Cooling of coaxial winding transformers in high power applications

Abstract

A coaxial winding transformer is cooled by having heat transfer members connected to an outer conductor of the transformer to receive heat therefrom. The heat transfer members form a heat transfer conducting path from the outer conductor of the transformer to a surface of a heat sink. The heat sink may have fins to maximize transfer of the heat from the heat sink to the ambient air. The outer conductor can include a metal strap member in contact with the surface of extending sections of tubular straight leg sections to electrically connect the tubular sections and transfer heat therefrom. Heat is then transferred from the strap of the outer conductor through the heat transfer members to an available surface of the heat sink. A layer of heat conducting and electrically insulating material may be mounted between the heat sink and the heat transfer members to allow transfer of heat to the heat sink while maintaining electrical isolation of the transformer from the heat sink, or the heat sink may be electrically isolated from other components. Heat generated in magnetic cores mounted about the straight legs of the transformer may also be transferred to the heat sink using a metal strap in contact with the outer surface of the magnetic cores, with base sections of the strap in heat transfer contact with the heat sink.