Power Converter

Abstract

A power converter includes: a first circuit board; a cooling body; a housing, wherein the cooling body and the housing surround the first circuit board; a heat-generating component which is arranged on a side of the first circuit board facing the cooling body and which is coupled to the cooling body in a heat-conducting manner; and further components. The cooling body, the housing and the first circuit board border a first volume, in which the heat-generating component is arranged. The cooling body, the housing and the first circuit board border a second volume, in which the further components are arranged.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A power converter, comprising: a first circuit board; a cooling body; a housing, wherein the cooling body and the housing surround the first circuit board; a heat-generating component, which is arranged on a side of the first circuit board facing the cooling body, and which is coupled to the cooling body in a heat-conducting manner; and further components, wherein the cooling body, the housing and the first circuit board delimit a first volume, in which the heat-generating component is arranged, and wherein the cooling body, the housing and the first circuit board delimit a second volume, in which the further components are arranged.

13. The power converter according to claim 12, further comprising: a ventilator, which is arranged in the second volume and which generates a circulation of air in the second volume.

14. The power converter according to claim 13, wherein the cooling body, the housing and the first circuit board are geometrically configured such that the circulation of air in the second volume is greater than a circulation of air in the first volume.

15. The power converter according to claim 14, wherein the circulation of air is more than 10 times greater than the circulation of air in the first volume.

16. The power converter according to claim 14, wherein the housing is configured such that the ventilator executes the circulation of air exclusively within the housing.

17. The power converter according to claim 13, wherein the ventilator is an axial ventilator having an axis of rotation oriented in parallel with the first circuit board.

18. The power converter according to claim 13, further comprising: a second circuit board, which is oriented in a plane-parallel arrangement to the first circuit board.

19. The power converter according to claim 18, further comprising: a retaining element, wherein the retaining element holds the ventilator and the second circuit board.

20. The power converter according to claim 19, wherein the retaining element is geometrically configured such that an airflow, which is generated via the ventilator, is directed into the second volume.

21. The power converter according to claim 12, wherein the cooling body comprises cooling ribs on one side only, which side is averted from the heat-generating component.

22. The power converter according to claim 12, wherein the power converter has a protection rating of IP 66 or higher.

23. The power converter according to claim 12, wherein the power converter is a regenerative power supply unit or a frequency converter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a highly schematic cross-sectional representation of a power converter according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a highly schematic cross-sectional representation of a power converter according to the embodiment of the invention, with further components;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of a partially opened power converter according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0024] FIG. 4 is a further perspective view of the housing of a power converter according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a highly schematic cross-sectional representation of a power converter 1, for example in the form of a frequency converter or a regenerative power supply unit.

[0026] The power converter 1 comprises a first circuit board 2.

[0027] The power converter 1 further comprises a cooling body 3, which is configured in the form of a casting. The cooling body 3 comprises fastening elements for the fastening thereof to its intended location, for example a wall.

[0028] The power converter 1 further comprises a housing 4, wherein the cooling body 3 and the housing 4 surround the first circuit board 2.

[0029] The power converter 1 further comprises a heat-generating component 5, which is arranged on a side 2a of the first circuit board 2 facing the cooling body 3, and which is coupled in a thermally conductive manner to the cooling body 3, for the evacuation of heat to a surrounding environment of the housing 4.

[0030] The heat-generating component 5 is electrically contact-connected on the first circuit board 2. On the first circuit board 2, further unrepresented components can be arranged or electrically contact-connected, for example capacitors, particularly intermediate circuit capacitors, and further constituent components of an intermediate circuit.

[0031] The power converter 1 comprises a multiplicity of conventional further components 6.

[0032] The cooling body 3, the housing 4 and the first circuit board 2 delimit a first volume 7, in which the heat-generating component 5 is arranged.

[0033] The cooling body 3, the housing 4 and the first circuit board 2 also delimit a second volume 8, in which the further components 6 are arranged.

[0034] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the power converter 1 further comprises an axial ventilator 9, which is arranged in the second volume 8. An axis of rotation of the axial ventilator 9 is oriented in parallel with the first circuit board 2.

[0035] The power converter 1 further comprises a second circuit board 10 having a component mounting side 10a, wherein further components 6 are arranged on the component mounting side 10a. The second circuit board 10 is oriented in a plane-parallel arrangement to the first circuit board 2. The component mounting side 10a is that side of the circuit board which is furthest removed from the heat-generating component 5. In consequence, particularly heat-sensitive components such as, for example, heat-sensitive control electronics, are arranged on the component mounting side 10a.

[0036] On the second circuit board 10, an unrepresented control unit can be arranged, for example in the form of a microprocessor, which generates control signals for the component 5.

[0037] The power converter 1 further comprises a retaining element 12 in the form of a plastic molding, wherein the retaining element 12 holds the ventilator 9 and the second circuit board 10.

[0038] The retaining element 12, the cooling body 3, the housing 4, the first circuit board 2 and the second circuit board 10 are geometrically configured and arranged relative to one another such that an airflow generated by means of the ventilator 9 is essentially directed exclusively into the second volume 8, as a result of which the circulation of air in the second volume 8 is substantially greater than the circulation of air in the first volume 7.

[0039] The cooling body 3 comprises cooling ribs 13 on one side only, which is averted from the heat-generating component 5.

[0040] The power converter 1 assumes a protection rating in accordance with IP 66.

[0041] As a result of the separation of the first volume 7 from the second volume 8, any input of heat from the first heat-generating component 5, which is arranged in the first volume 7, in the direction of the further components 6, which are arranged in a thermally separate manner from the heat-generating component 5 in the second volume 8, is reduced.

[0042] Evacuation of heat from the heat-generating component 5 is essentially executed towards the exterior, and not to the interior of the housing. Cooling of the further components 6 is essentially executed by the circulation of air in the second volume 8 and the evacuation of heat via the region of the cooling body 3 which adjoins the second volume 8.