Anti-condensation energy-saving electric energy metering box

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical fields of smart grid terminal metering equipment, in particular to an anti-condensation energy-saving electric energy metering box, which comprises a box body and a meter arranged inside the box body, a dehumidification mechanism is arranged inside the box body and used for dehumidifying the inside of the box body when the outside air temperature drops to a preset temperature; a heat insulation member is arranged on the side wall of the box body and used for delaying the speed of the inside temperature of the box body approaching the outside low temperature. The present application delays the temperature drop rate of the inside of the box body by arranging the heat insulation member when the outside air temperature drops suddenly, and reduces the risk of water vapor condensation caused by the inside wall of the box body cooling first. At the same time, the outside low temperature is introduced into the inside of the box body by using a heat conduction mechanism, and temporary auxiliary condensation is provided before the dehumidification mechanism enters the normal dehumidification mode within the temperature drop window period obtained by the heat insulation member, thereby reducing the condensation water amount on the inside wall of the box body in this period.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of smart grid terminal metering equipment technology, and more specifically, to an anti-condensation energy-saving electricity metering box. Background Technology

[0002] The construction of smart grids is based on Advanced Metering Systems (AMIs). As a key physical node in AMIs connecting the user side and the distribution network, the reliability of electricity metering boxes directly affects the accuracy of electricity metering data, the success rate of electricity consumption information collection, and the power supply reliability of low-voltage distribution networks. As smart grids continue to extend to the end-user side, metering boxes are being deployed on a large scale in complex environments with drastic temperature and humidity fluctuations, such as outdoors, basements, cable shafts, and rural transformer substations.

[0003] Currently, condensation is one of the main environmental factors causing malfunctions in smart meters and their associated communication terminals and smart circuit breakers. The formation mechanism of condensation can be summarized as follows: when the external ambient temperature drops suddenly (such as through nighttime radiative cooling), causing the temperature of the inner wall of the metering box to fall below the dew point temperature of the humid air inside, supersaturated water vapor in the air will condense into liquid water droplets on the inner wall of the box. These water droplets easily form conductive paths, leading to problems such as phase-to-phase short circuits at the terminals, decreased insulation in the sampling circuit, and inaccurate metering. In severe cases, it can even cause equipment burnout and power outages, seriously restricting the maintenance-free capability and operational lifespan of smart grid terminals.

[0004] To address the hazards of condensation, existing technologies typically incorporate dehumidification mechanisms within the metering chamber to reduce internal humidity. For energy conservation purposes, these dehumidification mechanisms generally do not operate continuously around the clock, but rather activate only after a drop in external ambient temperature is detected. This leads to a significant problem: when the external ambient temperature drops sharply, the dehumidification mechanism often fails to effectively and promptly remove moisture.

[0005] Taking a refrigeration-type dehumidifier as an example, its working principle is to force-cool the air inside the chamber, causing water vapor in the air to condense on a designated low-temperature surface and be discharged. However, when the external ambient temperature drops suddenly, the dehumidifier requires a certain response time from startup to establishing an effective refrigeration and dehumidification state. During this startup delay period, the temperature of the inner wall of the chamber has already dropped and fallen below the air dew point, causing water vapor to condense directly on the chamber wall, thus affecting the anti-condensation effect. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an anti-condensation energy-saving electricity metering box. Through the coordinated operation of insulation and a heat-conducting mechanism, the insulation slows down the cooling rate inside the box, while the heat-conducting mechanism introduces low external temperatures into the box to create a designated condensation surface. This allows water vapor to be captured during the initial response delay of the dehumidification mechanism, thus solving the problem mentioned in the background art: in existing metering boxes, under energy-saving mode, the dehumidification mechanism, due to its on-demand activation, exhibits a response lag, causing water vapor to condense on the inner wall during the initial stage of external cooling, weakening the anti-condensation effect.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the anti-condensation energy-saving electricity metering box includes a box body and a metering device disposed inside the box body. The box body is equipped with a dehumidification mechanism, which dehumidifies the interior of the box body when the outside temperature drops to a preset temperature. It also includes... Thermal insulation components are installed on the side walls of the enclosure and are used to slow down the rate at which the internal temperature of the enclosure approaches the lower external temperature. The heat conduction mechanism, with one end located outside the cabinet and the other extending into the cabinet, is used to transfer low ambient temperatures into the cabinet. When the ambient temperature drops, the heat conduction mechanism provides auxiliary condensation during the initial response phase before the dehumidification mechanism enters effective dehumidification mode. A flow guide, located below the heat conduction mechanism, is used to guide the condensate generated during the operation of the heat conduction mechanism to the outside of the housing.

[0008] The heat insulation component includes an aerogel felt and aluminum foil laminated to its two sides.

[0009] In the above technical solution, the insulation component is used to slow down the cooling rate inside the chamber, reducing the risk of condensation occurring prematurely on the inner wall. During the dehumidification mechanism's activation delay period, the heat conduction mechanism utilizes the low ambient temperature to create a designated condensation surface, preemptively capturing water vapor. The flow guide component discharges the condensate. Thus, through the segmented coordination of passive pre-condensation and active dehumidification, on-demand dehumidification and energy-saving operation are achieved.

[0010] Based on this, the heat conduction mechanism includes multiple heat conduction rods with their bottom ends inserted into the interior of the box. One end of each heat conduction rod inside the box is provided with multiple layers of second fins, and the other end is provided with multiple layers of first fins. The second fin is inclined to guide the condensate on its surface to the guide element.

[0011] The sidewall of the second fin is provided with a heat dissipation fan, and the airflow direction of the heat dissipation fan is directed toward the gap between the multiple layers of the second fin, in order to accelerate the flow of gas in the housing through the second fin.

[0012] Based on this, the heat-conducting rod has an internal cavity filled with a liquid working fluid, which is one of electronic fluorinated liquid, pentafluoropropane, or carbon dioxide. In this way, the liquid working fluid absorbs heat at the bottom of the heat-conducting rod, transforms into a gaseous state, rises to the top of the heat-conducting rod, dissipates heat outward, and then re-condenses into a liquid state, thus forming a cycle.

[0013] Based on this, the dehumidification mechanism includes a semiconductor cooling chip embedded in the mounting plate. The hot end of the semiconductor cooling chip is connected to a heat sink, and the cold end is connected to a heat pipe. The top end of the heat pipe extends upward and penetrates between multiple layers of second fins, and is located in the airflow path of the cooling fan. The mounting plate is parallel to the inclined second fin and fixed to the bottom of the lowest second fin, and is located above the flow guide to guide the condensate on the surface of the heat pipe to the flow guide.

[0014] Based on this, the flow guide includes a flow guide groove fixed inside the housing and located below the lower end of the second fin, for receiving condensate flowing down from the lower end of the second fin; The guide channel is inclined, with its lower end extending outward through the side wall of the box to guide the condensate to the outside.

[0015] In another technical solution, a sensor fixed to the side wall of the box is provided above the flow channel, and the detection end of the sensor faces the inside of the flow channel so that the sensing range of the sensor covers the flow path of the condensate in the flow channel. The sensor is configured such that when condensate flows through the sensor in the guide channel, the sensor sends a control signal to the controller that controls the dehumidification mechanism to start the dehumidification mechanism.

[0016] This technical solution uses sensors to directly detect whether there is condensate flowing within the drainage channel to determine if there is excessive water vapor inside the chamber. The dehumidification mechanism is only triggered when condensate is generated and flows through the sensor, thus avoiding ineffective operation caused by relying solely on temperature thresholds and achieving on-demand dehumidification and precise energy-saving control.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: Compared to the control box with only an insulation layer, this embodiment uses a heat-conducting mechanism to capture water vapor in advance, which delays the time when condensation first appears on the inner wall of the box by about 2 hours, and reduces the number of times the dehumidification mechanism is started by about 60% per day.

[0018] This anti-condensation energy-saving electricity metering box incorporates thermal insulation components to slow down the rate of temperature drop inside the box when the outside temperature plummets, reducing the risk of water vapor condensation on the inner walls due to premature cooling. Simultaneously, a heat-conducting mechanism guides the low outside temperature into the box, directing water vapor to preferentially condense on the second fin surface during the cooling window provided by the insulation components. This provides temporary auxiliary condensation before the dehumidification mechanism enters normal dehumidification mode, reducing the amount of condensate on the inner walls during this period.

[0019] In addition, the dehumidification mechanism is determined by the heat conduction mechanism and the sensor. When the outside temperature drops but the inside of the cabinet is actually dry and no condensate is generated, no condensate flows through the sensor in the guide channel, and the dehumidification mechanism remains in standby mode. This can avoid invalid start-up caused by a simple temperature drop, reduce unnecessary operating energy consumption, and achieve precise energy-saving control of dehumidification on demand. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the housing of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the heat insulation component of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the heat conduction mechanism of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the heat conduction mechanism of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the flow guide channel of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the position of the sensor in this invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the dehumidification mechanism of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the clearance groove of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the cavity structure of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second fin of the present invention.

[0021] The meanings of the labels in the diagram are as follows: 100. Cabinet; 101. Cabinet door; 102. Mounting bracket; 103. Meter; 104. Top cover; 110. Thermal insulation component; 111. Aluminum foil; 112. Aerogel felt; 120. Heat conduction mechanism; 121. Heat conduction rod; 122. First fin; 123. Second fin; 124. Cooling fan; 125. Clip; 126. Mounting plate; 127. Clearance groove; 130. Air guide component; 131. Air guide channel; 132. Drain outlet; 133. Sensor; 140. Dehumidification mechanism; 141. Semiconductor cooling chip; 142. Radiator; 143. Heat conduction pipe; 144. Mounting plate; 150. Cavity; 151. Liquid working fluid; 152. Evaporation section; 153. Condensation section. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," 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 limitations on this invention.

[0024] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0025] In the operation of smart grids, metering boxes are typically used to collect electricity metering data and gather electricity consumption information. These metering boxes are widely installed in outdoor environments, and their structure is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, it mainly consists of a housing 100 and a measuring device 103 installed inside the housing 100.

[0026] Structurally, the housing 100 has an open side with a door 101. The door 101 is hinged to the housing 100 and can rotate around the hinge axis to open or close the open side. When the door 101 is open, operators can install, inspect, and replace the measuring instrument 103 inside the housing 100. When the door 101 is closed, the rubber sealing ring embedded in its side wall is compressed and deformed, tightly fitting against the edge of the opening of the housing 100 to form a reliable seal, effectively preventing humid air from entering the housing 100.

[0027] The measuring instrument 103 is mounted on the mounting bracket 102 located inside the housing 100. To facilitate disassembly and maintenance, the mounting bracket 102 and the measuring instrument 103 are connected by a detachable fixing structure such as threaded connection or snap-fit ​​connection.

[0028] In terms of dehumidification, the cabinet 100 is equipped with a dehumidification mechanism 140, which can adopt either heating or cooling working modes.

[0029] The principle of the heating type is to use electric heating elements such as PTC heaters to heat the air inside the chamber. As the air temperature rises, its ability to hold water vapor increases, thereby reducing the relative humidity inside the chamber. At the same time, the temperature of the inner wall of the chamber is raised above the air dew point temperature, preventing water vapor from condensing on the inner wall.

[0030] The principle of the cooling system is to utilize the Peltier effect of the semiconductor cooling chip 141 to create a localized low-temperature surface inside the chamber. When the hot and humid air inside the chamber flows over this surface, it is forcibly cooled to below the dew point temperature, and water vapor condenses into liquid water droplets on the surface, which are then discharged outside the chamber through the drainage channel.

[0031] In practical applications, for energy-saving purposes, regardless of whether a heating or cooling system is used, the dehumidification unit 140 does not operate continuously around the clock. Instead, it controls its start and stop based on the outside temperature conditions. For example, the dehumidification unit 140 only starts working when the outside temperature drops below a preset threshold. This on-demand operation effectively avoids unnecessary energy consumption during periods when there is no risk of condensation.

[0032] To avoid the possibility that the inner wall of the cabinet 100 may have cooled and condensed due to the external temperature drop during the response delay from the start of the dehumidification mechanism 140 to the establishment of an effective dehumidification state, the present invention further provides a heat insulation component 110, a heat conduction mechanism 120 and a flow guide component 130 inside the cabinet 100.

[0033] The heat insulation component 110 is used to block the heat transfer between the inside and outside of the enclosure 100. When the external temperature drops suddenly, it can slow down the rate at which the internal temperature of the enclosure 100 approaches the lower external temperature, so that the cooling process inside the enclosure 100 lags behind the external cooling process.

[0034] In terms of installation location, the thermal insulation element 110 can be disposed on the outer wall, inner wall, or in the interlayer between the inner and outer walls of the enclosure 100. For example, see [reference needed]. Figure 2 In this embodiment, the heat insulation component 110 is disposed on the inner wall of the box 100 and on the side wall of the box door 101 facing the opening side.

[0035] In terms of structural composition, refer to Figure 3 The thermal insulation component 110 mainly consists of an aerogel felt 112 and aluminum foil 111 laminated to its two sides. During installation, the aluminum foil 111 on one side of the aerogel felt 112 is adhered to the inner wall of the enclosure 100 using adhesive and secured with screws. The aluminum foil 111 on the wall-facing side serves the dual purpose of reflecting heat radiation and preventing external moisture from penetrating the aerogel felt 112; while the aluminum foil 111 facing inwards from the enclosure 100 prevents humid air inside the enclosure 100 from seeping into the aerogel felt 112, thus maintaining the long-term stable low thermal conductivity of the thermal insulation component 110.

[0036] To further illustrate the effect of insulation 110 on delaying the cooling process inside the enclosure 100, an estimation is provided based on typical operating conditions. Taking a 5mm thick aerogel felt 112 as an example, its thermal conductivity is approximately 0.018 W / (m·K), while the thermal conductivity of the outer wall of the conventional steel enclosure 100 is approximately 45 W / (m·K), a difference of about three orders of magnitude. When the external environment cools at a rate of 5°C per hour, without insulation 110, the inner wall temperature of the enclosure 100 typically approaches the outside temperature within 0.3 to 0.5 hours; however, with insulation 110 installed, the time required for the inner wall temperature of the enclosure 100 to reach the same level can be extended to 4 to 6 hours or more. In other words, insulation 110 provides a window of several hours for subsequent dehumidification measures to respond and intervene, allowing the interior of the enclosure 100 to maintain a thermal state higher than the external dew point temperature for a longer period, reducing the risk of premature condensation on the inner wall due to rapid external cooling. It should be understood that the above time is an estimated example under specific working conditions, and the delay time in actual applications will vary due to environmental conditions and differences in the structure of the enclosure 100.

[0037] It should be noted that, without departing from the scope of innovation of this invention, the heat insulation component 110 may also adopt other structures or materials, such as evacuating the interior of the heat insulation component 110 to perform heat insulation.

[0038] like Figure 2As shown, one end of the heat-conducting mechanism 120 is located outside the housing 100, and the other end extends into the housing 100, used to transfer the low temperature from the outside to the inside of the housing 100. When the outside temperature drops, during the cooling time window inside the housing 100 delayed by the insulation component 110, the outer end of the heat-conducting mechanism 120 continuously absorbs the cold air from the outside and lowers the surface temperature of the inner end of the housing to below the dew point temperature of the air inside the housing 100 through heat conduction. Therefore, water vapor inside the housing 100 will preferentially condense on the inner end surface of the heat-conducting mechanism 120, rather than directly condensing on the inner wall of the housing 100. In other words, the heat-conducting mechanism 120 can provide auxiliary condensation during the startup response phase before the dehumidification mechanism 140 enters the effective dehumidification mode, thereby effectively reducing the amount of condensate on the inner wall of the housing 100 during this period.

[0039] The guide element 130 is located below the inner end of the heat conduction mechanism 120 to receive the condensate generated during the condensation process and guide it in an orderly manner to the outside of the box 100.

[0040] Specifically, the heat conduction mechanism 120 includes a heat conduction rod 121 and heat dissipation fins disposed at both ends of the heat conduction rod 121. In this invention, the heat conduction rod 121 and the heat dissipation fins are preferably made of copper or aluminum to improve thermal conductivity.

[0041] For installation, since the outer perimeter of the top cover 104 of the enclosure 100 is not obstructed by the enclosure walls and is an open and well-ventilated environment, which is conducive to heat exchange, the installation position of the heat-conducting rod 121 is selected at the top cover 104. See details... Figure 4 The heat-conducting rod 121 vertically penetrates the top cover 104 of the housing 100, with its bottom end extending into the interior of the housing 100 and its top end extending out of the exterior of the housing 100. Multiple heat-conducting rods 121 are arranged in a rectangular array to increase the condensation area and improve condensation efficiency.

[0042] The heat dissipation fins at both ends of the heat-conducting rod 121 are a first fin 122 disposed at its top and a second fin 123 disposed at its bottom. Both the first fin 122 and the second fin 123 adopt a multi-layer structure to increase the heat exchange area. The difference between the two is that the second fin 123 is inclined, which can guide the condensate water condensed on its surface in a directional manner, so that the condensate water flows towards the lower end along the inclined direction; in addition, the overall area of ​​a single second fin 123 covers the arrangement area of ​​multiple heat-conducting rods 121, and multiple heat-conducting rods 121 are fixed together on the same second fin 123, thereby improving the heat conduction uniformity among the heat-conducting rods 121.

[0043] For specific installation instructions, please refer to... Figure 5A mounting plate 126 is welded to the side wall of the heat-conducting rod 121. The mounting plate 126 is fixed to the top of the top cover 104 by bolts or welding, which can fix and support the heat-conducting rod 121 and prevent the weight of the multiple layers of second fins 123 below from pulling the heat-conducting rod 121 downward. Rubber sealing rings are provided at the bottom of the mounting plate 126 and at the part where the outer ring of the heat-conducting rod 121 contacts the housing 100 to improve the sealing performance.

[0044] During operation, when the external environment cools down, the low-temperature air flows through the first fin 122, cooling the top of the heat-conducting rod 121. The heat-conducting rod 121 utilizes its high thermal conductivity to rapidly transfer the low temperature from its top to its bottom, causing the temperature at the bottom of the heat-conducting rod 121 to drop accordingly, thereby simultaneously lowering the surface temperature of the second fin 123. When the surface temperature of the second fin 123 drops below the dew point temperature of the air inside the housing 100, water vapor inside the housing 100 preferentially condenses on the surface of the second fin 123, combined with... Figure 6 At this time, the condensate flows along the inclined surface of the second fin 123 and in the direction of the black arrow into the guide channel 131 (which will be described in detail below).

[0045] Meanwhile, a cooling fan 124 is installed on the side wall of the second fin 123 to accelerate the condensation process. The cooling fan 124 is fixed by a clip 125 on its side wall that engages with a pre-set slot on the second fin 123. Its airflow direction is towards the gaps between the multiple layers of the second fin 123, using forced convection to continuously deliver hot and humid air from inside the housing 100 to the surface of the second fin 123 for heat exchange (see reference). Figure 6 (The direction of the white arrow in the middle).

[0046] It should be noted that upward bends are provided on both sides of the non-inclined end of the second fin 123 to prevent condensate on the surface of the second fin 123 from flowing out through the non-inclined end.

[0047] Reference Figure 6 The flow guide 130 includes a flow guide groove 131 disposed below the lower end of the second fin 123 for receiving condensate flowing down from the lower end of the second fin 123. One end of the flow guide groove 131 is fixed to the inner wall of the housing 100, and the other end extends outward through the side wall of the housing 100, with the through end being the lower end.

[0048] Structurally, the guide channel 131 is composed of plates that bend upwards into an arc shape on both sides, with both ends closed to form a channel that can accommodate and guide water flow. To ensure timely drainage of condensate, the guide channel 131 is arranged at an angle, with the end that penetrates the side wall of the housing 100 at the lowest position. A drain outlet 132 is provided at this angled low end. The drain outlet 132 has a small diameter, which can reduce the speed at which outside air enters the housing 100 through the drain outlet 132 while draining condensate.

[0049] Therefore, the condensate on the surface of the second fin 123 first flows into the guide channel 131 from its lower end, then flows towards the lower end along the inclined direction of the guide channel 131, and finally is discharged to the outside through the drain outlet 132.

[0050] It is worth mentioning that in the above structural design, the heat conduction mechanism 120 not only replaces the dehumidification mechanism 140 in providing auxiliary condensation, but also provides a basis for determining whether the dehumidification mechanism 140 needs to be activated, further improving the energy-saving effect. This energy-saving technology is specifically described in [reference needed]. Figure 6 and Figure 7 In the illustrated embodiment, a sensor 133 fixed to the side wall of the housing 100 is disposed above the flow channel 131. The sensor 133 can employ capacitive, ultrasonic, or non-contact capacitive sensing methods, with a minimum detectable liquid volume of no more than 0.1 mL. The detection end of the sensor 133 faces the interior of the flow channel 131, ensuring its sensing range covers the flow path of the condensate within the flow channel 131. The sensor 133 is configured to send a control signal to the controller that activates the dehumidification mechanism 140 when condensate flows through it within the flow channel 131. Simultaneously, the controller is also connected to a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor. When the outside temperature is below a preset threshold (e.g., 5°C) and the relative humidity inside the housing is above a preset threshold (e.g., 80%) for more than 10 minutes, the controller will activate the dehumidification mechanism 140 for active dehumidification, even if the sensor 133 does not detect water flow.

[0051] Therefore, when the outside temperature drops, if there is water vapor in the air inside the enclosure 100, the water vapor will condense on the surface of the second fin 123 and flow into the guide channel 131. When the condensate flows through the sensor 133, the sensor 133 sends a control signal to the controller, which then activates the dehumidification mechanism 140. Thereafter, the heat conduction mechanism 120 continues to provide auxiliary condensation until the dehumidification mechanism 140 enters normal dehumidification mode, at which point the dehumidification mechanism 140 takes over the main dehumidification task.

[0052] If there is no water vapor in the air inside the cabinet 100, the external cooling will not cause condensation inside the cabinet 100, no condensation will be generated on the surface of the second fin 123, and no condensation will flow in the guide channel 131. The sensor 133 will not send a control signal to the controller, and the dehumidification mechanism 140 does not need to be started.

[0053] Therefore, compared with some conventional methods that control the start of the dehumidification mechanism 140 based solely on temperature thresholds, this solution uses the heat conduction mechanism 120 in conjunction with the sensor 133 to decide whether the dehumidification mechanism 140 should be started. This avoids invalid start-ups caused by the actual drying inside the chamber due to a simple temperature drop, thereby reducing unnecessary operating energy consumption.

[0054] In addition, the bottom of the flow guide 131 adopts an arc-shaped structure. This arc-shaped design can concentrate all the condensate at the lowest point of the flow guide 131 when the amount of condensate in the flow guide 131 is small, making the liquid flow more concentrated. This ensures that the condensate can be reliably detected by the sensor 133 in the flow path, improves the detection accuracy of the sensor 133, and avoids missed detections due to insufficient water volume or dispersed liquid flow.

[0055] In terms of dehumidification, to complement the condensation dehumidification method of the heat conduction mechanism 120, the dehumidification mechanism 140 in this invention adopts a refrigeration-type dehumidification scheme. For example... Figure 8 As shown, the dehumidification mechanism 140 includes a thermoelectric cooler 141, which is embedded in a hole in the mounting plate 144. The mounting plate 144 is inclined in the same direction as the second fins 123 and is fixed to the bottom of the lowest second fin 123, above the airflow channel 131, for supporting the thermoelectric cooler 141 and its associated components. The bottom of the thermoelectric cooler 141 is the hot end, connected to a heat sink 142; the top of the thermoelectric cooler 141 is the cold end, connected to a heat pipe 143. Both the heat sink 142 and the heat pipe 143 are fixed to the mounting plate 144 to maintain structural stability. The top end of the heat pipe 143 extends upward and penetrates between the multiple layers of second fins 123, and is located in the airflow path of the cooling fan 124.

[0056] The heat sink 142 at the hot end of the semiconductor cooling chip 141 is also equipped with a heat pipe (not shown in the figure). The heat pipe is located outside the box and can directly dissipate the heat of the heat sink 142 to the outside of the box.

[0057] During operation, after the thermoelectric cooler 141 is activated, the cooling energy generated at its cold end is transferred to the heat pipe 143, causing the surface temperature of the heat pipe 143 to decrease. Since the heat pipe 143 is located in the airflow path of the cooling fan 124, the air inside the chamber 100 continuously flows over the surface of the heat pipe 143 under forced convection. Water vapor condenses on the surface of the heat pipe 143 as condensate. The condensate flows onto the surface of the thermoelectric cooler 141 and then flows through the lower end of the thermoelectric cooler 141 into the guide groove 131, thereby achieving active dehumidification of the chamber 100.

[0058] In addition, combined Figure 9In one embodiment, to prevent the heat pipe 143 from directly contacting the second fin 123 and causing the cold energy to be conducted to the outside via the second fin 123, a clearance groove 127 is provided at the part of the second fin 123 where the heat pipe 143 enters. This maintains a gap between the heat pipe 143 and the second fin 123, ensuring that the cold energy is concentrated on the surface of the heat pipe 143 and guaranteeing dehumidification efficiency. This embodiment is particularly suitable for schemes where the heat-conducting rod 121 has a solid structure. In this case, if the heat pipe 143 and the second fin 123 are in direct contact, the cold energy of the heat pipe 143 will be conducted to the first fin 122 outside the chamber via the second fin 123 and the heat-conducting rod 121 and dissipated, resulting in a waste of cold energy.

[0059] Not only that, Figure 10 The illustrated embodiment discloses another structural form of the heat-conducting rod 121. For example... Figure 10 As shown, the heat-conducting rod 121 is a hollow structure with an internal cavity 150. The cavity 150 is filled with a liquid working fluid 151. The liquid working fluid 151 absorbs heat at the bottom of the heat-conducting rod 121, transforms into a gaseous state, rises to the top of the heat-conducting rod 121, dissipates heat outward, and re-condenses into a liquid state, thus forming a cycle. Therefore, an evaporation section 152 is formed at the bottom of the heat-conducting rod 121, and a condensation section 153 is formed at the top.

[0060] The liquid working fluid 151 can be selected from electronic fluorinated liquid, pentafluoropropane, carbon dioxide, etc. It should be noted that the heat-conducting rod 121 preferably adopts a thickened structure to prevent leakage of the liquid working fluid 151.

[0061] Taking pentafluoropropane as an example, during operation, the bottom end of the heat-conducting rod 121 at the evaporation section 152 contacts the air inside the chamber 100 and absorbs heat. The liquid pentafluoropropane absorbs heat and evaporates into a gaseous state; this is the evaporation heat absorption stage. Taking a typical condensation condition as an example, when the air temperature inside the chamber 100 is approximately 20°C, the heat exchange temperature at the evaporation section 152 can usually be maintained in the range of 15-18°C, and the corresponding saturated vapor pressure inside the cavity 150 is generally slightly higher than atmospheric pressure. The gaseous pentafluoropropane rises along the cavity 150 to the top of the heat-conducting rod 121 at the condensation section 153, contacts the low-temperature outside air, releases heat, and condenses into a liquid state; this is the condensation heat release stage. When the ambient temperature drops to approximately 10°C, the heat exchange temperature at the condensation section 153 can usually be maintained in the range of 12-15°C, and the corresponding saturated vapor pressure inside the cavity 150 is generally in the negative pressure range slightly lower than atmospheric pressure. The pressure difference between the evaporation section 152 and the condensation section 153 is relatively small. This pressure difference serves as the driving force for the flow of gaseous pentafluoropropane from the evaporation section 152 to the condensation section 153, thus maintaining the phase change cycle. The condensed liquid pentafluoropropane flows back to the evaporation section 152 along the inner wall of the cavity 150 under the action of gravity, completing a complete phase change cycle.

[0062] In terms of heat exchange performance, the heat-conducting rod 121, which uses pentafluoropropane as the working substance 151, typically has an equivalent thermal conductivity that is several to tens of times higher than that of a solid copper rod of the same size. Taking a heat-conducting rod 121 with a diameter of 8 mm and a length of approximately 300 mm as an example, under typical operating conditions where the temperature difference between the evaporation section 152 and the condensation section 153 is 5-10℃, the axial heat transfer power of a single heat-conducting rod 121 is approximately in the range of several watts to over ten watts. The convective heat transfer coefficient between the surface of the second fin 123 and the air inside the casing 100, under the condition of airflow from the cooling fan 124, is approximately in the range of over ten W / (m²·K) to tens of W / (m²·K). When the surface temperature of the second fin 123 drops below the dew point and enters the condensation condition, the condensation rate is affected by the temperature difference, wind speed, and humidity, and it usually takes a certain amount of time to reduce the humidity inside the casing to a safe level.

[0063] Regarding the startup response, the startup time required for the heat-conducting rod 121 to establish a stable phase change cycle from room temperature is typically in the range of several minutes to over ten minutes; the cooling time required for the surface of the second fin 123 to drop from its initial temperature to below the dew point temperature, with the assistance of the cooling fan 124, is approximately in the range of over ten minutes to several tens of minutes. In summary, the total response time of the heat-conducting mechanism 120 from triggering external cooling conditions to the start of effective condensation and dehumidification, within the cooling window period secured by the insulation component 110, can assist in the pre-condensation effect.

[0064] Under critical operating conditions with small day-night temperature differences, such as when the temperature inside the chamber 100 is about 20°C and the outside temperature is about 15°C, the temperature difference between the evaporation section 152 and the condensation section 153 is further reduced, and the pressure difference between the two ends may drop to a lower level, so the phase change cycle can be maintained.

[0065] During daytime operation, when the outside temperature is higher than the internal temperature of the enclosure 100, the top of the condensation section 153 is heated, and pentafluoropropane evaporates into a gaseous state at the condensation section 153. However, because the condensation section 153 is the highest physical point of the heat-conducting rod 121, the gaseous pentafluoropropane has a high density and lacks upward flow driving force, making it difficult to flow back into the evaporation section 152. The circulation naturally stops, and the heat-conducting rod 121 is in a thermally blocked state. Therefore, the heat-conducting rod 121 also functions as a thermal diode.

[0066] It should be understood that the above data are merely examples of estimated ranges under specific structural dimensions and normal operating conditions, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Specific values ​​in actual applications will vary within a reasonable range due to differences in parameters such as the diameter and length of the heat-conducting rod 121, the amount of working medium 151 filled, the fin area and spacing of the second fin 123, the airflow and speed of the cooling fan 124, and ambient temperature and humidity.

[0067] Furthermore, with this structure, because the heat transfer of the heat-conducting rod 121 is directional, its bottom end will not transfer cold energy to the outside when it encounters cooling. Therefore, combined with Figure 11 In another embodiment, the heat pipe 143 can directly penetrate and contact the second fin 123. In this way, the cooling energy generated by the heat pipe 143 can be conducted to the second fin 123, making the surface of the second fin 123 a low-temperature condensation surface. Although the second fin 123 is in contact with the bottom end of the heat-conducting rod 121, because the temperature of the bottom end of the heat-conducting rod 121 decreases, the liquid working fluid 151 in the cavity 150 will not evaporate into a gaseous state, the phase change cycle cannot start, and the heat-conducting rod 121 is in a thermally blocked state. External heat and cold cannot be transferred through the heat-conducting rod 121, and naturally, the cooling energy at the second fin 123 will not be lost to the outside. At this time, the heat pipe 143 can expand the effective condensation area through the second fin 123 to dehumidify the gas inside the housing 100, thereby improving dehumidification efficiency.

[0068] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely preferred examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A condensation-resistant, energy-saving electricity metering box, comprising a box body (100) and a metering device (103) disposed inside the box body (100), characterized in that, The enclosure (100) is equipped with a dehumidification mechanism (140), which is used to dehumidify the interior of the enclosure (100) when the outside temperature drops to a preset temperature; it also includes A heat insulation element (110) is provided on the side wall of the enclosure (100) and is used to slow down the rate at which the internal temperature of the enclosure (100) approaches the lower temperature of the outside. The heat conduction mechanism (120) has one end located outside the box (100) and the other end extending into the box (100) to transfer the low temperature from the outside to the box (100). When the outside temperature drops, the heat conduction mechanism (120) provides auxiliary condensation function in the start-up response stage before the dehumidification mechanism (140) enters the effective dehumidification mode. as well as A flow guide (130) is provided below the heat conduction mechanism (120) to guide the condensate generated during the operation of the heat conduction mechanism (120) to the outside of the housing (100).

2. The anti-condensation energy-saving electricity metering box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thermal insulation component (110) includes an aerogel felt (112) and aluminum foil (111) respectively laminated to its two sides.

3. The anti-condensation energy-saving electricity metering box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat conduction mechanism (120) includes multiple heat conduction rods (121) with their bottom ends inserted into the interior of the housing (100). One end of the heat conduction rod (121) inside the housing (100) is provided with multiple layers of second fins (123), and the other end is provided with multiple layers of first fins (122). The second fin (123) is inclined to guide the condensate on its surface to the guide member (130).

4. The anti-condensation energy-saving electricity metering box according to claim 3, characterized in that, The sidewall of the second fin (123) is provided with a heat dissipation fan (124), and the air blowing direction of the heat dissipation fan (124) is toward the gap between the multiple layers of the second fin (123) to accelerate the flow of gas from the housing (100) through the second fin (123).

5. The anti-condensation energy-saving electricity metering box according to claim 3, characterized in that, The heat-conducting rod (121) has a cavity (150) inside, which is filled with a liquid working medium (151). The liquid working medium (151) can absorb heat at the bottom of the heat-conducting rod (121) and turn into a gaseous state. After rising to the top of the heat-conducting rod (121), it dissipates heat outward and re-condenses into a liquid state, thus forming a cycle.

6. The anti-condensation energy-saving electricity metering box according to claim 5, characterized in that, The liquid working medium (151) is one of electronic fluorinated liquid, pentafluoropropane, and carbon dioxide.

7. The anti-condensation energy-saving electricity metering box according to claim 3, characterized in that, The dehumidification mechanism (140) includes a semiconductor cooling chip (141) embedded in the mounting plate (144). The hot end of the semiconductor cooling chip (141) is connected to a heat sink (142), and the cold end is connected to a heat pipe (143). The top end of the heat pipe (143) extends upward and penetrates between multiple layers of second fins (123), and is located in the air delivery path of the cooling fan (124). The mounting plate (144) is parallel to the inclined second fin (123) and fixed to the bottom of the lowest second fin (123), and is above the guide member (130) to guide the condensate condensed on the surface of the heat pipe (143) to the guide member (130).

8. The anti-condensation energy-saving electricity metering box according to claim 7, characterized in that, A clearance groove (127) is provided at the part of the second fin (123) where the heat pipe (143) is inserted, so that a gap is maintained between the heat pipe (143) and the second fin (123).

9. The anti-condensation energy-saving electricity metering box according to claim 3, characterized in that, The flow guide (130) includes a flow guide groove (131) fixed inside the housing (100) and located below the lower end of the second fin (123), for receiving condensate flowing down from the lower end of the second fin (123); The guide channel (131) is inclined, with its lower end extending outward through the side wall of the box (100) to guide the condensate to the outside.

10. The anti-condensation energy-saving electricity metering box according to claim 9, characterized in that, A sensor (133) fixed to the side wall of the box (100) is provided above the flow channel (131). The detection end of the sensor (133) faces the inside of the flow channel (131), so that the sensing range of the sensor (133) covers the flow path of the condensate in the flow channel (131). The sensor (133) is configured such that when condensate flows through the flow channel (131), the sensor (133) sends a control signal to the controller that controls the dehumidification mechanism (140) to start the dehumidification mechanism (140).

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