ARC fault path for mitigation of ARC fault in power supply enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9525276-B2
Application number	US-201314440810-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2013
Priority date	Nov 6, 2012
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

An enclosure for a power supply is provided. An aspect includes a first compartment and a second compartment located adjacent to the first compartment. Another aspect includes an intermediate pressure relief flap located inside the enclosure in between the first compartment and the second compartment, and a top pressure relief flap located on an external surface of the second compartment. Another aspect includes the intermediate pressure relief flap and the top pressure relief flap configured to be closed in the absence of an arc fault in the enclosure, and the intermediate pressure relief flap and the top pressure relief flap configured to open based on the presence of the arc fault in the enclosure, such that plasma from the arc fault vents from the first compartment into the second compartment via the opened intermediate pressure relief flap and out of the second compartment via the opened top pressure relief flap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An enclosure for a power supply, comprising:
a first compartment;
a second compartment located adjacent to the first compartment; and
an arc fault path, comprising:
an intermediate pressure relief flap located inside the enclosure in between the first compartment and the second compartment, and a top pressure relief flap located on an external surface of the second compartment;
the intermediate pressure relief flap and the top pressure relief flap configured to be closed in the absence of an arc fault in the enclosure, and the intermediate pressure relief flap and the top pressure relief flap configured to open based on the presence of the arc fault in the enclosure, such that plasma from the arc fault vents from the first compartment into the second compartment via the opened intermediate pressure relief flap and out of the second compartment via the opened top pressure relief flap.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 , the first compartment comprising a first external surface, and a second surface that is located internally to the enclosure, the second surface comprising a panel, the panel comprising a material that is different from a material of the first external surface, and wherein the intermediate pressure relief flap is located in the panel and comprises the same material as the panel.

3. The enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the first external surface comprises a metal, and the panel and the intermediate pressure relief flap comprise a composite material.

4. The enclosure of claim 2 , wherein edges of the intermediate pressure relief flap are scored into the panel.

5. The enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the intermediate pressure relief flap is cut out of the panel, and is held closed in the absence of the arc fault by one of gravity and a gasket.

6. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the external surface of the second compartment and the top pressure relief flap comprise a metal.

7. The enclosure of claim 6 , the top pressure relief flap further comprising a connection configured to attach the top pressure relief flap to the external surface of the second compartment, and a latch that is engaged with the external surface of the second compartment in the absence of the arc fault, wherein the top pressure relief flap is configured to bend in the presence of the arc fault, and wherein the latch is configured to disengage from the external surface of the second compartment based on the bending of the top pressure relief flap.

8. The enclosure of claim 1 , the enclosure further comprising air intake louvers in an external surface of the enclosure, the air intake louvers configured allow airflow to enter the enclosure for cooling, and to block a portion of the plasma from the arc fault from escaping out of the enclosure via the air intake louvers.

9. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a third compartment located adjacent to the first compartment, and the arc fault path further comprising a second intermediate pressure relief flap located inside the enclosure in between the first compartment and the third compartment;
the second intermediate pressure relief flap configured to be closed in the absence of an arc fault in the enclosure, and the second intermediate pressure relief flap configured to open based on the presence of the arc fault in the enclosure, such that plasma from the arc fault vents from the third compartment into the first compartment via the opened second intermediate pressure relief flap.

10. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the top pressure relief flap is located at a height of 2 meters or higher from a bottom surface of the enclosure.

11. A method of venting an arc fault from an enclosure for a power supply via an arc fault path comprising an intermediate pressure relief flap and a top pressure relief flap, comprising:
based on the arc fault, opening the intermediate pressure relief flap, the intermediate pressure relief flap being located inside of the enclosure in between a first compartment and a second compartment of the enclosure, the second compartment located adjacent to the first compartment;
venting plasma from the arc fault from the first compartment into the second compartment of the enclosure via the opened intermediate pressure relief flap;
opening the top pressure relief flap, the top pressure relief flap being located on an external surface of the second compartment, based on the venting of the plasma into the second compartment; and
venting the plasma out of the second compartment via the opened top pressure relief flap.

12. The method of claim 11 , the first compartment comprising a first external surface, and a second surface that is located internally to the enclosure, the second surface comprising a panel, the panel comprising a material that is different from a material of the first external surface, and wherein the intermediate pressure relief flap is located in the panel and comprises the same material as the panel.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first external surface comprises a metal, and the panel and the intermediate pressure relief flap comprise a composite material.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein edges of the intermediate pressure relief flap are scored into the panel.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the intermediate pressure relief flap is cut out of the panel, and is held closed in the absence of the arc fault by one of gravity and a gasket.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the external surface of the second compartment and the top pressure relief flap comprise a metal.

17. The method of claim 16 , the top pressure relief flap further comprising a connection configured to attach the top pressure relief flap to the external surface of the second compartment, and a latch that is engaged with the external surface of the second compartment in the absence of the arc fault, wherein the top pressure relief flap is configured to bend in the presence of the arc fault, and wherein the latch is configured to disengage front the external surface of the second compartment based on the bending of the top pressure relief flap.

18. The method of claim 11 , the enclosure further comprising air intake louvers in an external surface of the enclosure, the air intake louvers configured allow airflow to enter the enclosure for cooling, and to block a portion of the plasma from the arc fault from escaping out of the enclosure via the air intake louvers.

19. The method of claim 11 , the enclosure further comprising a third compartment located adjacent to the first compartment, and a second intermediate pressure relief flap located inside the enclosure in between the first compartment and the third compartment, the method further comprising:
based on the presence of an arc fault, opening the second intermediate pressure relief flap; and
venting plasma from the arc fault from the third compartment into the first compartment of the enclosure via the opened second intermediate pressure relief flap.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the top pressure relief flap is located at a height of 2 meters or higher from a bottom surface of the enclosure.

Assignees

• Farr Jeffrey S
• Wissner Kevin D
• Novack Edward A
• Thompson Graham M
• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Farr Jeffrey S
• Wissner Kevin D
• Novack Edward A
• Thompson Graham M

Classifications

• H02B1/56 Primary

  Cooling; Ventilation · CPC title

• H05K7/14325

  for cabinets or racks · CPC title

• H05K7/1432

  specially adapted for power drive units or power converters · CPC title

• H02B13/025 Primary

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

• H01H2033/568

  with overpressure release, e.g. rupture membranes · CPC title