Exhaust system for switchgear enclosure, and switchgear enclosure having the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10431963-B2
Application number	US-201514626154-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2015
Priority date	Feb 19, 2015
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

A switchgear enclosure includes an exterior housing. A plurality of compartments within the exterior housing includes at least a first switching device compartment, a bus compartment, and a first cable compartment. A plurality of interior partitions arranged to subdivide the exterior housing into the plurality of compartments includes at least a first partition between the first switching device compartment and the first cable compartment, and a second partition between the bus compartment and the first cable compartment. An exhaust system includes a vent path structure arranged within the exterior housing to at least partially surround the bus compartment and the first cable compartment, a channel formed between the vent path structure and the exterior housing, and a first vent device in the first partition. The first vent device is configured to fluidically connect the first switching device compartment to the channel via the vent path structure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A switchgear enclosure comprising:
an exterior housing;
a plurality of compartments within the exterior housing, the plurality of compartments including at least a first switching device compartment, a bus compartment, and a first cable compartment;
a plurality of interior partitions arranged to subdivide the exterior housing into the plurality of compartments, the interior partitions including at least (i) a first partition between the first switching device compartment and the first cable compartment and (ii) a second partition between the bus compartment and the first cable compartment; and
an exhaust system including:
a vent path structure coupled within the exterior housing to define a channel between the vent path structure and the exterior housing, at least a portion of the channel defining a first vent path between the first switching device compartment and an opening formed in the exterior housing to vent arc gases from the first switching device compartment and to the opening; and
a first vent device in the first partition, the first vent device configured to fluidically connect the first switching device compartment to the channel;
wherein at least a portion of the channel defines a second vent path between the bus compartment and the opening, the exhaust system further includes a second vent device in the second partition, and the second vent device is configured to fluidically connect the bus compartment to the channel.

2. The switchgear enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second cable compartment amongst the plurality of compartments, wherein the vent path structure is further arranged through the second cable compartment;
a third partition amongst the plurality of interior partitions, the third partition arranged to separate the first and second cable compartments; and
a third vent device in the third partition;
wherein at least a portion of the channel defines a third vent path between the second cable compartment and the opening; and
wherein the third vent device is configured to fluidically connect the second cable compartment to the channel.

3. The switchgear enclosure of claim 2 , wherein:
the exterior housing includes first and second opposing walls;
the vent path structure includes a first vent path side between the bus compartment and the first wall, and a second vent path side between the bus compartment and the second wall; and
the vent path structure further includes a connector vent path side connected between the first and second vent path sides and adjacent the second and third vent devices, wherein the connector vent path side is arranged to fluidically direct arc gases from the bus compartment and the first cable compartment to the channel.

4. The switchgear enclosure of claim 3 , wherein the connector vent path side is disposed in the second cable compartment.

5. The switchgear enclosure of claim 1 , wherein:
the exterior housing includes first and second opposing walls; and
the vent path structure includes a first vent path side between the first wall and the bus and first cable compartments, a second vent path side between the second wall and the bus and first cable compartments, and a connector vent path side connected between the first and second vent path sides and adjacent the first vent device, wherein the connector vent path side is arranged to fluidically direct arc gases from the first switching device compartment to the channel.

6. The switchgear enclosure of claim 5 , wherein the connector vent path side is disposed within the first cable compartment.

7. The switchgear enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the vent path structure includes a plurality of integrally combined plate-like portions.

8. The switchgear enclosure of claim 7 , wherein at least a section of the vent path structure includes longitudinal ridges extended from the plate-like portions, the vent path structure having a substantially U-shaped cross-section to form the channel with the exterior housing.

9. The switchgear enclosure of claim 7 , wherein the vent path structure includes a first aperture in one of the plate-like portions within the bus compartment to fluidically connect an interior of the bus compartment to the channel, and a second aperture in one of the plate-like portions within the first cable compartment to fluidically connect an interior of the first cable compartment to the channel.

10. The switchgear enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the exterior housing includes:
first and second opposing walls;
third and fourth opposing walls; and
fifth and sixth opposing walls, wherein the channel is formed between the first wall and the vent path structure and between the second wall and the vent path structure, and the channel extends from the sixth wall to the fifth wall.

11. The switchgear enclosure of claim 10 , wherein the fifth wall includes at least one opening disposed to facilitate fluid communication with an outside of the enclosure through the opening.

12. The switchgear enclosure of claim 10 , further comprising a second switching device compartment, a third partition interposed between the first switching device compartment and the second switching device compartment, and a third vent device in the third partition, wherein arc gases are releasable from the first switching device compartment via both the first and third vent devices.

13. The switchgear enclosure of claim 12 , wherein the vent path structure is spaced from the third wall by the first and second switching device compartments.

14. The switchgear enclosure of claim 1 , wherein each of the first switching device compartment, first cable compartment, and bus compartment is provided with at least two separate exits for arc gases.

15. A switchgear enclosure comprising:
an exterior housing including first and second opposing walls, third and fourth opposing walls, and fifth and sixth opposing walls, and a plurality of compartments within the exterior housing, the plurality of compartments including at least a first switching device compartment, a a bus compartment, and a first cable compartment;
a plurality of interior partitions arranged to subdivide the exterior housing into the plurality of compartments, the interior partitions including at least (i) a first partition between the first switching device compartment and the first cable compartment and (ii) a second partition between the bus compartment and the first cable compartment; and
an exhaust system including:
a vent path structure coupled within the exterior housing to define a channel between the vent path structure and the exterior housing, at least a portion of the channel defining a first vent path between the first switching device compartment and an opening formed in the exterior housing to vent arc gases from the first switching device compartment and to the opening; and
a first vent device in the first partition, the first vent device configured to fluidically connect the first switching device compartment to the channel;

wherein a first vent path side at least partially encloses a space between the first vent path side and the first wall, a second vent path side at least partially encloses a space between the second vent path side and the second wall, at least a portion of the channel defines a second vent path between the bus compartment and the opening, the exhaust system further includes a second vent device in the second partition, and the second vent device is configured to fluidically connect the bus compartment to the channel.

16. The switchgear enclosure of claim 15 , wherein the

Assignees

• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Rajauria Samir
• Jakkireddy Ayyappa Reddy
• Kurra Guru Moorthy
• Pokkula Lenin
• Meiners Steven Edward

Classifications

• H02B1/30

  Cabinet-type casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• H02B13/025 Primary

  Safety arrangements, e.g. in case of excessive pressure or fire due to electrical defect · CPC title

• H02B13/045 Primary

  Details of casing, e.g. gas tightness · CPC title

• H02B1/565 Primary

  for cabinets · CPC title