigerant being selected to have a suitable boiling point so that the heat generated by said plurality of IGBT's during operation will cause said refrigerant to boil;
- f. flooding said containment with refrigerant so that said plurality of IGBT's are immersed in said refrigerant;
- and
- g. regulating the amount of said refrigerant within said containment so that said plurality of IGBT's remains immersed during operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.