Energy-saving electrical equipment control cabinet

Abstract

This invention discloses an energy-saving electrical equipment control cabinet, belonging to the field of electrical cabinet technology, aiming to solve the problem of passive thermal storage's difficulty in achieving energy conversion and utilization. The key technical points are: it includes a cabinet, a cooling device, a thermoelectric recovery device, and a control device for linking the cooling device and the thermoelectric recovery device; the cabinet is internally divided into an equipment compartment and a temperature-regulating compartment by a partition; the cooling device includes a first air duct and a second air duct that are isolated from each other, and a first fan is installed in the first air duct to regulate heat exchange within the equipment compartment. When the load on the equipment compartment increases and the airflow temperature in the first air duct rises significantly, a considerable temperature difference is established on both sides of the thermoelectric generator, thereby directly converting the heat energy originally discharged to the external environment into direct electrical energy, allowing this electrical energy to be stored, and realizing the active recovery and value conversion of waste heat.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electrical cabinet technology, and more specifically, to an energy-saving electrical equipment control cabinet. Background Technology

[0002] As a critical infrastructure that houses and protects core equipment such as power electronic components and control devices, the internal temperature control management of electrical equipment control cabinets is of paramount importance. The equipment inside the cabinet continuously generates heat during operation. If the heat cannot be dissipated in a timely and effective manner, the temperature inside the cabinet will continue to rise, which may trigger equipment overheat protection, performance degradation, accelerated aging, or even damage, seriously affecting the stability and reliability of the production process.

[0003] Common heat dissipation methods for control cabinets mainly rely on forced air cooling or air conditioning. Forced air cooling uses a fan to drive outside air through the cabinet for heat exchange, but its heat dissipation efficiency is greatly affected by the ambient temperature, and its effect is limited in hot weather. Although air conditioning can provide a stable low-temperature environment, its compressors are complex, and its initial installation and maintenance costs are high. Moreover, the cooling process itself consumes a lot of electricity, which contradicts the current general pursuit of energy conservation and emission reduction in industry.

[0004] To improve energy efficiency and temperature uniformity, phase change thermal storage materials have been introduced into related technological research. Placed inside the cabinet, these materials can absorb and store a large amount of heat during peak heat generation periods, slowing down the rate of temperature rise within the cabinet. However, this passive thermal storage method has certain drawbacks. After the phase change material reaches heat absorption saturation, it must be cooled externally to release its internal heat and restore its storage capacity. Furthermore, the waste heat generated by the equipment is only temporarily stored and ultimately needs to be dissipated to the outside, failing to achieve energy conversion and utilization, thus not ultimately reducing overall energy consumption.

[0005] Therefore, a new solution is needed to address this problem. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this invention is to provide an energy-saving electrical equipment control cabinet with the advantages of actively recovering and converting waste heat.

[0007] The above-mentioned technical objective of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solution: an energy-saving electrical equipment control cabinet, comprising a cabinet, a cooling device, a heat and electricity recovery device, and a control device for linking the cooling device and the heat and electricity recovery device; The interior of the cabinet is divided into an equipment compartment and a temperature-controlled compartment by partitions; The cooling device includes a first air duct and a second air duct that are isolated from each other. A first fan is installed in the first air duct and is used to regulate the heat exchange in the equipment compartment. A second fan is installed in the second air duct and is used to regulate the heat exchange in the temperature regulating compartment. The thermoelectric recovery device includes a plurality of thermoelectric generators, the hot end face of which is disposed on the inner wall of the first air duct, and the cold end face extends into the temperature regulating chamber. The control device includes a threshold comparison module and an execution switch group controlled by the threshold comparison module. The threshold comparison module is used to compare the temperature of the equipment compartment with the temperature threshold. The execution switch group is connected to the power supply circuits of the first fan and the second fan respectively. When the temperature inside the equipment compartment is lower than the temperature threshold, the execution switch group only connects to the power supply circuit of the first fan. When the temperature inside the equipment compartment reaches or exceeds the temperature threshold, the execution switch group simultaneously connects the power supply circuits of the first fan and the second fan.

[0008] The present invention is further configured such that: the temperature regulating chamber is provided with an energy storage battery pack and a phase change thermal storage material filled around the energy storage battery pack, and the power output terminal of the thermoelectric generator is electrically connected to the energy storage battery pack.

[0009] The present invention is further configured such that the cold end face of the thermoelectric generator is in contact with the phase change thermal storage material through a heat spreader.

[0010] The present invention is further configured such that: the first air duct is connected to an air inlet and an air outlet, the air inlet is located at the bottom of the equipment compartment, the top of the cabinet is provided with a mixing compartment, the air outlet is located at the mixing compartment, one end of the second air duct is connected to the air inlet, and the other end is connected to the mixing compartment.

[0011] The present invention is further configured such that: a turbulence structure is provided in the first air duct to increase the contact area between the airflow and the hot end face of the thermoelectric generator plate provided on its inner wall.

[0012] The present invention is further configured such that the phase change thermal storage material is independently encapsulated by several shells, and the second air duct passes through the spaces between these shells.

[0013] The present invention is further configured such that the phase change thermal storage material is at least one of paraffin-based, fatty acid-based, or hydrated salt-based phase change materials.

[0014] The present invention is further configured such that: the energy storage battery pack is also connected to an external power supply circuit, and the control device is configured to preferentially use the power of the energy storage battery pack to power the first fan, the second fan and the control device itself.

[0015] In summary, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. When the load on the equipment compartment increases and the airflow temperature in the first air duct rises significantly, a considerable temperature difference is established on both sides of the thermoelectric generator, thereby directly converting the heat energy that was originally discharged to the external environment into direct electrical energy, so that this electrical energy can be stored, realizing the active recovery and value conversion of waste heat. Second, the phase change thermal storage material absorbs and stores excess heat from the equipment compartment during the day or peak load, and slowly releases this heat at night or when the load is low, thereby smoothing out temperature fluctuations inside the cabinet and continuously providing a stable cold end temperature for the thermoelectric generator. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an energy-saving electrical equipment control cabinet described in this specification; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure cut along the longitudinal direction of the thermoelectric generator in this specification; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure cut along the second air duct in this specification; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure cut along the mixing chamber and the first blower in this specification.

[0017] In the diagram: 1. Cabinet; 2. Partition; 3. Equipment compartment; 4. Temperature control compartment; 5. First air duct; 6. Second air duct; 7. First fan; 8. Second fan; 9. Thermoelectric generator; 10. Mixing compartment; 11. Turbulence structure; 12. Shell; 13. Heat spreader; 14. Air inlet; 15. Air outlet. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other.

[0019] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "top / bottom", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "equipped with," "sleeved / connected," "connected," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0021] An energy-saving electrical equipment control cabinet, such as Figures 1-4As shown, it includes a cabinet 1, a cooling device, a thermoelectric recovery device, and a control device for linking the cooling device and the thermoelectric recovery device. The cabinet 1 is divided into an equipment compartment 3 and a temperature control compartment 4 by a partition 2. The equipment compartment 3 is used to centrally install heat-generating electrical components such as frequency converters and controllers, while the temperature control compartment 4 is dedicated to arranging thermal management and energy recovery components.

[0022] In one embodiment, the cooling device includes a first air duct 5 and a second air duct 6 that are isolated from each other. A first fan 7 is installed in the first air duct 5 and is used to regulate the heat exchange in the equipment compartment 3. A second fan 8 is installed in the second air duct 6 and is used to regulate the heat exchange in the temperature control compartment 4. The first air duct 5 is connected to an air inlet 14 and an air outlet 15. The air inlet 14 is located at the bottom of the equipment compartment 3. When the first fan 7 is started, it drives external air to enter from the air inlet 14 and forces convection to flow over the surface of all heating elements and the heat dissipation fins originally installed on them. Through direct contact heat exchange, the Joule heat generated by the operation of the equipment is converted into airflow. The sensible heat is generated and forms high-temperature hot air, which is then continuously discharged towards the exhaust vent 15, thereby achieving basic forced air cooling of the equipment compartment 3. The second air duct 6 is installed inside the temperature regulating compartment 4, and a second fan 8 is installed inside it. The second air duct 6 does not directly cool electrical components, but exchanges heat with the heat storage medium inside the temperature regulating compartment 4. When the airflow flows through the second air duct 6, its heat is absorbed by the medium outside the wall of the second air duct 6, and the airflow itself is cooled, thereby regulating the temperature of the airflow flowing through the secondary path. This isolation method ensures that the two airflows do not interfere with each other and allows the control device to independently or collaboratively call up the two cooling methods as needed.

[0023] In one embodiment, the thermoelectric recovery device includes a plurality of thermoelectric generators 9. The hot end face of the thermoelectric generator 9 is disposed on the inner wall of the first air duct 5, and its cold end face extends into the temperature regulating chamber 4. The hot end face of the thermoelectric generator 9 is tightly installed on the inner wall of the first air duct 5 and is directly exposed to the airflow heated after flowing through the equipment chamber 3, thereby continuously capturing the waste heat of the airflow in the first air duct 5. Its cold end face extends into the interior of the temperature regulating chamber 4 and is in contact with the cold source in the temperature regulating chamber 4. When the load of the equipment chamber 3 increases and the temperature of the airflow in the first air duct 5 rises significantly, a considerable temperature difference is established on both sides of the thermoelectric generator 9, thereby directly converting the heat energy that was originally discharged to the external environment into direct electrical energy, so that this electrical energy can be stored, realizing the active recovery and value conversion of waste heat.

[0024] The temperature-regulating chamber 4 is equipped with an energy storage battery pack and phase change thermal storage material filled around the energy storage battery pack. The energy storage battery pack not only provides emergency or auxiliary power to the control device and the first fan 7 and the second fan 8 in the cabinet 1, but also serves as an energy storage terminal for thermoelectric recovery. The phase change thermal storage material is at least one of paraffin, fatty acid, or hydrated salt phase change materials. The phase change thermal storage material is independently encapsulated by several shells 12. The phase change thermal storage material is encapsulated in multiple independent metal or polymer shells 12 to form a modular unit, which can effectively prevent leakage of the phase change thermal storage material during phase change and increase its surface for heat exchange with the outside. The phase change thermal storage material absorbs and stores redundant heat from the equipment chamber 3 during the day or peak load, and slowly releases this heat at night or when the load is low, thereby smoothing the temperature fluctuation inside the cabinet 1 and continuously providing a stable cold end temperature for the thermoelectric generator 9.

[0025] Furthermore, a second air duct 6 is installed between these housings 12. The power output end of the thermoelectric generator 9 is electrically connected to the energy storage battery pack. The cold end face of the thermoelectric generator 9 is in contact with the phase change thermal storage material through a heat spreader 13. The heat spreader 13 is installed on the inner wall of the temperature regulating chamber 4. One side of the heat spreader 13 is attached to the cold end face of the thermoelectric generator 9, and the other side is in contact with the outer surface of multiple housings 12. This ensures that even if the phase change thermal storage material has completed phase change in some areas, the heat can be quickly diffused to other areas through the heat spreader 13, thereby maintaining the relative uniformity and stability of the cold end temperature and achieving the maximum thermoelectric conversion efficiency. The DC power generated by the thermoelectric generator 9 is transmitted to the energy storage battery pack in the temperature regulating chamber 4 in real time through the wire connected to its power output end. The energy storage battery pack is equipped with a power management circuit inside or near it, which is responsible for stabilizing, rectifying and charging the power, storing the recovered waste heat power, forming a closed loop from waste heat collection to thermoelectric conversion and then to power storage. The energy storage battery pack is also connected to an external power supply circuit, and the control device is configured to prioritize the use of the power of the energy storage battery pack to power the first fan 7, the second fan 8 and the control device itself.

[0026] In one embodiment, the control device includes a threshold comparison module and an execution switch group controlled by it. The threshold comparison module is used to compare the temperature of the equipment compartment 3 with a temperature threshold. The input terminal of the threshold comparison module is connected to a temperature sensor inside the equipment compartment 3. The threshold comparison module integrates a reference voltage source. The reference voltage of the reference voltage source corresponds to a preset temperature threshold for equipment installation and operation. The temperature threshold is based on the rated maximum temperature of the core component minus a safety range of 8-12°C. It can also be dynamically adjusted according to the actual equipment temperature. The threshold comparison module continuously compares the voltage signal fed back by the temperature sensor, which is proportional to the actual temperature, with the reference voltage.

[0027] In one embodiment, the actuator switch group is typically composed of relays or solid-state switching devices, connected in series in the power supply circuits of the first fan 7 and the second fan 8, respectively. Its operating logic is entirely determined by the output level of the threshold comparison module: when the temperature inside the equipment compartment 3 is below the temperature threshold, the threshold comparison module outputs a low-level signal, driving the actuator switch group to only conduct the power supply circuit of the first fan 7. At this time, the first air duct 5 of the operating foundation operates in forced air cooling mode, resulting in the lowest energy consumption. Once the temperature inside the equipment compartment 3 rises to or exceeds the temperature threshold, the threshold comparison module immediately activates a high-level signal, driving the actuator switch group to simultaneously connect the power supply circuits of the first fan 7 and the second fan 8. At this time, the second air duct 6 exchanges heat with the phase change thermal storage material in the temperature-regulating compartment 4, generating a low-temperature airflow. This low-temperature airflow enhances the overall heat dissipation capacity, while the high-temperature heat flow in the first air duct 5 causes the thermoelectric generator 9 to start working effectively. The entire process requires no software intervention and is achieved entirely through the physical response of the hardware circuit, featuring rapid response, high reliability, and accurate logic, ensuring that the cabinet 1 achieves optimal matching of heat dissipation efficiency and energy consumption under different heat loads.

[0028] Furthermore, a mixing chamber 10 is provided on the top of the cabinet 1, and an exhaust vent 15 is located in the mixing chamber 10. One end of the second air duct 6 is connected to the air inlet 14, and the other end is connected to the mixing chamber 10. The exhaust vent 15 is directly opened on the top wall or side wall of the mixing chamber 10. After the first air duct 5 completes the through cooling of the equipment chamber 3, its end is directly introduced into this mixing chamber 10. The hot air carrying the waste heat of the equipment is injected into it. At the same time, the second air duct 6 is led out from the temperature regulating chamber 4, and its exhaust end is also mixed into the mixing chamber 10, and the low temperature air after being cooled by the phase change heat storage material is transported here.

[0029] Furthermore, the cooled airflow in the second air duct 6 is not directly injected into the equipment compartment 3 and comes into direct contact with the equipment, which effectively protects the equipment from the impact of the cold air and prevents condensation from forming on the equipment surface due to rapid cooling. In the mixing compartment 10, the two airflows with different temperatures and flow rates are violently mixed in a limited space. The second warm airflow can directly dilute and cool the high-temperature airflow. According to the principle of heat transfer, a lower exhaust temperature means that there is a larger average temperature difference between the internal environment and the external environment of the cabinet 1. Thus, under the same exhaust flow rate, a more efficient heat removal driving force is formed, which improves the overall efficiency limit of the heat dissipation system and helps to reduce the workload of the first fan 7 and the second fan 8.

[0030] In one embodiment, a turbulence structure 11 is provided in the first air duct 5 to increase the contact area between the airflow and the hot end face of the thermoelectric generator 9 located on its inner wall. The turbulence structure 11 can be a discrete convex matrix or staggered wing-shaped fins. The turbulence structure 11 is located at the front end of the thermoelectric generator 9. When the air carrying heat flows through these structures, a continuous flow of air is generated, and the air then adheres to the vortex and falls off, so that the high-temperature air in the core area is continuously swept across the heated surface of the thermoelectric generator 9. This active thermal stirring effect not only effectively reduces the thermal resistance of the hot end face of the thermoelectric generator 9, ensuring that it can quickly respond to the temperature change of the airflow, but also enables the thermoelectric generator 9 to obtain a higher actual operating temperature under the same air volume and inlet air temperature, thereby directly increasing the usable temperature difference between it and the cold end face.

[0031] Structural principle: The cabinet is divided into an equipment compartment 3 and a temperature-regulating compartment 4 by a partition 2. In the equipment compartment 3, the first air duct 5 achieves forced air cooling with the help of the first fan 7. The temperature-regulating compartment 4 is filled with phase change heat storage material and exchanges heat with the second air duct 6 that runs through it. Thermoelectric generator 9 spans the two compartments. Its hot end is placed in the first air duct 5 to capture waste heat, and its cold end is connected to the phase change heat storage material. At the same time, the control device automatically switches the working mode according to the temperature of the equipment compartment 3. When the temperature is low, only the first fan 7 is started. When the temperature is high, the second fan 8 is started simultaneously. The cold air output from the second air duct 6 is mixed with the hot air from the first air duct 5 in the mixing compartment 10 and then discharged, which improves the heat dissipation efficiency and avoids condensation on the equipment. The high temperature difference in the first air duct 5 drives the thermoelectric generator 9 to generate electricity and store it, forming a synergistic energy-saving closed loop of heat dissipation and waste heat recovery for self-powered electricity.

[0032] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions falling within the scope of the present invention's concept are within the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, any improvements and modifications made without departing from the principles of the present invention should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An energy saving electrical equipment control cabinet characterized by, It includes the cabinet, cooling device, thermoelectric recovery device, and control device for linking the cooling device and thermoelectric recovery device; The interior of the cabinet is divided into an equipment compartment and a temperature-controlled compartment by partitions; The cooling device includes a first air duct and a second air duct that are isolated from each other. A first fan is installed in the first air duct and is used to regulate the heat exchange in the equipment compartment. A second fan is installed in the second air duct and is used to regulate the heat exchange in the temperature regulating compartment. The thermoelectric recovery device includes a plurality of thermoelectric generators, the hot end face of which is disposed on the inner wall of the first air duct, and the cold end face extends into the temperature regulating chamber. The control device includes a threshold comparison module and an execution switch group controlled by the threshold comparison module. The threshold comparison module is used to compare the temperature of the equipment compartment with the temperature threshold. The execution switch group is connected to the power supply circuits of the first fan and the second fan respectively. When the temperature inside the equipment compartment is lower than the temperature threshold, the execution switch group only connects to the power supply circuit of the first fan. When the temperature inside the equipment compartment reaches or exceeds the temperature threshold, the execution switch group simultaneously connects the power supply circuits of the first fan and the second fan.

2. The energy-saving electrical equipment control cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The temperature-regulating chamber is equipped with an energy storage battery pack and a phase change thermal storage material filled around the energy storage battery pack. The power output terminal of the thermoelectric generator is electrically connected to the energy storage battery pack.

3. The energy-saving electrical equipment control cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cold end face of the thermoelectric generator is in contact with the phase change thermal storage material through a heat spreader.

4. The energy-saving electrical equipment control cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first air duct is connected to an air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet is located at the bottom of the equipment compartment. A mixing compartment is provided at the top of the cabinet. The air outlet is located at the mixing compartment. One end of the second air duct is connected to the air inlet, and the other end leads into the mixing compartment.

5. The energy-saving electrical equipment control cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first air duct is equipped with a turbulence structure to increase the contact area between the airflow and the hot end face of the thermoelectric generator plate located on its inner wall.

6. The energy-saving electrical equipment control cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that: The phase change thermal storage material is independently encapsulated by several shells, and the second air duct passes through the spaces between these shells.

7. The energy-saving electrical equipment control cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that: The phase change thermal storage material is at least one of paraffin-based, fatty acid-based, or hydrated salt-based phase change materials.

8. The energy-saving electrical equipment control cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that: The energy storage battery pack is also connected to an external power supply circuit, and the control device is configured to prioritize the use of the energy storage battery pack's power to supply the first fan, the second fan, and the control device itself.

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