Explosion-proof enclosures with active heat management via heat exchange

Abstract

Enclosure system that includes: a case (102), a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger (120) comprises a first heat exchange component connected to a second heat exchange component, wherein the first heat exchange component is connected to the interior of the housing (102) and the second heat exchange component is arranged outside the housing, characterized in that the enclosure system further comprises: a control system, wherein the control system comprises a control device and a sensor coupled to the control device, the sensor actively or passively monitoring the conditions inside the housing and the control device being configured to switch the heat exchanger (120) on or off based on the conditions detected by the sensor.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates generally to explosion-proof enclosures and in particular to explosion-proof enclosures with active heat management capabilities by means of a heat exchanger. background

[0002] Automation equipment can be used to extend the service life of devices such as motors and pumps and to improve their performance. However, the installation of automation equipment in hazardous or explosive environments is usually avoided because of the heat generated by the components, which could cause an explosion. Hazardous area regulations stipulate that such equipment must be sealed from the surrounding atmosphere so that all potential ignition sources are contained within the enclosure, preventing the propagation of an explosion.

[0003] Enclosures with heat exchangers are disclosed in documents US 2005 / 0133200A1, CN 1873853A and US 5269146A.

[0004] Automation equipment can be housed in an explosion-proof enclosure. Currently available explosion-proof enclosures rely on conductive heat transfer to dissipate the heat generated by the equipment within. However, these enclosures may not dissipate the heat generated by the automation equipment sufficiently, potentially shortening the equipment's lifespan or even leading to an explosion within the enclosure. Therefore, automation equipment is typically installed outside the hazardous area, and long electrical cables are run to the equipment within the hazardous area. However, this arrangement has several disadvantages. For example, it reduces control over the equipment and increases installation and / or maintenance costs.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for an explosion-proof enclosure for automation equipment or other equipment, whereby the explosion-proof enclosure can provide active heat management in a hazardous area. Summary

[0006] The present invention can meet the aforementioned need by providing enclosures with heat exchangers for use in hazardous areas. A "heat exchanger" is defined here as a device that transfers heat from one medium to another medium or to the environment. Heat exchangers help regulate the internal temperature of an enclosure by actively cooling or heating the equipment housed within it.

[0007] The enclosures of the present invention include a heat exchanger device coupled to them. According to some aspects, the heat exchanger is a thermoelectric cooler, a shell-tube heat exchanger, a plate heat exchanger, or a spiral heat exchanger. The enclosures contain the equipment housed therein. A heat exchanger is connected to the internal equipment and the external environment and actively transfers heat from the interior of the enclosure to the outside in order to dissipate the heat generated by the equipment in the enclosure. According to certain aspects of the invention, the heat exchanger actively transfers heat from outside the enclosure into the enclosure in order to heat the equipment in the enclosure. According to certain aspects of the invention, the heat exchanger device is controlled by a control system comprising a sensor and a control unit.

[0008] The enclosures may still contain at least one fan near the heat exchanger device. The fan may be located inside the enclosure or mounted on the outside of the enclosure. The fan may be controlled by a control system with a sensor and a control unit.

[0009] These and other aspects, tasks and features of the invention are clarified for the person skilled in the art by the following detailed description of exemplary and preferred embodiments. Brief description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view of an explosion-proof enclosure according to an exemplary embodiment, with the cover removed. Fig. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the explosion-proof enclosure of Fig. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment. Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

[0010] This application describes enclosures with active heat management capabilities. The enclosures include a heat exchanger that facilitates the removal of heat from the interior of the enclosure. The enclosures can be used for general purposes and in hazardous areas.

[0011] The present invention is illustrated by the following description of non-restrictive embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0012] Fig. 1 and Fig.Figure 2 shows a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of an explosion-proof enclosure 100, with the cover (not shown) removed. The enclosure 100 comprises 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 wall, the bottom wall, and the two side walls 102a, 102b, and 102c. In certain embodiments, the housing 102 is constructed of aluminum and meets the NEMA 7 standard for indoor and outdoor use in accordance with Class I, Group A, B, C, or D.

[0013] The enclosure 100 further comprises automation devices 110, which are arranged in the cavity 102e and coupled to the rear wall 102d. In alternative embodiments, the automation devices 110 may be coupled to the upper wall 102a, the lower wall 102b, or one of the side walls 102c. The automation devices 110 generate heat in the enclosure 100, which can be dissipated to maintain a desired temperature within the enclosure 100. In certain embodiments, the automation devices 110 may include a control device, such as a frequency converter, which controls the frequency of the current supplied to an external device, such as a pump or motor (not shown). In certain embodiments, the automation devices 110 may further include a transformer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), and / or a line choke.

[0014] The housing 100 also contains a heat exchanger system comprising a heat exchanger 120 and a plate 130. The heat exchanger 120 is coupled to the outside of the housing 102. The heat exchanger 120 can be coupled to the housing 102 in any manner, for example by a screw connection or by bolting a flange (not shown) attached to the heat exchanger 120 to the housing 102. In certain alternative embodiments, the heat exchanger 120 can also be arranged near the housing 102 but not attached to it.

[0015] The plate 130 of the heat exchanger system is arranged in the cavity 102e. In certain embodiments, the plate 130 is coupled to the automation devices 110. In certain embodiments, the plate 130 is also coupled to the side wall 102c. The plate 130 is made of a thermally conductive material. Suitable examples of thermally conductive materials include copper, aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, as well as metal alloys and thermally conductive polymers. In certain embodiments, the plate 130 can be composed of several thin plates. The size and shape of the plate 130 can be configured based on the desired heating or cooling capacity. In certain embodiments, the plate 130 is made of copper or aluminum.

[0016] The heat exchanger 120 is connected to the plate 130 via an inlet pipe 134 and an outlet pipe 136. The inlet and outlet pipes 134 and 136 are connected to the heat exchanger 120 and the plate 130 through the side wall 102c. The inlet and outlet pipes 134 and 136 may be sealed in the side wall 102c to maintain the resistance of the housing 100 to a hazardous environment. In certain embodiments, the automation devices dissipate 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) in the plate 130 and absorbs heat from the plate 130 before exiting the housing 100 as a heated fluid via the outlet pipe 136. The heated fluid returns to the heat exchanger 120, where it is cooled again before returning to the plate 130 via the inlet pipe 134.

[0017] In certain alternative embodiments, the enclosure 100 can contain components (not shown) that require heating. In this case, a heated fluid flows from the heat exchanger 120 through the inlet pipe 134. The heated fluid enters the cavity (not shown) in the plate 130 and transfers heat to the plate 130, which in turn heats the components in the enclosure before the fluid exits the enclosure 100 through the outlet pipe 136 as a cooled fluid. The cooled fluid returns to the heat exchanger 120, where it is reheated before returning to the plate 130 via the inlet pipe 134.

[0018] The heat exchanger systems of the present invention can comprise any devices for heating and / or cooling equipment within the housing 100 by means of heat transfer. Suitable examples of heat exchanger devices are Peltier devices or thermoelectric coolers, shell-tube heat exchangers, plate heat exchangers, and spiral heat exchangers. In certain embodiments, the heat exchanger device is integrated into the housing 102, wherein a first part of the heat exchanger device is connected to the interior of the housing 100 and a second part of the heat exchanger device is arranged outside the housing 100.

[0019] In certain embodiments, a fan (not shown) can be arranged in the housing 102 near the plate 130 to aid heat exchange. The fan can be powered by an internal power supply such as a battery (not shown) or receive power from a source (not shown) outside the housing 100. In certain alternative embodiments, a fan (not shown) can be mounted externally on the housing 102 to aid heat transfer. It should be clear to those skilled in the art that many different fan configurations are possible.

[0020] 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 coupled to a control unit that controls the heat exchanger system and / or the fan. The sensor actively or passively monitors the conditions inside the enclosure 100. Based on the conditions inside the enclosure 100, the control unit can switch the heat exchanger system and / or the fan on or off. For example, the sensor may be a thermometer that detects the temperature inside the enclosure 100. If the sensor indicates that the temperature inside the enclosure 100 is too high, the control unit switches on the heat exchanger system and / or the fan inside the enclosure 100 to dissipate heat from the enclosure 102 to the outside.And if the sensor indicates that the temperature in the enclosure 100 is low, the control unit can switch on the heat exchanger system and / or a fan mounted externally on the enclosure 100 to heat the air inside. In some embodiments, the control system passively cycles on and off. For example, the control system can cycle such that the heat exchanger system and / or a fan are active for ten minutes every thirty minutes. In certain embodiments, the control system includes a sensor that can detect changes in humidity inside the enclosure 100. If the sensor detects that the relative humidity inside the enclosure 100 is too high, the control system can switch on a fan inside the enclosure 100.In certain other embodiments, the control system includes a sensor that can determine whether an explosion has occurred by detecting a rapid change in temperature or pressure. Upon detecting an internal explosion, the sensor reports the change of state to the control device, which in turn reports the change of state to a local display (not shown) or wirelessly to a remote location. It should be clear to those skilled in the art that the control system can be programmed in various ways to meet the specifications of a particular area and can include different types of sensors to determine different states within the enclosure 100. In certain embodiments, the control system is operated wirelessly by a user at a remote location.

[0021] The present invention is thus well-developed to achieve the aforementioned objectives and advantages, as well as other inherent objectives and advantages. The embodiments described here are merely examples, and the present invention can be modified or implemented in an equivalent manner by a person skilled in the art based on the teachings presented here. Thus, while certain exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described, alternative configurations with heat exchangers in conjunction with an enclosure can also be realized by a person skilled in the art. For example, the heat exchanger system can be arranged on any other wall of the enclosure or on another part outside the enclosure.Furthermore, in the described embodiments, only a single heat exchanger is used outside the enclosure; however, any number of heat exchangers can be used on the given models, depending on the desired heat transfer properties. In addition, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention can also be used to actively discharge cold air from the enclosure to the atmosphere. A person skilled in the art can make numerous modifications to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The invention is not limited to the details of the structure described or shown herein and is defined only by the appended claims. It should therefore be clear that the exemplary embodiments described herein can be altered or modified without departing from the scope of the invention.The terminology used in the claims is to be interpreted in its ordinary sense, unless expressly defined otherwise.

Claims

[1] Enclosure system comprising: a case (102), a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger (120) comprises a first heat exchange component connected to a second heat exchange component, wherein the first heat exchange component is connected to the interior of the housing (102) and the second heat exchange component is arranged outside the housing, characterized by , that the enclosure system further includes: a control system, wherein the control system comprises a control device and a sensor coupled to the control device, the sensor actively or passively monitoring the conditions inside the housing and the control device being configured to switch the heat exchanger (120) on or off based on the conditions detected by the sensor. [2] System according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger (120) is selected from the group comprising thermoelectric coolers, shell tube heat exchangers, plate heat exchangers and spiral heat exchangers. [3] System according to claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger component is arranged inside the housing. [4] System according to claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger component is integrated in a wall of the housing. [5] System according to claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger component is coupled to an outer surface of the housing. [6] System according to claim 1, further comprising devices arranged inside the housing and which are to be cooled or heated by the heat exchanger (120). [7] System according to claim 6, wherein the first heat exchanger component is coupled to the devices. [8] System according to claim 6, wherein the first heat exchange component is a cooling plate. [9] System according to claim 1, wherein the housing (102) is sealed. [10] System according to claim 1, further comprising a fan arranged inside the housing or mounted on the outside of the housing (102). [11] System according to claim 10, further comprising a fan coupled to the control system. [12] System according to claim 1, wherein the control system is coupled to the heat exchanger (120). [13] Explosion-proof enclosure system comprising: a housing (102) with an internal cavity, wherein the housing (102) is sealed in accordance with guidelines for hazardous areas, devices arranged in the internal cavity, a heat-conducting plate (130) which is arranged in the cavity near the equipment, a heat exchanger that is located outside the housing, an inlet pipe (134), and an outlet pipe (136), wherein the inlet pipe (134) and the outlet pipe (136) each extend through the housing (102) and connect the heat exchanger (120) to the plate (130), characterized by , that the enclosure system further includes: a control system, wherein the control system comprises a control device and a sensor coupled to the control device, the sensor actively or passively monitoring the conditions inside the housing and the control device being configured to switch the heat exchanger (120) on or off based on the conditions detected by the sensor. [14] System according to claim 13, wherein the plate (130) has an opening formed therein to receive a fluid flowing from the inlet tube (134). [15] System according to claim 13, further comprising a fluid that flows from the heat exchanger (120) through the inlet tube (134) to an opening in the plate (130) and through the outer tube back to the heat exchanger (120). [16] System according to claim 13, wherein the inlet and / or outlet pipe (134, 136) are spiral-shaped. [17] System according to claim 13, wherein the plate (130) comprises several interconnected plates. [18] System according to claim 13, wherein the devices are to be heated or cooled by the heat exchanger (120). [19] System according to claim 13, wherein the inlet and outlet pipe (134, 136) are sealedly coupled to a wall of the housing. [20] System according to claim 13, further comprising a fan arranged in the inner cavity or mounted on the outside of the housing (102). [21] System according to claim 20, wherein the control system is coupled to the fan. [22] System according to claim 13, wherein the control system is coupled to the heat exchanger (120). [23] System according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a temperature measuring device that detects a temperature inside the housing, or the sensor is able to detect a relative humidity inside the housing, or the sensor is able to determine whether an explosion has occurred by detecting a rapid change in temperature or pressure.

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