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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10971905-B2
Application number	US-201916589742-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2019
Priority date	Feb 19, 2015
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

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 method of venting a switchgear enclosure, the method comprising:
subdividing an exterior housing with a plurality of interior partitions into a plurality of compartments, the interior partitions including at least (i) a first partition between a first switching device compartment and a first cable compartment and (ii) a second partition between a bus compartment and the first cable compartment;
coupling a vent path structure within the exterior housing to define a channel between the vent path structure and the exterior housing;
fluidically connecting the first switching device compartment to the channel by positioning a first vent device in the first partition, such that arc gases can be vented from the first switching device compartment to an opening formed in the exterior housing; and
fluidically connecting the bus compartment to the channel by positioning a second vent device in the second partition, such that arc gases can be vented from the bus compartment to the opening formed in the exterior housing.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
arranging the vent path structure through a second cable compartment;
arranging a third partition to separate the first and second cable compartments; and
fluidically connecting the second cable compartment to the channel with a third vent device in the third partition, such that arc gases can be vented from the second cable compartment to the opening formed in the exterior housing.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the vent path structure comprises (i) a first vent path side between the bus compartment and a first wall of the exterior housing, (ii) a second vent path side between the bus compartment and a second wall of the exterior housing, and (iii) a connector vent path side connected between the first and second vent path sides and adjacent the second and third vent devices, such arc gases are directed from the bus compartment and the first cable compartment to the channel by the connector vent path side.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein arranging the vent path structure through the second cable compartment comprises disposing the connector vent path side in the second cable compartment.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vent path structure comprises (i) a first vent path side between a first wall of the exterior housing and the bus and first cable compartments, (ii) a second vent path side between a second wall of the exterior housing and the bus and first cable compartments, and (iii) a connector vent path side connected between the first and second vent path sides and adjacent the first vent device, such arc gases are directed from the first switching device compartment to the channel by the connector vent path side.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein coupling the vent path structure within the exterior housing comprises disposing the connector vent path side within the first cable compartment.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming the vent path structure with a plurality of integrally combined plate-like portions.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising extending longitudinal ridges from the plate-like portions in at least a section of the vent path structure.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising forming the vent path structure with a substantially U-shaped cross-section to define the channel with the exterior housing.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
forming 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
forming 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.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the exterior housing includes first and second opposing walls, third and fourth opposing walls, and fifth and sixth opposing walls, and wherein the method further comprises:
forming the channel between the first wall and the vent path structure and between the second wall and the vent path structure; and
extending the channel from the sixth wall to the fifth wall.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disposing at least one opening in the fifth wall to facilitate fluid communication with an outside of the enclosure through the opening.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
interposing a third partition between the first switching device compartment and a second switching device compartment; and
disposing a third vent device in the third partition, such that arc gases can be released from the first switching device compartment via both the first and third vent devices.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising spacing the vent path structure from the third wall by the first and second switching device compartments.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing each of the first switching device compartment, first cable compartment, and bus compartment with at least two separate exits for arc gases.

Assignees

• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H02B13/025 Primary

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

• H02B1/30

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

• H02B1/565 Primary

  for cabinets · CPC title

• H02B13/045 Primary

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