TRANSFORMER ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a transformer arrangement (1) for mounting in an electrical power unit of a vehicle. The arrangement (1) comprising a transformer core (2) and a thermal shell (3) in contact with said transformer core (2). The transformer core (2) comprises a plurality of winding portions (4) extending from a common centre portion (c1) of said core (2), along a first axis (x1), a second axis (x2) and a third axis, (x3) each axis (x1, x2, x3) being orthogonal relative to each of the other axis (x1, x2, x3). Furthermore, each winding portion (4) comprises a conductive coil arrangement (5) wound around each winding portion (4).

Claims

1. A transformer arrangement (1) for mounting in an electrical power unit of a vehicle comprising: a transformer core (2); and a thermal shell (3) in contact with said transformer core (2); wherein said transformer core (2) comprises a plurality of winding portions (4) extending from a common centre portion (c1) of said core (2), along a first axis (x1), a second axis (x2) and a third axis, (x3) each axis (x1, x2, x3) being orthogonal relative to each of the other axis (x1, x2, x3); wherein each winding portion (4) comprises a conductive coil arrangement (5) wound around each winding portion (4).

2. The transformer arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein each winding portion of said transformer core (2) comprises, at a distal end (7), a contact surface (8), and wherein said thermal shell (3) is in contact with each of said contact surfaces (8).

3. The transformer arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the transformer core (2) comprises a first (9), a second (10) and a third pair (11) of winding portions, wherein each pair (9, 10, 11) of winding portions extend along a common axis (x1, x2, x3) away from the centre portion (c1).

4. The transformer arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the conductive coil arrangement (5) is a primary conductive coil arrangement connected to an input drawing power from a source and a secondary conductive coil arrangement connected to an output supplying energy to a load, wherein each pair of winding portions (9, 10, 11) comprises a primary coil arrangement and a secondary coil arrangement dividedly wound around the pair of winding portions (9, 10, 11) respectively.

5. The transformer arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the thermal shell (3) is formed in a material being thermally conductive and magnetic.

6. The transformer arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the thermal shell (3) and the transformer core (2) are formed in the same material.

7. The transformer arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein said transformer arrangement (1) further comprises a rectification circuit for rectifying a current/voltage.

8. The transformer arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the rectification circuit is a 12-pulse rectifying circuit.

9. The transformer arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the transformer core (2) is formed as an integral structure.

10. The transformer arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein said transformer core (2) is in an isotropic magnetic material, preferably ferrite.

11. The transformer arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein said thermal shell (3) is in the form of a cube.

12. The transformer arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the thermal shell (3) is formed in ferrite.

13. A vehicle (100) comprising; a electrical power unit (110); and the transformer arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the transformer arrangement (1) is mounted in said electrical power unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the following the disclosure will be described in a non-limiting way and in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates an objective view transformer arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 2A illustrates an objective view of a transformer core in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of a transformer core in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section of a side-view of a transformer core in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates a vehicle comprising a transformer arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In the following detailed description, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. However, it is to be understood that features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways, unless anything else is specifically indicated. Even though in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the provided transformer arrangement and vehicle, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the transformer arrangement and vehicle may be realized without these details. In other instances, well known constructions or functions are not described in detail, so as not to obscure the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates an objective view of a transformer arrangement 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The transformer arrangement 1 comprises a transformer core 2, and a thermal shell 3 in contact with said transformer core 2. The transformer core 2 comprises a plurality of winding portions 4 extending from a common centre portion c1 of said core 2, along a first axis x1, a second axis x2 and a third axis x3, each axis x1, x2, x3 being orthogonal relative to each of the other axis x1, x2, x3, wherein each winding portion 4 comprises a conductive coil arrangement 5 wound around each winding portion 4.

[0030] As further shown in FIG. 1, the first axis x1 is perpendicular to both the second axis x2 and the third axis x3, wherein the second axis x2 is perpendicular to the first axis x1 and the third axis x3, wherein the third axis x3 is perpendicular to the first and the second axis x1, x2.

[0031] Each winding portion 4 of said transformer core 2 comprises, at a distal end 7, a contact surface 8, wherein said thermal shell 3 is in contact with each of said contact surfaces 8 i.e. enclosing said core 2. In other words, Thus, allowing for a twofold gain, providing a return path of magnetic flux (reducing leakage flux) as well as providing a surface (i.e. the surfaces of the thermal shell 3) that can be easily thermally managed, greatly improving and reducing the thermal resistance when compared to conventional transformer arrangements. The thermal shell may be formed in a material being thermally conductive and magnetic. In some embodiments, the thermal shell and the transformer core are formed in the same material. The material may be ferrite. Moreover, the thermal shell 3 may be in the form of a cube as seen in FIG. 1, allowing it to be mobile and easily integrated in e.g. a power unit in a vehicle, further allowing it to be thermally managed easier. As further shown in FIG. 1, the thermal shell 3 may be in the form of a cube enclosing/surrounding said transformer core. In other words, an outer surface area 15 of said thermal shell 3 may be greater/larger than an outer surface area 15′ of said transformer core 2.

[0032] The transformer core 2 may comprise magnetic material and as shown in FIG. 1, the transformer core 2 is dimensioned orthogonally in three axis x1, x2, x3, allowing to utilize a larger percent of magnetic material simultaneously. For isotropic magnetic materials like ferrite, magnetic flux is a vector quantity (an example of practical use is 3D magnetometer). The saturation properties may occur in the same manner. The present disclosure may allow flow of three times as much magnetic flux in the same material without saturation. Further, the present disclosure provides for weight reduction. The transformer core 2 may be formed as an integral structure. The transformer core 2 may be in an isotropic magnetic material, preferably ferrite. The thermal shell 3 shown in FIG. 1 may have any suitable thickness.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2A, the transformer core comprises a first 9, a second 10 and a third pair 11 of winding portions 4, wherein each pair 9, 10, 11 of winding portions 4 extend opposite to each other along a corresponding axis x1, x2, x3. In other words, each pair of winding portions 4 extend along the same axis x1, x2, x3 in opposing directions. In other words, each pair of winding portions 4 extend away from the other along a common axis x1, x2, x3.

[0034] FIGS. 1 and 2A illustrate that the core 2 comprise a conductive coil arrangement 5, the conductive coil arrangement 5 may be a primary conductive coil arrangement connected to an input drawing power from a source and a secondary conductive coil arrangement connected to an output supplying energy to a load, wherein each pair of winding portions comprises a primary coil arrangement and a secondary coil arrangement dividedly wound around the pair of winding portions. Thus, the transformer arrangement 1 comprises three pairs 9, 10, 11 of winding portions 4, wherein each pair 9, 10, 11 comprises a primary conductive coil arrangement and a secondary conductive coil arrangement. Accordingly, there may be formed three transformer devices (formed by the coil arrangements around each pair), one extending along each axis x1, x2, x3. As shown in FIG. 2A, each pair 9, 10, 11 comprises a first and a second winding portion 9′, 9″, 10′, 10″, 11′, 11″.

[0035] Thus, a primary coil arrangement of one axis (i.e. for one pair 9, 10, 11) may for instance be wound 5 turns (5 being an exemplary number) around a first winding portion 10′ of a first pair 10, consequently, the same primary coil arrangement is divided to be further wound 5 turns around a second winding portion 10″ in the first pair 10. Moreover, each secondary coil arrangement may in the same manner be dividedly wound 5 turns around each winding portion 10′, 10″ in the pair 10. This may apply to each of the pairs 9, 10, 11. Accordingly, each portion 9′, 10′, 11′ of each pair comprises both a primary coil arrangement and a secondary coil arrangement which is shared with the other portion of the pair 9″, 10″, 11″ (i.e. forming three transformers, each for each pair along each axis).

[0036] The primary/secondary coil arrangement may each be dividedly wound so that there is a distance of one radius between the divided coil arrangements located on each pair 10.

[0037] The transformer arrangement 1 may further comprise a rectification circuit for rectifying a current/voltage. The rectification circuit may be a 12-pulse rectifying circuit (not shown).

[0038] FIG. 2B illustrates the transformer arrangement 1 from a side view, as seen in FIG. 2B, each of the winding portions 4 are perpendicular to each of the other winding portions 4. Further, it is shown in FIG. 2B that the centre portion c1 is in the center of the transformer arrangement 1 and each winding portion 4 extend away from the centre portion c1. This is also seen in FIG. 3 in more detail, showing that the centre portion c1 is center of the core 2. FIG. 3 illustrates the transformer arrangement from a side, cross-sectional view.

[0039] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a vehicle 100 comprising an electrical power unit 110 and the transformer arrangement 1 according to the present disclosure, wherein the transformer arrangement 1 is mounted in said electrical power unit 110.

[0040] The vehicle may be a ground-based vehicle, an air-borne vehicle, a ship or a UAV.