Patent ID: 11956923
Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
Field: Audio-visual technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 16:
17. A method for cooling a plurality of power switching components in an assembly comprising a power device and a cooling plate overlying the power device for heat transfer therebetween;
wherein the power device comprises the plurality of power switching components including at least a first power switching component and a second power switching component; wherein each of the power switching components is configured to dissipate heat to the cooling plate:
wherein the cooling plate comprises:
a plurality of cooling zones overlying and aligned with the respective power switching components for heat transfer, including first and second cooling zones corresponding to the first and second power switching components; and
a flow channel for a cooling flow, extending between an inlet and an outlet through each of the cooling zones;

wherein a geometric parameter of the flow channel that at least partly determines heat transfer in a respective cooling zone differs between the first and second cooling zones for improved heat transfer in the first cooling zone relative to the second cooling zone,
wherein in the first cooling zone, there is a flow acceleration protrusion defined by the cooling plate, the flow acceleration protrusion extending into the flow channel configured to locally accelerate the cooling flow by locally reducing the hydraulic diameter, and
wherein the or each flow acceleration protrusion is fastened to or configured to fasten to a respective power switching component, so that the respective power switching component is fastened to the cooling plate;
wherein the method comprises:
operating the power device so that at least some of the power switching components including the first and second power switching components generate heat;
providing a cooling flow to the flow channel using a pump;
cooling the first power switching component by providing the cooling flow to the first cooling zone for heat exchange with the first power switching device; and
cooling the second power switching component by providing the cooling flow to the second cooling zone for heat exchange with the second power switching component;
wherein a heat transfer rate from the power device to the cooling plate is greater in the first cooling zone than in the second cooling zone.