Switchgear cooling system comprising a heat pipe, fan and thermoelectric generation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10855060-B2
Application number	US-201615544530-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2016
Priority date	Jan 20, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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 connected together in a single electric circuit with the fan, the plurality of thermoelectric generators being 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 solely the fan absent an external power source,
wherein a total electrical resistance of the plurality of thermoelectric generators in or near the condensation area being about equal to a resistance of the fan, whereby the thermoelectric generators are constructed and arranged to provide the electrical energy to the fan so that a rotational speed of the fan resulting from the electrical energy is automatically self-regulating to either increase or decrease based on a varying heat load provided by the heat source absent the external power 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 a 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 condenser includes a condensation area at a lower portion thereof, and the thermoelectric generators are located in or near the condensation area.

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

8. 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,
wherein the plurality of thermoelectric generators are connected together in a single electric circuit with the fan and are constructed and arranged to provide the electrical energy to power solely the fan, a total electrical resistance of the plurality of thermoelectric generators in or near the condensation area being about equal to a resistance of the fan whereby a rotational speed of the fan resulting from the electrical energy is automatically self-regulating to either increase or decrease based on a varying heat load provided by the primary contact absent the external power source.

9. The cooling system of claim 8 , in combination with the switchgear.

10. The cooling system of claim 8 , wherein the condenser includes a plurality of fins.

11. The cooling system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of the thermoelectric generators is between a portion of the heat pipe structure and a portion of the plurality of fins.

12. The cooling system of claim 11 , 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.

13. The cooling system of claim 12 , wherein the portion of the heat pipe structure is flat.

14. The cooling system of claim 8 , wherein the condenser includes a condensation area at a lower portion thereof, and the thermoelectric generators are located in or near the condensation area.

15. 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,
associating a plurality of thermoelectric generators with a condensation area of the condenser wherein a total electrical resistance of the plurality of thermoelectric generators in or near the condensation area is about equal to a resistance of the fan,
connecting the plurality of thermoelectric generators in a single electric circuit with the fan,
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 via the plurality of thermoelectric generators to power solely the fan absent an external power source, and
supplying the electrical energy to the fan so that a rotational speed of the fan resulting from the electrical energy is automatically self-regulating to either increase or decrease based on a varying heat load provided by the heat source absent the external power source.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the member is a primary contact of a switchgear.

Assignees

• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Kaufmann Patrik
• Sologubenko Oleksandr
• Molitor Francoise
• Buehler Tilo

Classifications

• H02B1/56 Primary

  Cooling; Ventilation · CPC title

• H02B11/04

  Isolating-contacts, e.g. mountings or shieldings · CPC title

• H05K7/20309

  Evaporators · CPC title

• H05K7/20318

  Condensers · CPC title

• H05K7/20336

  Heat pipes, e.g. wicks or capillary pumps · CPC title