Heatsink configuration and arrangment for inverter and systems, components, and methods thereof
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsPaul T. SCHMIDT, Keith E. DIXLER, Jeffrey J. SPEICHINGER, Joseph M. HUELSMANN, Kyle A. HALFACRE
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heatsink or heat exchanger for one or more power modules of an inverter or a converter comprises a coolant flow channel, comprised of a plurality of coolant flow channel portions that form a switchback or serpentine flow path, and that is adapted to circulate coolant inside the heat exchanger or heatsink. One or more vents can be provided inside the heat exchanger or heatsink to pass air from one coolant flow channel portion to an adjacent coolant flow channel portion.
Claims20
An inverter assembly for a power system comprising:
- a cage assembly formed of at least two cages fixed to each other side-by-side in a row so as to define a first end of the cage assembly and a second end of the cage assembly opposite the first end;
- and
- a heatsink, having a planar body, extending transversely through an inner volume of each of the at least two cages, from at least the first end of the cage assembly to at least the second end of the cage assembly,
- wherein the cage assembly and the planar body of the heatsink are oriented vertically such that the cage assembly extends vertically from the first end to the second end thereof,
- wherein the planar body of the heatsink defines an internal coolant flow path adapted to pass coolant received from an inlet port of the heatsink to an outlet port of the heatsink during operation of the heatsink,
- wherein the coolant flow path is arranged in a serpentine pattern from the inlet port to the outlet port and is formed by a plurality of flow channel portions,
- wherein one or more vent openings are provided along the coolant flow path at a first end portion of the heatsink and one or more vent openings are provided along the coolant flow path at a second end portion of the heatsink opposite the first end portion, and
- wherein each of the vent openings is adapted to pass air and a predetermined amount of the coolant from one flow channel portion to an adjacent flow channel portion of the plurality of flow channel portions.
A method comprising:
- providing a heatsink adapted to extend through an inner volume of a cage assembly of an inverter assembly, the heatsink having a planar body;
- and
- orienting the heatsink to extend upright in a vertical direction,
- wherein the planar body of the heatsink defines an internal coolant flow channel, comprised of a plurality of coolant flow channel portions that form a serpentine flow path, and is adapted to circulate liquid coolant from a coolant input of the heatsink to a coolant output of the heatsink,
- wherein a first vent opening is provided at a first end portion of the heatsink in a first channel wall separating adjacent coolant flow channel portions,
- wherein a second vent opening is provided at a second end portion of the heatsink in a second channel wall separating adjacent coolant flow channel portions, and
- wherein each of the first and second vent openings is adapted to pass air and a second portion of the liquid coolant from a first one of the adjacent coolant flow channel portions to a subsequent one of the adjacent coolant flow channel portions in the serpentine flow path when a first portion of the liquid coolant greater than the second portion is moving within the first adjacent coolant flow channel portion and the second adjacent coolant flow channel portion according to the serpentine flow path.
A heat exchanger for a plurality of inverter power modules, the heat exchanger being adapted to be vertically oriented in a length direction during operation thereof, the heat exchanger comprising:
- a single-path coolant flow channel, comprised of a plurality of coolant flow channel portions that form a switchback flow path, and adapted to circulate coolant in the heat exchanger;
- a coolant input port at a start of the single-path coolant flow channel;
- and
- a coolant output port at an end of the single-path coolant flow channel,
- wherein at least one first air vent is provided at a first end portion of a body of the heat exchanger between a first set of adjacent coolant flow channel portions, and
- wherein at least one second air vent is provided at a second end portion of the body of the heat exchanger between a second set of adjacent coolant flow channel portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.