U.S. patent application number 12/466249 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-18 for explosion-proof enclosures with active thermal management by heat exchange.
This patent application is currently assigned to Cooper Technologies Company. Invention is credited to Marc Raymond Kozlowski, Joseph Michael Manahan.
Application Number | 20100288467 12/466249 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43067568 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100288467 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Manahan; Joseph Michael ; et
al. |
November 18, 2010 |
EXPLOSION-PROOF ENCLOSURES WITH ACTIVE THERMAL MANAGEMENT BY HEAT
EXCHANGE
Abstract
Enclosures for use in hazardous areas include heat exchangers
for active thermal management. The enclosures are coupled to a
device having heat transfer capabilities. Equipment within the
enclosures produces heat within the enclosure. The heat exchanger
removes heat produced from the equipment and manages the internal
temperature of the enclosures to a level suitable for hazardous
locations. The enclosures can be actively cooled or heated using
the device.
Inventors: |
Manahan; Joseph Michael;
(Manlius, NY) ; Kozlowski; Marc Raymond; (Cicero,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KING & SPALDING, LLP
1100 LOUISIANA ST., STE. 4000, ATTN.: IP Docketing
HOUSTON
TX
77002-5213
US
|
Assignee: |
Cooper Technologies Company
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
43067568 |
Appl. No.: |
12/466249 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/54 ;
165/104.34; 165/244; 165/56; 62/3.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 9/001 20130101;
F28D 2021/0077 20130101; F28D 15/00 20130101; H02K 5/136 20130101;
H05K 7/202 20130101; F28D 2021/0029 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/54 ; 165/56;
62/3.6; 165/244; 165/104.34 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/00 20060101
F28D015/00; F25B 21/02 20060101 F25B021/02; F24F 11/04 20060101
F24F011/04 |
Claims
1. An enclosure system, comprising: a housing; a heat exchanger,
the heat exchanger comprising a first heat transfer component in
communication with a second heat transfer component, wherein the
first heat transfer component is in communication with the inside
of the housing, and the second heat transfer component is
positioned outside of the housing.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is selected
from the group consisting of thermoelectric coolers, shell and tube
heat exchangers, plate heat exchangers, and spiral heat
exchangers.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first heat transfer component
is positioned inside the housing.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first heat transfer component
is integrated into a wall of the housing.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second heat transfer
component is coupled to an exterior of the housing.
6. The system of claim 1, further comprising equipment positioned
within the housing, the equipment to be cooled or heated by the
heat exchanger.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first heat transfer component
is coupled to the equipment.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the first heat transfer component
is a cooling plate.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing is sealed.
10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fan positioned
within the housing or externally mounted to the housing.
11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a control system
coupled to the fan.
12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control system
coupled to the heat exchanger.
13. An explosion-proof enclosure system, comprising: a housing
having an internal cavity, the housing being sealed in compliance
with hazardous area guidelines; equipment positioned within the
cavity; a thermally conductive plate positioned within the cavity
and proximate to the equipment; a heat exchanger exterior to the
housing; an inlet tube; and an outlet tube, wherein the inlet tube
and the outlet tube each extend through the housing and connect the
heat exchanger to the plate.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the plate comprises an opening
therein for receiving a fluid flowing from the inlet tube.
15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a fluid flowing from
the heat exchanger, through the inlet tube, to an opening within
the plate, through the outlet tube, and back to the heat
exchanger.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the inlet or
outlet tube is spiral.
17. The system of claim 13, wherein the plate comprises multiple
plates in communication with each other.
18. The system of claim 13, wherein the equipment is to be heated
or cooled by the heat exchanger.
19. The system of claim 13, wherein the inlet and outlet tubes are
sealingly coupled to a wall of the housing.
20. The system of claim 13, further comprising a fan positioned
within the internal cavity or externally mounted to the
housing.
21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a control system
coupled to the fan.
22. The system of claim 13, further comprising a control system
coupled to the heat exchanger.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 12/435,807, titled "Explosion-Proof Enclosures with Active
Thermal Management Using Sintered Elements" and filed on May 5,
2009, in the name of Joseph Michael Manahan et al, the entire
disclosure of which is hereby fully incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The invention relates generally to explosion-proof
enclosures, and, more particularly, to explosion-proof enclosures
having active thermal management capabilities using heat
exchange.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Automation equipment can be used to preserve the life of
devices such as motors and pumps by improving device performance.
However, the installation of automation equipment in hazardous or
explosive environments typically has been avoided due to the high
heat generated by components of the automation equipment, which
could result in an explosion. Hazardous area requirements dictate
that such equipment must be sealed from the surrounding atmosphere
to fully contain any possible sources of ignition within the
enclosure, thus preventing propagation of an explosion.
[0004] The automation equipment could potentially be housed in an
explosion-proof enclosure. Currently, explosion-proof enclosures
rely on conductive heat transfer for dissipating heat produced by
equipment within the enclosure. However, these enclosures do not
adequately dissipate the heat produced by the automation equipment
within and thus could cause a decrease in the life of the equipment
or lead to an explosion within the enclosure. As a result,
automation equipment is typically installed outside the boundaries
of the hazardous area and long electrical cables are run to the
devices within the hazardous area. Several disadvantages to this
configuration exist. For example, this configuration results in
lack of control at the device, as well as an increase in
installation, and/or maintenance costs.
[0005] Therefore, a need exists in the art for an explosion-proof
enclosure having automation and other equipment that can provide
active thermal management in a hazardous area.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention can satisfy the above-described need
by providing enclosures for use in hazardous areas and having heat
exchangers. As used herein, the term "heat exchanger" refers to any
device that transfers heat from one medium to another or to the
environment. The heat exchangers aid in regulating the internal
temperature of an enclosure by actively cooling or heating
equipment housed within the enclosure.
[0007] The enclosures of the present invention include a heat
exchanger device coupled thereto. In some aspects, the heat
exchanger is a thermoelectric cooler, a shell and tube heat
exchanger, a plate heat exchanger, or a spiral heat exchanger. The
enclosures include equipment housed therein. A heat exchanger is in
communication with the internal equipment and external environment,
and actively transfers heat from within the enclosure to outside of
the enclosure, thereby removing heat produced from the equipment
within the enclosure. In certain aspects of the invention, the heat
exchanger actively transfers heating from outside the enclosure to
within the enclosure, thereby heating the equipment within the
enclosure. In certain aspects of the invention, the heat exchanger
device are controlled by a control system having a sensor and a
controller.
[0008] The enclosures also can include at least one fan positioned
proximate to the heat exchanger device. The fan can be positioned
within the enclosure or externally mounted to the enclosure. The
fan can be controlled by a control system having a sensor and a
controller.
[0009] These and other aspects, objects, and features of the
invention will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in
the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of
exemplary embodiments exemplifying the best mode for carrying out
the invention as presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an explosion-proof enclosure
with the cover removed according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the explosion-proof
enclosure shown in FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0012] This application discloses enclosures having active thermal
management capabilities. The enclosures include a heat exchanger
that aids in dissipating heat from within the enclosure. The
enclosures can be used for both general purposes and in hazardous
areas.
[0013] The present invention may be better understood by reading
the following description of non-limiting embodiments with
reference to the attached drawings wherein like parts of each of
the figures are identified by the same reference characters.
[0014] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective and cross-sectional views of
an explosion-proof enclosure 100 with a cover (not shown) removed.
The enclosure 100 includes a rectangular housing 102. The housing
102 includes a top wall 102a, a bottom wall 102b, two side walls
102c, a rear wall 102d, and a cavity 102e. The housing 102 also
includes a flange 102f extending orthogonally from the top, bottom,
and two side walls 102a, 102b, 102c. In certain embodiments, the
housing 102 is constructed from aluminum and is a NEMA 7 compliant
enclosure for indoor or outdoor use in locations classified as
Class I, Groups A, B, C, or D.
[0015] The enclosure 100 also includes automation equipment 110
positioned within the cavity 102e and coupled to the rear wall
102d. In alternative embodiments, the automation equipment 110 can
be coupled to the top wall 102a, the bottom wall 102b, or one of
the side walls 102c. The automation equipment 110 produces heat
within the enclosure 100 which should be dissipated to maintain a
desired temperature within the enclosure 100. In certain
embodiments, the automation equipment 110 may include a controller,
such as a variable frequency drive (VFD) that controls the
frequency of electrical power supplied to an external device, such
as a pump or a motor (not shown). In certain embodiments, the
automation equipment 110 may also include a transformer, a
programmable logic controller (PLC), and/or a line reactor.
[0016] The enclosure 100 also includes a heat exchanger system that
includes a heat exchanger 120 and a plate 130. The heat exchanger
120 is coupled to the exterior of the housing 102. The heat
exchanger 120 may be coupled to the housing 102 by any suitable
means, such as by mating threads or by bolting a flange (not shown)
on the heat exchanger 120 to the housing 102. In certain
alternative embodiments, the heat exchanger 120 can be positioned
in proximity to the housing 102 but not be attached.
[0017] The plate 130 of the heat exchanger system is positioned
within the cavity 102e. In certain embodiments, the plate 130 is
coupled to the automation equipment 110. In certain embodiments,
the plate 130 also is coupled to the side wall 102c. The plate 130
is fabricated from thermally conductive material. Suitable examples
of thermally conductive materials include, but are not limited to,
copper, aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, other metal alloys,
and thermally conductive polymers. In certain embodiments, the
plate 130 may be constructed from multiple thin plates. The size
and shape of the plate 130 can be configured based on the amount of
heating or cooling desired. In certain embodiments, the plate 130
is constructed from copper or aluminum.
[0018] The heat exchanger 120 is in communication with the plate
130 via inlet pipe 134 and outlet pipe 136. The inlet and outlet
pipes 134, 136 are coupled to the heat exchanger 120 to the plate
130 through the side wall 102c. The inlet and outlet pipes 134, 136
may be sealed within the side wall 102c so as to maintain the
hazardous rating integrity of the enclosure 100. In certain
embodiments, the automation equipment releases heat, which is
absorbed by the plate 130. A cooled fluid flows from the heat
exchanger 120 through the inlet pipe 134. The cooled fluid enters a
cavity (not shown) within the plate 130 and absorbs heat from the
plate 130 before exiting the enclosure 100 through outlet pipe 136
as a heated fluid. The heated fluid returns to the heat exchanger
120 where it is cooled again before returning to the plate 130 via
inlet pipe 134.
[0019] In certain alternative embodiments, the enclosure 100 may
include equipment (not shown) that requires heating. In these
instances, a heated fluid flows from the heat exchanger 120 through
the inlet pipe 134. The heated fluid enters the cavity (not shown)
within the plate 130 and gives off heat to the plate 130, which in
turn heats the equipment within the enclosure, before exiting the
enclosure 100 through outlet pipe 136 as a cooled fluid. The cooled
fluid returns to the heat exchanger 120 where it is heated again
before returning to the plate 130 via inlet pipe 134.
[0020] The heat exchanger systems of the present invention can be
any device capable of heating and/or cooling equipment within the
enclosure 100 by heat transfer. Suitable examples of heat exchanger
devices include, but are not limited to, Peltier devices or
thermoelectric coolers, shell and tube heat exchangers, plate heat
exchangers, and spiral heat exchangers. In certain embodiments, the
heat exchanger devices are integrated into the housing 102 and a
first portion of the heat exchanger device interfaces with the
interior of the enclosure 100 and a second portion of the heat
exchanger device is positioned exterior to the enclosure 100.
[0021] In certain embodiments, a fan (not shown) may be positioned
within the housing 102 and proximate to the plate 130 to facilitate
heat transfer. The fan can be powered by an internal power source,
such as a battery (not shown), or receive power from a source (not
shown) external to the enclosure 100. In certain alternative
embodiments, a fan (not shown) may be externally mounted to the
housing 102 to facilitate heat transfer. One having ordinary skill
in the art will recognize that any number of configurations having
a fan are possible.
[0022] In certain embodiments, the enclosure 100 may include a
control system (not shown) for monitoring and controlling the heat
exchanger system. In certain embodiments, the control system
monitors and controls a fan. The control system generally includes
a sensor that is coupled to a controller that controls the heat
exchanger system and/or the fan. The sensor actively or passively
monitors conditions within the enclosure 100. Based on the
conditions within the enclosure 100, the controller can turn on or
off the heat exchanger system and/or the fan. For example, the
sensor may be a temperature gauge that senses the temperature
within the enclosure 100. When the sensor indicates that the
temperature within the enclosure 100 is too high, the controller
turns on the heat exchanger system and/or a fan inside the
enclosure 100 to remove heat from within the housing 102 to an
exterior of the housing 102. Similarly, when the sensor indicates
that the temperature within the enclosure 100 is low, the
controller can turn on the heat exchanger system and/or a fan
externally mounted to the enclosure 100 to heat the air within the
enclosure 100. In some embodiments, the control system cycles on
and off passively. For example, the control system can cycle such
that the heat exchanger system and/or a fan is active for ten
minutes every thirty minutes. In certain embodiments, the control
system includes a sensor capable of detecting humidity changes
within the enclosure 100. If the sensor detects that the relative
humidity within the enclosure 100 is too high, the control system
can turn on a fan inside the enclosure 100. In certain other
embodiments, the control system includes a sensor capable of
determining whether an explosion has occurred by detecting a rapid
temperature or pressure change. Upon detection of an internal
explosion, the sensor communicates the state change to the
controller which communicates the state change to a local indicator
(not shown) or wirelessly to a remote location. One having ordinary
skill in the art will recognize that the control system can be
programmed any number of ways to meet specifications of a given
area and include any number or type of sensors to determine various
states within the enclosure 100. In certain embodiments, the
control system is controlled wirelessly by a user in a remote
location.
[0023] Therefore, the present invention is well adapted to attain
the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are
inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are
illustrative only, as the present invention may be modified and
practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to a person
having ordinary skill in the art and the benefit of the teachings
herein. Having described some exemplary embodiments of the present
invention, the use of alternative configurations having heat
exchangers in communication with an enclosure is within the purview
of those in the art. For example, the heat exchanger system can be
positioned on any wall of the enclosure or a portion may be
external to the enclosure. Additionally, while the present
application discusses a single heat exchanger external to the
enclosure, it is understood that a number of other heat exchangers
may be used based on the heat transfer properties desired and using
the teachings described herein. In addition, the exemplary
embodiments of the present invention may be used to actively
displace cold air from within the enclosures to the atmosphere.
While numerous changes may be made by one having ordinary skill in
the art, such changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit
of this invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore,
the details of construction or design herein shown do not limit the
invention, other than as described in the claims below. It is
therefore evident that the particular exemplary embodiments
disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations
are considered within the scope and spirit of the present
invention. The terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary
meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the
patentee.
* * * * *