Transmission-line coupled heat-dissipation device with an assembly of one or more controllable fins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9759497-B2
Application number	US-201615290462-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2016
Priority date	Apr 24, 2012
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

Described embodiments include a device, a system, and a method. A described device includes a closed-cycle heat transfer device. The device includes a thermal management system adapted for dissipating heat generated by transmission lines of a power transmission system in use to transport electric power from one place to another. The system includes a heat-dissipation device and a transmission-line temperature manager. The heat-dissipation device includes a heat-acquisition element configured to absorb heat from a portion of a live transmission line of the power transmission system. The heat-dissipation device includes an assembly of one or more controllable fins thermally coupled to the heat-acquisition element and configured to dissipate at least a portion of the heat absorbed by the heat-acquisition. The transmission-line temperature manager is configured to control an aspect of the assembly of one or more controllable fins.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat-dissipation device adapted for dissipating heat generated by transmission lines of a power transmission system in use to transport electric power from one place to another, the heat-dissipation device comprising:
a heat-acquisition element configured to absorb heat from a portion of a live transmission line of the power transmission system; and
an assembly of one or more controllable fins thermally coupled to the heat-acquisition element and configured to dissipate at least a portion of the heat absorbed by the heat-acquisition element, wherein the one or more fins are arranged so that in a retracted position they are faired into the transmission line or a supporting tape to minimize wind drag.

2. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the power transmission system includes a high-voltage power transmission system.

3. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the power transmission system includes a power distribution system.

4. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the transmission line includes an overhead transmission line.

5. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the heat-acquisition element is configured to be thermally coupled with a portion of a live transmission line and to absorb heat from the portion of the live transmission line.

6. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the heat-acquisition element is configured to be disposed substantially parallel to a portion of a live transmission line and to absorb heat from the portion of the live transmission line.

7. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the heat-acquisition element is integral to a structure of a conductor of the live transmission line.

8. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the heat-acquisition element is configured as discrete unit attachable to the live transmission line.

9. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more controllable fins includes one or more controllable fins attached to or extending from the heat-acquisition unit.

10. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more controllable fins include a fin having a controllable orientation or controllable extent relative to the heat-acquisition element.

11. The heat-dissipation device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more controllable fins include a fin having a rotatable orientation relative to the heat-acquisition element or a reversible extension from the heat-acquisition element.

12. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more controllable fins are shaped to mitigate electric field enhancement or corona discharge.

13. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more controllable fins are made of a metallic or a thermally-conductive material.

14. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more controllable fins are made of high conductivity diamond-like materials.

15. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more controllable fins include a plurality of controllable fins extending in substantially different directions.

16. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the assembly of one or more controllable fins is translationally movable along the power line.

17. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more controllable fins includes a controllable fin that with respect to wind flow preferentially extends in an orientation that enhances convective cooling.

18. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fins include an electrically insulative material with a high thermal conductivity.

19. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fins include a metallic material with an electrically insulative exterior coating.

20. The heat-dissipation device of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to change an orientation or extent of a fin of the one or more controllable fins relative to the heat-acquisition element.

21. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator is configured to automatically change an orientation or extent of a fin relative to the heat-acquisition element.

22. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator is configured to change an orientation or extent of a fin of the one or more controllable fins relative to the heat-acquisition element in response to a controller.

23. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator includes an electrical, mechanical, or electro-mechanical actuator.

24. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator is configured to rotate a fin of the one or more controllable fins into a selected wind orientation or withdraw an extended fin toward the heat-acquisition element in response to a wind load on the live transmission line.

25. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator is configured to rotate a fin of the one or more controllable fins into a selected wind orientation or extend a fin in response to an absence of a wind load on the live transmission line.

26. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator is configured to rotate a fin of the one or more controllable fins into a selected wind orientation or extend a fin in response to a need for heat dissipation by the live transmission line.

27. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator is configured to rotate a fin of the one or more controllable fins into a selected wind orientation or withdraw an extended fin toward the heat-acquisition element in response to an absence of a need for heat dissipation by the live transmission line.

28. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator is configured to extend a retractable fin of the one or more controllable fins out of the heat-acquisition element if the need for heat dissipation by the live transmission line is high or if the wind load is low.

29. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator is configured to withdraw a retractable fin of the one or more controllable fins into the heat-acquisition element if the need for heat dissipation by the live transmission line is low or if the wind load is high.

30. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator is temperature driven.

31. The heat-dissipation device of claim 30 , wherein the temperature-driven actuator is any one of a shape-memory alloy, a Nitinol, a bimetallic, a thermal expansion, a thermal-wax, and/or a phase change type actuator.

32. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator is inductively powered by line current.

33. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator is powered by one or more of solar, wind, and primary battery power sources.

34. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator is activated by a meteorological sensor including at least one sensor chosen from a temperature sensor and a wind velocity sensor.

35. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator is controlled remotely via wireless or transmission line-conducted signals.

36. The heat-dissipation device of claim 20 , wherein the actuator is communicatively coupled to the heat-dissipa

Assignees

• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Hyde Roderick A
• Kare Jordin T
• Weaver Thomas A
• Wood Jr Lowell L

Classifications

• F28D2021/0028

  for cooling heat generating elements, e.g. for cooling electronic components or electric devices · CPC title

• F28F2250/08

  Fluid driving means, e.g. pumps, fans · CPC title

• F28F21/02

  of carbon, e.g. graphite · CPC title

• F28D15/02

  in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes {(heat pipes used in solar heat collectors F24S10/95; in radiators F28D1/0226; in nuclear reactors G21C15/257)} · CPC title

• G05D23/1919

  characterised by the type of controller · CPC title