Rotating electric machine system

Abstract

A rotating electric machine system includes: a rotating electric machine including a stator and a rotor arranged with a gap to the stator; a casing configured to hold the stator; an electric power conversion apparatus held by the casing, and configured to drive the rotating electric machine; and a first cooling flow path arranged in a portion of the casing between the stator and the electric power conversion apparatus, via which cooling medium is caused to flow so as to cool the stator and the electric power conversion apparatus. And: the electric power conversion apparatus comprises a power module configured to include a power semiconductor element therein; the power module comprises a heat radiation fin; and the heat radiation fin is arranged to protrude toward a cooling medium side via an opening formed between the power module and the first cooling flow path.

1 . A rotating electric machine system, comprising:
 a rotating electric machine including a stator and a rotor arranged with a gap to the stator;   a casing configured to hold the stator;   an electric power conversion apparatus held by the casing, and configured to drive the rotating electric machine; and   a first cooling flow path arranged in a portion of the casing between the stator and the electric power conversion apparatus, via which cooling medium is caused to flow so as to cool the stator and the electric power conversion apparatus, wherein:   the electric power conversion apparatus comprises a power module configured to include a power semiconductor element therein;   the power module comprises a heat radiation fin; and   the heat radiation fin is arranged to protrude toward a cooling medium side via an opening formed between the power module and the first cooling flow path.   
     
     
         2 . A rotating electric machine system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second cooling flow path arranged in a portion of the casing outside of the stator to extend along a direction of rotation of the rotating electric machine, via which the cooling medium flows, wherein:   the second cooling flow path communicates with the first cooling flow path such that the cooling medium cools the stator after cooling the electric power conversion apparatus.   
     
     
         3 . A rotating electric machine system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first cooling flow path has a structure configured to change a direction in which the cooling medium flows; and   the second cooling flow path communicates with the first cooling flow path such that the cooling medium cools the stator after cooling the electric power conversion apparatus and the second cooling flow path has a greater cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the first cooling flow path at a communicating portion.   
     
     
         4 . A rotating electric machine system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the power module is configured to include power semiconductor elements in two rows; and   the first cooling flow path is configured such that the cooling medium cools the power semiconductor elements arranged in a first row, following which a direction in which the cooling medium flows is changed, and the cooling medium cools the other power semiconductor elements arranged in a second row.   
     
     
         5 . A rotating electric machine system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor arranged in a vicinity of the heat radiation fin, wherein:   cooling is controlled based upon temperature data acquired by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         6 . An rotating electric machine system, comprising:
 a rotating electric machine including a stator and a rotor configured to rotate with a gap to the stator;   an electric power conversion apparatus held by a casing configured to hold the stator, and configured to drive the rotating electric machine;   a first cooling flow path arranged at a portion of the casing between the stator and the electric power conversion apparatus, via which cooling medium is caused to flow so as to cool the electric power conversion apparatus; and   a second cooling flow path arranged in a portion of the casing outside of the stator, and configured such that the stator is cooled by the cooling medium that flows via the second cooling flow path along a direction of rotation of the rotating electric machine, wherein:   the first cooling flow path has a structure configured to change a direction in which the cooling medium flows; and   the second cooling flow path communicates with the first cooling flow path such that the cooling medium cools the stator after cooling the electric power conversion apparatus, and the second cooling flow path has a greater cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the first cooling flow path at a communicating portion.   
     
     
         7 . A rotating electric machine system according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the electric power conversion apparatus comprises a power module configured to include power semiconductor elements in two rows; and   the first cooling flow path is configured such that the cooling medium cools the power semiconductor elements arranged in a first row, following which a direction in which the cooling medium flows is changed, and the cooling medium cools the other power semiconductor elements arranged in a second row.   
     
     
         8 . A rotating electric machine system according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 a heatsink plate of the power module includes a heat radiation fin; and   the heat radiation fin is configured to protrude toward a cooling medium side via an opening formed between the power module and the first cooling path.   
     
     
         9 . A rotating electric machine system according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor in a vicinity of the heat radiation fin; and   cooling is controlled based upon temperature data acquired by the temperature sensor.