US 7,210,304 B2 · Cooling arrangements for integrated electric motor-inverters

Abstract

In order to provide a modular arrangement, an inverter for an electric traction motor used to drive an automotive vehicle is positioned in proximity with the traction motor. The inverter is located within a compartment adjacent to one end of the electric traction motor and is cooled in a closed system by spraying a liquid coolant directly onto the inverter. The liquid coolant absorbs heat from the inverter and is cooled by a heat exchange arrangement comprising a reservoir with pipes carrying a second coolant from the radiator of the automotive vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the coolant is collected from the inverter in an annular reservoir that is integral with the compartment containing the inverter. In accordance with one embodiment of the cooling arrangement, heat from the inverter vaporizes the liquid coolant by absorbing heat from the inverter during a phase change from a liquid to a vapor. The vaporized coolant is condensed by a circulating second coolant in pipes connected to the vehicle's radiator through a condenser that is preferably coaxial with the motor and the annular reservoir, which annular reservoir in the second embodiment collects overspray liquid coolant. In order to avoid degrading the inverter, the coolant is a dielectric fluid.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A cooling arrangement for cooling an inverter circuit having components packaged proximate an electric traction motor for driving at least one traction wheel of an automotive vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

a housing disposed proximate the electric traction motor, the housing having a compartment with a space containing the components of the inverter circuit;
a fresh coolant fluid inlet opening and a used coolant fluid outlet opening communicating with the space containing the components of the inverter circuit;
a dielectric coolant fluid;
a fluid dispenser for dispensing the dielectric coolant fluid into the space and onto the components of the inverter circuit;
a reservoir for receiving the dielectric coolant fluid after the dielectric coolant fluid has absorbed heat from the components of the inverter circuit, the reservoir having a second cooling fluid flowing therethrough from the radiator of the automotive vehicle for transferring heat out of the dielectric cooling fluid, and
a pump for cycling the dielectric coolant fluid while primarily in the liquid phase out of the reservoir and into the space for cyclically cooling the components of the inverter circuit.

3 more elements

A cooling arrangement for cooling an inverter circuit having components packaged proximate an electric traction motor for driving at least one tractor wheel of an automotive vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

a housing disposed proximate the electric traction motor, the housing having a compartment with a space containing the components of the inverter circuit;
a fresh coolant fluid inlet opening and a used coolant fluid outlet opening communicating with the space containing the components of the inverter circuit;
a dielectric coolant liquid;
a fluid dispenser for spraying the dielectric coolant liquid into the space and onto the components of the inverter circuit;
a reservoir for collecting overspray of the dielectric fluid which has remained in the liquid phase after spraying,
a condenser for liquefying dielectric coolant which has converted from the liquid phase to a vapor phase upon absorbing sufficient heat from the components of the inverter circuit to change phase;
and
a pump for cycling the dielectric coolant while primarily in the liquid phase from the reservoir and the condenser to the space for cycling cooling the components of the inverter circuit.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cooling arrangements for integrated electric motor-inverters

Life of this patent

Cooling arrangements for integrated electric motor-inverters

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22