Cooling apparatus and cooling method for heating elements

Abstract

A cooling liquid 28 with a boiling temperature lower than the maximum allowed temperature for the operating atmosphere of switching elements 42 and which is highly insulative is used to liquid seal the switching elements 42. This cooling liquid 28 is cooled by a liquid cooler 50. The cooling liquid 28 vaporizes and removes the heat generated by the switching elements 42 to cool the switching elements 42. Vaporized cooling liquid 28 is cooled by the liquid cooler 50 and is liquefied. The switching elements 42 can be efficiently cooled and the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cooling apparatus for cooling heating elements, comprising, 
 a liquid sealing container for liquid sealing heating elements using a cooling liquid having a boiling temperature within the allowed temperature range for the operating atmosphere of said heating elements, and    a cooling mechanism for cooling said cooling liquid.    
     
     
         2 . A cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 said heating elements are switching elements and said cooling liquid is an insulator.    
     
     
         3 . A cooling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein, 
 said cooling liquid is perfluoro carbon.    
     
     
         4 . A cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 said liquid sealing container removes fluids other than said cooling liquid and liquid seals said heating elements using said cooling liquid.    
     
     
         5 . A cooling apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein, 
 said heating elements are switching elements and said cooling liquid is an insulator.    
     
     
         6 . A cooling apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein, 
 said cooling liquid is perfluoro carbon.    
     
     
         7 . A cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, 
 said liquid sealing container has a flow path for a cooling medium used by said cooling mechanism.    
     
     
         8 . A cooling apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein, 
 said heating elements are switching elements and said cooling liquid is an insulator.    
     
     
         9 . A cooling apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein, 
 said cooling liquid is perfluoro carbon.    
     
     
         10 . A cooling method for cooling heating elements, comprising the steps of, 
 cooling heating elements using the heat of vaporization of a cooling liquid having a boiling temperature within the allowed temperature range for the operating atmosphere of said heating elements and contacting with one or more of said heating elements, and    cooling said cooling liquid using a cooling medium other than said cooling liquid.    
     
     
         11 . A cooling method of  claim 10 , wherein, 
 said heating elements are switching elements and said cooling liquid is an insulator.    
     
     
         12 . A cooling method of  claim 11 , wherein, 
 said cooling liquid is perfluoro carbon.