Switchgear Cooling System Comprising A Heat Pipe, Fan And Thermoelectric Generation

Abstract

A cooling system includes an evaporator associated with a heat source. A condenser is located at a higher elevation than the evaporator. A heat pipe structure fluidly connects the evaporator with the condenser. A fan forces air through the condenser. A working fluid is in the evaporator so as to be heated to a vapor state, with the heat pipe structure transferring the vapor to the condenser and passively returning condensed working fluid back to the evaporator for cooling of the heat source. A plurality of thermoelectric generators is associated with the condenser and converts heat, obtained from the working fluid in the vapor state, to electrical energy to power the fan absent an external power source. The thermoelectric generators provide the electrical energy to the fan so that a rotational speed of the fan is automatically self-regulating to either increase or decrease based on a varying heat load.

Claims

1. A cooling system comprising: an evaporator constructed and arranged to be associated with a heat source so as to remove heat therefrom, a condenser located at a higher elevation than the evaporator, a heat pipe structure fluidly connecting the evaporator with the condenser, at least one fan constructed and arranged to force air through the condenser, working fluid in the evaporator so as to be heated to a vapor state by the heat source, with the heat pipe structure being constructed and arranged to transfer the vapor to the condenser and to passively return condensed working fluid back to the evaporator for cooling of the heat source, and a plurality of thermoelectric generators associated with the condenser and constructed and arranged to convert heat, obtained from the working fluid in the vapor state, to electrical energy to power the fan absent an external power source, wherein the thermoelectric generators are constructed and arranged to provide the electrical energy to the fan so that a rotational speed of the fan is automatically self-regulating to either increase or decrease based on a varying heat load provided by the heat source.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the condenser includes a plurality of fins.

3. The cooling system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of the thermoelectric generators is between a portion of the heat pipe structure and portion of the plurality of fins.

4. The cooling system of claim 3, wherein each thermoelectric generator has a first side and an opposing second side, each first side being in contact with the portion of the heat pipe structure and each second side being in contact with the portion of the plurality of fins.

5. The cooling system of claim 4, wherein the portion of the heat pipe structure is flat.

6. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thermoelectric generators are connected together in a single electric circuit that includes the fan.

7. The cooling system of claim 6, wherein the condenser includes a condensation area at a lower portion thereof, and thermoelectric generators that are located in or near the condensation area primarily supply the electrical energy to power the fan.

8. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the heat source is a primary contact of a switchgear.

9. A cooling system for a switchgear, the switchgear having at least one primary contact constructed and arranged to connect to a terminal of a circuit breaker, the cooling system comprising: an evaporator constructed and arranged to be associated with the primary contact so as to remove heat therefrom, a condenser located at a higher elevation than the evaporator, a heat pipe structure fluidly connecting the evaporator with the condenser, at least one fan constructed and arranged to force air through the condenser, working fluid in the evaporator so as to be heated to a vapor state by the primary contact, with the heat pipe structure being constructed and arranged to transfer the vapor to the condenser and to passively return condensed working fluid back to the evaporator for cooling of the primary contact, and a plurality of thermoelectric generators associated with the condenser and constructed and arranged to convert heat, obtained from the working fluid in the vapor state, to electrical energy to power the fan absent an external power source.

10. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the thermoelectric generators are constructed and arranged to provide the electrical energy to the fan so that a rotational speed of the fan is automatically self-regulating to either increase or decrease based on a varying heat load provided by the primary contact.

11. The cooling system of claim 9, in combination with the switchgear.

12. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the condenser includes a plurality of fins.

13. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of the thermoelectric generators is between a portion of the heat pipe structure and portion of the plurality of fins.

14. The cooling system of claim 13, wherein each thermoelectric generator has a first side and an opposing second side, each first side being in contact with the portion of the heat pipe structure and each second side being in contact with the portion of the plurality of fins.

15. The cooling system of claim 14, wherein the portion of the heat pipe structure is flat.

16. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of thermoelectric generators are connected together in a single electric circuit that includes the fan.

17. The cooling system of claim 16, wherein the condenser includes a condensation area at a lower portion thereof, and thermoelectric generators that are located in or near the condensation area primarily supply the electrical energy to power the fan.

18. The cooling system of claim 17, wherein a total electrical resistance of the thermoelectric generators in or near the condensation area is about equal to a resistance of the fan.

19. A method of cooling a member, the method comprising the steps of: associating an evaporator with the member, the member defining a heat source, providing a condenser located at a higher elevation than the evaporator, fluidly connecting the evaporator with the condenser, and providing a working fluid in the evaporator, providing a fan to force air through the condenser, transferring heat from the heat source to the working fluid to cause the working fluid to evaporate in the evaporator with the evaporated vapor being delivered to the condenser, converting heat, obtained from the evaporated vapor, to electrical energy to power the fan absent an external power source, and supplying the electrical energy to the fan so that a rotational speed of the fan is automatically self-regulating to either increase or decrease based on a varying heat load provided by the heat source.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the member is a primary contact of a switchgear.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers indicate like parts, in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a view of a portion of a conventional thermosyphon-based cooling system including a condenser, an externally powered fan and an evaporator connected with the condenser.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a view of a portion of a thermosyphon-based cooling system in accordance with an embodiment, including a condenser, an externally powered fan, thermoelectric generators to power the fan, and an evaporator connected with the condenser.

[0013] FIG. 3 shows the electric connection of the thermoelectric generators to the fan in accordance with an embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a view of the thermosyphon-based cooling system of FIG. 2, shown mounted in a switchgear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0015] With reference to FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment, a thermosyphon-based cooling system is shown, generally indicated at 10′. The system 10′ includes a condenser 12, at least one fan 14′, and an evaporator 16 in thermal contact with a heat source 18. In contrast to the conventional system 10 of FIG. 1, the system 10′ includes a vertically ordered chain of thermoelectric generators (TEG) 23 installed between a surface 24 of one fluid-containing flat tube 26 of the heat pipe structure 22 and certain of the fins 28 of the air side (section A in FIG. 2). One side 29 of each TEG (“hot side”) is in good thermal contact with the surface of the fluid-carrying flat tube 26, while the other, opposing side 21 (“cold side”) is in good thermal contact with the air fins 28.

[0016] The TEGs 23 are connected in one electric circuit, generally indicated at 30 in FIG. 3, which also includes the fan 14′. The total electric resistance of the electrically connected TEGs 23 in the region of working temperatures (e.g., condensation area C and nearby) should preferably be approximately equal to the resistance of the fan electric circuit, in order to achieve the maximum efficiency of thermoelectric generation.

[0017] An example of the functionality of the system 10′ is described as follows: [0018] 1. When no heat is supplied to the evaporator 16 (Qh=0), the fluid 32 is in equilibrium with the environment. Therefore, no condensation takes place in the condenser 12, the temperature difference ΔT.sub.TEG between the cold and the hot side of all TEGs 23 is negligible. As a result, the fan 14′ is not supplied with electric current by the TEGs 23 and is not functioning. [0019] 2. When Qh>0, the temperature of the fluid 32 in the evaporator 16 increases, which leads to ΔT.sub.TEG>0 and, therefore, a generation of a DC voltage is supplied from the TEGs 23 to the fan 14′ which begins to blow air through the condenser 12. The condensation and cooling starts to take place predominantly in the lower part of the condenser (area C), and predominantly the TEGs 23 in this part of the condenser 12 contribute to supplying electric energy to the fan 14′. [0020] 3. Further increasing Qh extends the condensation region higher. Therefore, more TEGs 23′ (FIG. 2) contribute to supplying electric energy to the fan 14. This leads to higher air mass flow through the condenser 12 and, as a result, to a better heat exchange between the air and the condensing fluid 32. This, in turn, results in a reduction of the height of the condensation area. This means that a self-sustained balance will be reached for any heat load, such that the evaporator automatically increases or decreases the air flow through the condenser depending on the change of the heat load.

[0021] The following calculations evaluate an exemplary embodiment of the system 10′. The exemplary embodiment of the system 10′ includes the evaporator 16 filled with the cooling fluid HFE7100 in thermal contact with the heat source 18 (a switchgear primary contact) which delivers a variable heat load between 0 and 900 W; a condenser 12 by AKG Thermotechnik GmbH configured for this heat load; the fan 14′ of type 7114N by ebm-papst with resistance of about 48Ω. The fan 14′ needs about 6V to start up, thus the electric power of ≧0.75 W is necessary. For this estimate, TEGs 23 of type TGM-287-1.0-2.5 from Deltron were selected with the size of 40×40×4.8 mm.sup.3, the electric resistance of 9.0Ω, and a thermal resistance of 2.3 K/W. Six such TEGs 23 are necessary to match the resistance of the fan 14′.

[0022] The maximum difference between the cooling fluid vapor temperature and the temperature of the surrounding is measured to be about ΔT=50° C. in the system. It is expected that at least a half of this total temperature drop will be developed on the TEGs 23. Thus, by ΔT.sub.TEG=25° C., each TEG 23 is calculated to generate 1.125 V, therefore producing 6.75 V, which is enough for the fan 14′ to start the self-regulating process. The estimated efficiency of the TEGs 23 at ΔT.sub.TEG=25° C. is about 0.8%, requiring the heat flow through all TEGs 23 of about 94 W, which is realistic, since the maximum heat load is 900 W.

[0023] Obviously, a proper choice of the fan 14′ and the heat exchanger configuration could improve the efficiency of the system 10′ in comparison with the example presented.

[0024] With reference to FIG. 4, the system 10′ is shown for use in a switchgear, generally indicated at 34. The system 10′ is used to efficiently cool the primary contacts 36 (heat source) without breaching the safety requirements for the self-contained compartments of the switchgear 34. An evaporator 16 is associated with each primary contact 36 and the heat pipe structure 22 is coupled between the evaporators 16 and the condenser 12. The condenser 12 is located at a higher elevation than the evaporators 16. Heat of the primary contacts 36 causes working fluid 32 in the evaporators 16 to evaporate and the vapor is directed to the condenser 12. Due to heat exchange with ambient air, driven by the fan 14′ that is powered by the TEGs 23, the condenser 12 condenses the vapor back to liquid and the liquid working fluid returns, via the heat pipe structure 22, to the evaporators 16 to complete the cooling cycle. Such evaporative cooling reduces heat of at the main heat sources and allows a higher nominal current. The busbar joints, of the switchgear 34, are indicated at 38.

[0025] As used herein, “heat pipe structure” 22 generally connotes a single conduit component (e.g., hose, tubing, piping, and the like) or a network of vacuum-tight sealably connected conduit structures that carry the working fluid, either in a condensed state or an evaporated state, between an evaporator 16 and the condenser 12. For example, the heat pipe structure 22 can include a main tube with a separated liquid return tube therein such that vapor can pass to the condenser via a passage of the main tube and liquid can return to the evaporator via the liquid return tube.

[0026] The following modifications of the system 10′ are contemplated: [0027] 1. FIG. 2 illustrates a condenser 12 having one section A and one section B. Typically, the condenser 12 will have multiple sections B. More than one section A is also possible. [0028] 2. Instead of a single fan 14′, multiple fans can be supplied by one or more circuits of TEGs 23. [0029] 3. The embodiment of FIG. 2 employs flat tubes 26 for the two-phase regions of both section A and section B. In other embodiments, section B can be configured different from section A, e.g., as a round tube-fin system. [0030] 4. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the fluid 32 used for functioning of the thermosyphon is cooled in the condenser 12 by means of an air flow driven by the fan 14′. In other embodiments, any suitable fluid can be used instead of air, not only in the gaseous but also in the liquid state. In the latter case, the fan 14′ will be substituted by a pump (not shown). [0031] 5. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, all TEGs 23 are connected in one electric circuit with one fan 14′, but systems with several TEG circuits connected to several fans are possible as well.

[0032] Advantages of the system 10′ include: [0033] 1. No external electric current supply for the fan 14′ is necessary. This allows for the installation of the cooling system 10′ in areas without access to the electric energy network, thus using low DC voltage supplied by the TEGs 23. [0034] 2. No additional cable duct is needed in the power product with the two-phase cooling, in order to wire the fan 14′ (and optionally sensors). [0035] 3. The fan rotation speed is self-regulating automatically based on the available variable heat load, without additional temperature sensors, air flow sensors, or control electronics. [0036] 4. The automatic reduction of the fan rotation speed to the minimum necessary level leads to reduced wear of the fan mechanical parts, longer fan lifetime, less vibration of the whole heat pipe device, and lower level of disturbing noise. [0037] 5. Compared with a natural-convection based condenser of a comparable cooling power, which also requires no external source of electric energy (since no fan is used), the condenser 12 of the system 10′ can be made considerably lighter and more compact.

[0038] The foregoing preferred embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the structural and functional principles of the present invention, as well as illustrating the methods of employing the preferred embodiments and are subject to change without departing from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit of the following claims.