Methods and apparatus for cooling systems for cryogenic power conversion electronics

A cryogenic cooling system for cryogenically cooling at least one electronic power conversion assembly, the system comprising:

• a closed vessel;
• at least one liquid cryogen comprising a fully halogenated chlorine-free fluoroalkane or a mixture of chlorine-free fluoroalkanes within the vessel;
• at least one electronic power conversion apparatus immersed in the at least one liquid cryogen, the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus comprising at least one semiconductor switch and at least one capacitor;
• a cooling coil at least partially immersed in the at least one liquid cryogen and positioned proximate to the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus;
• and
• input/output means for supplying power to the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus and receiving power from the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus;
• wherein the fluoroalkane or fluoroalkanes comprise molecules having between 3 and 7 carbons.

A cryogenic cooling system for cryogenically cooling at least one electronic power conversion assembly, the system comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one electronic power conversion apparatus positioned in the housing, the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus comprising at least one semiconductor switch and at least one capacitor, the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus further comprising a thermally conductive substrate disposed on at least a portion of exterior surfaces of the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus;
• a plurality of metallic cold fingers in physical contact with the substrate and configured to cool the substrate when the plurality of metallic cold fingers are in contact with a cooling source comprising at least one liquid cryogen contained within a circulation coil exterior to the housing and in contact with at least a portion of the plurality of metallic cold fingers;
• and
• input/output means for supplying power to the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus and receiving power from the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus;
• wherein the at least one cryogen comprises a cryogen selected from the group consisting of octafluoropropane, decafluoro n-butane, decafluoro isobutane, perfluoro npentane, trifluoromethyl butane, perfluoro isopentane, perfluoro n-hexane, trifluoromethyl perfluoro n-pentane, di(trifluoromethyl) perfluoro n-butane, perfluoro n-heptane, trifluoromethyl perfluoro n-hexane, di(trifluoromethyl) perfluoro n-pentane, tri(trifluoromethyl) perfluoro n-butane, and isomers and mixtures thereof.

A cryogenic cooling system for cryogenically cooling at least one electronic power conversion assembly, the system comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one electronic power conversion apparatus positioned in the housing, the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus comprising at least one semiconductor switch and at least one capacitor, the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus further comprising a thermally conductive copper substrate disposed on at least a portion of exterior surfaces of the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus;
• a plurality of metallic cold fingers in physical contact with the substrate and configured to cool the substrate when the plurality of metallic cold fingers are in contact with a cooling source;
• and
• input/output means for supplying power to the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus and receiving power from the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus;
• wherein the at least one cryogen comprises a cryogen selected from the group consisting of octafluoropropane, decafluoro n-butane, decafluoro isobutane,perfluoro npentane, trifluoromethyl butane, perfluoro isopentane, perfluoro n-hexane, trifluoromethyl perfluoro n-pentane, di(trifluoromethyl) perfluoro n-butane, perfluoro n-heptane, trifluoromethyl perfluoro n-hexane, di(trifluoromethyl) perfluoro n-pentane, tri(trifluoromethyl) perfluoro n-butane, and isomers and mixtures thereof.

A cryogenic cooling system for cryogenically cooling at least one electronic power conversion assembly, the system comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one electronic power conversion apparatus positioned in the housing, the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus comprising at least one semiconductor switch and at least one capacitor, the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus further comprising a thermally conductive beryllium oxide substrate disposed on at least a portion of exterior surfaces of the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus;
• a plurality of metallic cold fingers in physical contact with the substrate and configured to cool the substrate when the plurality of metallic cold fingers are in contact with a cooling source;
• and
• input/output means for supplying power to the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus and receiving power from the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus;
• wherein the at least one cryogen comprises a cryogen selected from the group consisting of octafluoropropane, decafluoro n-butane, decafluoro isobutane,perfluoro npentane, trifluoromethyl butane, perfluoro isopentane, perfluoro n-hexane, trifluoromethyl perfluoro n-pentane, di(trifluoromethyl) perfluoro n-butane, perfluoro n-heptane, trifluoromethyl perfluoro n-hexane, di(trifluoromethyl) perfluoro n-pentane, tri(trifluoromethyl) perfluoro n-butane, and isomers and mixtures thereof.

A cryogenic cooling system for cryogenically cooling at least one electronic power conversion assembly, the system comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one electronic power conversion apparatus positioned in the housing, the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus comprising at least one semiconductor switch and at least one capacitor, the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus further comprising a thermally conductive substrate disposed on at least a portion of exterior surfaces of the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus;
• a plurality of metallic copper cold fingers in physical contact with the substrate and configured to cool the substrate when the plurality of metallic cold fingers are in contact with a cooling source;
• and
• input/output means for supplying power to the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus and receiving power from the at least one electronic power conversion apparatus;
• wherein the at least one cryogen comprises a cryogen selected from the group consisting of octafluoropropane, decafluoro n-butane, decafluoro isobutane,perfluoro n-pentane, trifluoromethyl butane, perfluoro isopentane, perfluoro n-hexane, trifluoromethyl perfluoro n-pentane, di(trifluoromethyl) perfluoro n-butane, perfluoro n-heptane, trifluoromethyl perfluoro n-hexane, di(trifluoromethyl) perfluoro n-pentane, tri(trifluoromethyl) perfluoro n-butane, and isomers and mixtures thereof.