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Title: Passive Two-Phase Cooling of Automotive Power Electronics: Preprint

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of a passive two-phase cooling strategy as a means of cooling automotive power electronics. The proposed cooling approach utilizes an indirect cooling configuration to alleviate some reliability concerns and to allow the use of conventional power modules. An inverter-scale proof-of-concept cooling system was fabricated, and tests were conducted using the refrigerants hydrofluoroolefin HFO-1234yf and hydrofluorocarbon HFC-245fa. Results demonstrated that the system can dissipate at least 3.5 kW of heat with 250 cm3 of HFC-245fa. An advanced evaporator design that incorporates features to improve performance and reduce size was conceived. Simulation results indicate its thermal resistance can be 37% to 48% lower than automotive dual side cooled power modules. Tests were also conducted to measure the thermal performance of two air-cooled condensers--plain and rifled finned tube designs. The results combined with some analysis were then used to estimate the required condenser size per operating conditions and maximum allowable system (i.e., vapor and liquid) temperatures.

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Vehicle Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1150182
Report Number(s):
NREL/CP-5400-61083
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Presented at SEMI-THERM, 9-13 March 2014, San Jose, California
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS; 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; POWER ELECTRONICS; THERMAL MANAGEMENT; TWO-PHASE HEAT TRANSFER; Transportation

Citation Formats

Moreno, G., Jeffers, J. R., Narumanchi, S., and Bennion, K. Passive Two-Phase Cooling of Automotive Power Electronics: Preprint. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1109/SEMI-THERM.2014.6892216.
Moreno, G., Jeffers, J. R., Narumanchi, S., & Bennion, K. Passive Two-Phase Cooling of Automotive Power Electronics: Preprint. United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/SEMI-THERM.2014.6892216
Moreno, G., Jeffers, J. R., Narumanchi, S., and Bennion, K. 2014. "Passive Two-Phase Cooling of Automotive Power Electronics: Preprint". United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/SEMI-THERM.2014.6892216. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1150182.
@article{osti_1150182,
title = {Passive Two-Phase Cooling of Automotive Power Electronics: Preprint},
author = {Moreno, G. and Jeffers, J. R. and Narumanchi, S. and Bennion, K.},
abstractNote = {Experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of a passive two-phase cooling strategy as a means of cooling automotive power electronics. The proposed cooling approach utilizes an indirect cooling configuration to alleviate some reliability concerns and to allow the use of conventional power modules. An inverter-scale proof-of-concept cooling system was fabricated, and tests were conducted using the refrigerants hydrofluoroolefin HFO-1234yf and hydrofluorocarbon HFC-245fa. Results demonstrated that the system can dissipate at least 3.5 kW of heat with 250 cm3 of HFC-245fa. An advanced evaporator design that incorporates features to improve performance and reduce size was conceived. Simulation results indicate its thermal resistance can be 37% to 48% lower than automotive dual side cooled power modules. Tests were also conducted to measure the thermal performance of two air-cooled condensers--plain and rifled finned tube designs. The results combined with some analysis were then used to estimate the required condenser size per operating conditions and maximum allowable system (i.e., vapor and liquid) temperatures.},
doi = {10.1109/SEMI-THERM.2014.6892216},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1150182}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}

Conference:
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