The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 27, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 14, 2006
Eric R. Ostrom, Bellflower, CA (US);
Karl D. Conroy, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
George John, Cerritos, CA (US);
Gregory S. Smith, Woodland Hills, CA (US);
Eric R. Ostrom, Bellflower, CA (US);
Karl D. Conroy, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
George John, Cerritos, CA (US);
Gregory S. Smith, Woodland Hills, CA (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
Power electronics for electric traction motors used to drive automotive vehicles are cooled in a closed system by spraying a dielectric liquid coolant directly onto inverter circuitry. The liquid coolant changes phase and vaporizes as it absorbs heat from power transistors in inverter circuitry comprising the power electronics. The resultant vapor is condensed back to a liquid in a heat exchange arrangement having pipes carrying a second coolant from a radiator used to cool an engine or fuel cell stack in the automotive vehicle. Overspray coolant, which remains liquid, can also be cooled by the heat exchange arrangement. By utilizing the latent heat of evaporation of the dielectric coolant and increasing the rate recycling of the coolant as power output increases, temperature increases in the power electronics are controlled.