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EP-4739020-A2 - AIR-COOLED POWER CONVERTER

EP4739020A2EP 4739020 A2EP4739020 A2EP 4739020A2EP-4739020-A2

Abstract

A power converter that includes a bus bar, a transistor, and a heat-pipe. The transistor includes first and second terminals between which current is transmitted when the first transistor is activated, and a gate terminal for controlling the transistor. The terminal is thermally and electrically connected to the bus bar. The heat-pipe is thermally connected to the first bus bar.

Inventors

  • BYERS, IAN
  • MILLER, GARY
  • WOOTERS, Stuart

Assignees

  • Marel Power Solutions, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220915

Claims (13)

  1. A power converter comprising: a first bus bar; a first semiconductor die, which comprises first and second terminals between which current is transmitted when the first semiconductor die is activated, wherein the first terminal is thermally and electrically connected to the first bus bar; and a first heat-pipe thermally connected to the first bus bar.
  2. The power converter of claim 1 wherein the first semiconductor die is a first diode.
  3. The power converter of claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising: a second bus bar; a second heat-pipe thermally connected to the second bus bar; wherein the second terminal is thermally and electrically connected to the second bus bar.
  4. The power converter of any preceding claim further comprising: a first metal structure comprising first and second surfaces, wherein the first and second surfaces of the first metal structure are electrically connected and oppositely facing; a first metal element comprising first and second surfaces, wherein the first and second surfaces of the first metal element are electrically connected and oppositely facing; wherein the first and second terminals are electrically and thermally connected to the first and second surfaces, respectively, of the first metal structure and the first metal element, respectively; wherein the first and second surfaces of the first metal element and the first metal structure, respectively, are electrically and thermally connected to the first and second bus bars, respectively.
  5. The power converter of claim 4 wherein the first and second terminals are sintered to the first and second surfaces, respectively, of the first metal structure and the first metal element, respectively.
  6. The power converter of any preceding claim further comprising: a third bus bar; a third heat-pipe thermally connected to the third bus bar; a second semiconductor die comprising third and fourth terminals between which electrical current can transmit; wherein the third and fourth terminals are electrically and thermally connected to the second and third bus bars, respectively.
  7. The power converter of claim 6 further comprising: a fourth bus bar; a fourth heat-pipe thermally connected to the fourth bus bar; a third semiconductor die comprising fifth and sixth terminals between which current can transmit; wherein the fifth and sixth terminals are electrically and thermally connected to the first and fourth bus bars, respectively.
  8. The power converter of claim 7 further comprising: a fifth semiconductor die comprising seventh and eighth terminals between which current can transmit; wherein the seventh and eighth terminals are electrically and thermally connected to the fourth and third bus bars, respectively.
  9. The power converter of any of claims 6 to 8 further comprising a capacitor thermally and electrically connected to the first and third bus bars.
  10. The power converter of any preceding claim further comprising: a first dielectric; wherein the first bus bar comprises a first channel; wherein the first heat-pipe is received in the first channel; wherein the first dielectric is positioned between the first heat-pipe from the first channel.
  11. The power converter of any preceding claim further comprising a dielectric for electrically insulating the first heat pipe from the first bus bar.
  12. The power converter of any preceding claim further comprising: a first switch comprising third and fourth terminals between which current can transmit; wherein the third terminal is electrically and thermally connected to the first bus bar.
  13. The power converter of any preceding claim further comprising a metal heat-fin electrically and thermally connected to the first heat-pipe.

Description

BACKGROUND A power converter is a device for converting electrical power. An "inverter" is one type of power converter. Inverters convert direct current (DC) power into alternating current (AC) power. A "rectifier" is another type of power converter. Rectifiers convert AC power into DC power. DC/DC converters (e.g., buck, boost, or buck/boost converters) convert DC power of one voltage level into DC power of another voltage level. AC/AC converters (e.g., variable frequency drive controllers) convert AC power in one form into AC power in another form. Some AC/AC converters, which may include a DC link electrically connected between a rectifier and an inverter, convert input AC power of one frequency into output AC power of another frequency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present technology may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. Figure 1a illustrates relevant components of an example three-phase inverter.Figure 1b is a timing diagram that shows example gate control signals.Figure 1c illustrates relevant components of an example three-phase rectifier.Figures 2a-1 and 2a-2 are isometric and reverse isometric views of an example packaged switch.Figures 2b-1 and 2b-2 are isometric and reverse isometric views of an example packaged half bridge.Figure 2b-3 illustrates the example packaged half bridge of Figures 2b-1 and 2b-2 with terminals electrically connected by a metal strap.Figures 2c-1 and 2c-2 are isometric and reverse isometric views of an example packaged switch.Figures 2d-1 and 2d-2 are isometric and reverse isometric views of an example packaged switch.Figures 2e-1 and 2e-2 are isometric and reverse isometric views of an example packaged switch.Figure 3a-1 illustrates relevant components of one embodiment of the packaged switch shown in Figures 2a-1 and 2a-2.Figure 3a-2 illustrates the packaged switch shown in Figures 3a-1 when viewed from a side.Figure 3a-3 illustrates the packaged switch shown in Figures 3a-1 when viewed from the back.Figure 3a-4 illustrates relevant components of an example switch controller.Figures 3a-5 and 3a-6 illustrate relevant components of example switches.Figure 3a-7 illustrates relevant components of an example gate driver.Figures 3a-8 illustrates relevant components of an example packaged switch when viewed from the top.Figure 3a-9 illustrates packaged switch shown in Figure 3a-8 when viewed from a side.Figures 3b-1 illustrates relevant components of an example packaged switch when viewed from the top.Figure 3b-2 illustrates packaged switch shown in Figure 3b-1 when viewed from a side.Figure 3b-3 illustrates the packaged switch shown in Figure 3b-1 when viewed from the back.Figure 3c-1 illustrates relevant components of an example packaged switch when viewed from a side.Figure 3c-2 illustrates the packaged switch shown in Figure 3c-1 when viewed from the back.Figure 3d-1 illustrates relevant components of an example packaged switch when viewed from a side.Figure 3d-2 illustrates the packaged switch shown in Figure 3d-1 when viewed from the back.Figure 3e-1 illustrates relevant components of one embodiment of the packaged switch shown in Figures 2c-1 and 2c-2.Figure 3e-2 illustrates the packaged switch shown in Figure 3e-1 when viewed from the back.Figure 3f-1 illustrates relevant components of an example packaged switch when viewed from a side.Figure 3f-2 illustrates the packaged switch shown in Figure 3f-1 when viewed from the back.Figure 3g-1 illustrates relevant components of an example switch module when viewed from the top.Figure 3g-2 illustrates the switch module shown in Figure 3g-1 when viewed from a side.Figure 3g-3 illustrates relevant components of the switch module shown in Figure 3g-1 when viewed from the back.Figure 3h-1 illustrates relevant components of an example switch module when viewed from the top.Figure 3h-2 illustrates the switch module shown in Figure 3h-1 when viewed from a side.Figure 3h-3 illustrates the switch module shown in Figure 3h-1 when viewed from the back.Figure 3i-1 illustrates relevant components of an example switch module when viewed from the top.Figure 3i-2 illustrates the switch module shown in Figure 3i-1 when viewed from a side.Figure 3i-3 illustrates the switch module shown in Figure 3i-1 when viewed from the back.Figure 3j-1 illustrates relevant components of an example switch module when viewed from the top.Figure 3j-2 illustrates the switch module shown in Figure 3j-1 when viewed from a side.Figure 3j-3 illustrates the switch module shown in Figure 3j-1 when viewed from the back.Figure 3k-1 illustrates relevant components of an example switch module when viewed from the top.Figure 3k-2 illustrates a bottom view of the switch module shown in Figure 3k-1.Figure 3k-3 illustrates the switch module shown in Figure 3k-1 when viewed from a side.Figure 3k-4 illustrates the switch module shown in Figure 3k-1