ELECTRIC POWER CONVERTER DEVICE

Abstract

An electric power converter device may include first and second housings separated by a fluid-impermeable plate, at least one power electronics unit electrically connected to an electric power input and output, at least one fluid chamber fluidically connected to a fluid inlet and outlet, and at least one heater electrically connected to the electric power input and output, the fluid chamber and heater thermally coupled such that waste heat generated by the power electronics unit may be used to heat a fluid flowing through the fluid chamber. The electric power converter device may have first and second operation modes, the waste heat being increased in the second operation mode. The first housing and the plate may form a first space area in which the power electronics unit and the heater may be arranged, and the plate and the second chamber form the fluid chamber with a second space area. The power electronics unit may form a DC-to-DC converter which converts a high voltage of 400 V to a low voltage of 12 V, wherein a heating power in the range of 3 kW to 4 kW.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. An electric power converter device comprising: a first housing and a second housing separated by a fluid-impermeable plate; at least one power electronics unit being electrically connected to an electric power input and an electric power output; at least one fluid chamber being fluidically connected to a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; at least one heater being electrically connected to the electric power input and electric power output, the fluid chamber and the heater being thermally coupled, and the heater being used to heat a fluid flowing through the fluid chamber; wherein the fluid chamber and the power electronics unit are thermally coupled such that waste heat generated by the power electronics unit is used for heating the fluid flowing through the fluid chamber; wherein the electric power converter device has a first operation mode and a second operation mode; wherein the amount of waste heat generated by the power electronics unit is increased in the second operation mode compared to the first operation mode; wherein the first housing and the plate form a first space area in which the power electronics unit and the heater are arranged; wherein the plate and the second housing form the fluid chamber with a second space area; and wherein the power electronics unit forms a DC-to-DC converter which converts a high voltage of 400 V to a low voltage of 12 V, wherein a heating power in the range of 3 kW to 4 kW, preferably 3.6 kW, is provided.

16. The electric power converter device according to according to claim 15, wherein the heater comprises at least one of a PTC element, a thick film resistor, and an induction module.

17. The electric power converter device according to claim 15, wherein a switching frequency of the power electronics unit is increased in the second operation mode.

18. The electric power converter device according to claim 15, wherein at least one of: the power electronics unit forms an on board charger or a traction inverter; and the heater provides heating power in the range of 2 kW to 4 kW.

19. A method of heating a part of a vehicle, the method comprising: providing at least one electric power converter device; providing a fluid circulating in a fluid circuit; heating the fluid by waste heat of the electric power converter device, wherein the electric power converter device forms an electric power converter device including: a first housing and a second housing separated by a fluid-impermeable plate; the at least one power electronics unit being electrically connected to an electric power input and an electric power output; at least one fluid chamber being fluidically connected to a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; at least one heater being electrically connected to the electric power input and electric power output, the fluid chamber and the heater being thermally coupled, and the heater being used to heat the fluid flowing through the fluid chamber; wherein the fluid chamber and the power electronics unit are thermally coupled such that waste heat generated by the power electronics unit is used for heating a fluid flowing through the fluid chamber; wherein the electric power converter device has a first operation mode and a second operation mode; wherein the amount of waste heat generated by the power electronics unit is increased in the second operation mode compared to the first operation mode; wherein the first housing and the plate form a first space area in which the power electronics unit and the heater are arranged; wherein the plate and the second housing form the fluid chamber with a second space area; and wherein the power electronics unit forms a DC-to-DC converter which converts a high voltage of 400 V to a low voltage of 12 V, wherein a heating power in the range of 3 kW to 4 kW, preferably 3.6 kW, is provided.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the electric power converter device is operated in a heating mode for a predefined time period during which the amount of waste heat is increased.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the fluid is a coolant or a refrigerant.

22. A method according to claim 19, wherein the part of the vehicle is at least one of a space area of the vehicle, a battery unit, and a vehicle interior.

23. A method according to claim 19, wherein the vehicle is an electrical vehicle.

24. A method according to claim 19, wherein: the power converter device is operated for a first predefined time period in a normal mode, followed by a second predefined time period in which the power converter device is operated in the heating mode; and the first predefined time period and second predefined time period are repeated periodically.

25. A method according to one of claim 20, wherein the fluid is a coolant or a refrigerant.

26. A method according to one of claim 20, wherein the part of the vehicle is at least one of a space area of the vehicle, a battery unit, and a vehicle interior.

27. A method according to one of claim 21, wherein the part of the vehicle is at least one of a space area of the vehicle, a battery unit, and a vehicle interior.

28. A method according to claim 20, wherein the vehicle is an electrical vehicle.

29. A method according to claim 20, wherein: the power converter device is operated for a first predefined time period in a normal mode, followed by a second predefined time period in which the power converter device is operated in the heating mode; and the first predefined time period and second predefined time period are repeated periodically.

30. A method according to claim 21, wherein: the power converter device is operated for a first predefined time period in a normal mode, followed by a second predefined time period in which the power converter device is operated in the heating mode; and the first predefined time period and second predefined time period are repeated periodically.

31. The electric power converter device according to claim 18, wherein the heater provides heating power in the range of 2.5 kW to 3 kW.

32. The electric power converter device according to claim 16, wherein a switching frequency of the power electronics unit is increased in the second operation mode.

33. The electric power converter device according to claim 16, wherein at least one of: the power electronics unit forms an on board charger or a traction inverter; and the heater provides heating power in the range of 2 kW to 4 kW.

34. The electric power converter device according to claim 17, wherein at least one of: the power electronics unit forms an on board charger or a traction inverter; and the heater provides heating power in the range of 2 kW to 4 kW.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] In the drawings, in each case schematically, are depicted

[0038] FIG. 1 shows an electric power converter device according to the invention,

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a vehicle with an electric power converter device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The electric power converter device 1 shown in the FIG. 1 comprises a first housing 12 and a second housing 13. The first housing 12 and the second housing 13 are separated by a plate 14 which is essentially impermeable to fluids.

[0041] The first housing 12 provides an electric power input 3 and an electric power output 4. The second housing 13 provides a fluid inlet 6 and a fluid outlet 7.

[0042] The first housing 12 and the plate 14 form a first space area in which a power electronics unit 2 and a heating unit 8 are arranged. The power electronics unit 2 is electrically connected to the electric power input 3 and electric power output 4 by electrically conductive lines which are not shown. The heating unit 8 is electrically connected to the electric power input 3 and electric power output 4 by electrically conductive lines which are not shown. The electronics unit 2 and the heating unit 8 may be thermally coupled to the plate. Heat energy that is generated during the operation of the power electronics unit 2 and/or during the operation of the heating unit 8 is transferred by the plate 14 to a second space area. The occupied volume by the first space area may be smaller than the occupied volume by the second space area.

[0043] The plate 14 and the second housing 13 form a fluid chamber 5 with the second space area. The fluid chamber 5 comprises a fluid inlet 6 and a fluid outlet 7. A fluid may enter the fluid chamber 5 through the fluid inlet 6 and leaves the fluid chamber 5 through the fluid outlet 7. While the fluid flows through the fluid chamber 5, it absorbs heat energy that is transferred by the plate 14 from the first space area to the second space area.

[0044] As shown in the FIG. 2, the electric power input 3 is electrically connected to an electric power source 15 by electrically conductive lines. The electric power 15 source may be a battery unit of a vehicle 10 or a charging station. The electric power output 4 is electrically connected to a device 16 of the vehicle by electrically conductive lines. Since the device 16 cannot be directly driven by the electric power of the electric power source 15, the power electronics unit 2 converts and/or control the electric power that is used to drive the electrical device 16. The device 16 may be an electrical machine converting electrical energy into mechanical energy.

[0045] The fluid chamber 5 is fluidically connected to a fluid circuit 11 with a part 9 of the vehicle 10. The part 9 may be a battery unit or an HVAC unit. The fluid circuit 11 comprises fluid lines and at least one fluid pump that is not shown. The fluid pump may be used for pumping a fluid in the fluid circuit 11.

[0046] The electric power converter device 1 may be operated in the heating mode for a predefined time period. During this predefined time period, the power electronics unit 2 may be operated in a mode providing a higher amount of heat energy. Additionally, the heating unit 8 may be switched on in order to provide additional amount of heat energy. It may be intended that the power converter device 1 is operated for a first predefined time period in a normal mode, followed by a second predefined time period in which the power converter device 1 is operated in the heating mode. The first predefined time and second predefined time period may be repeated periodically.

[0047] A vehicle 10 may comprise several electric power converter devices 1 in order to increase the amount of provided heat energy. This can be advantageous, for example, for air conditioning in buses.