Abstract
Keywords:
Hybrid traction, power modules, reliability, liquid cooling, metal replacement
Abstract:
Advanced Hybrid Traction Drives are consisting of outstanding power densities. As a result the dissipated power is rising to extremes too. Therefore the cooling capabilities for semiconductor power modules are a critical feature for reliability and cost of future hybrid electric vehicles. A new concept for liquid cooling is presented that solves the two major problems related with liquid cooling of power modules: The high cost associated with creating complicated structures in metal parts and the inhomogeneous cooling. Superior thermal performance is offered at a very low cost because it is possible to cool standard flatbaseplate power modules using simple low cost plastic parts; this is a typical example of metal replacement because the expensive structuring of metal parts has been transferred to plastic parts. Odd-shape non-planar applications are readily applicable as well. The solution is to supply many individual cooling cells with coolant in parallel, thus achieving uniform cooling; going a step further the cooling cells can be designed individually, e.g. for dealing with hot spots.