Power electronics system

Abstract

This power electronics system comprises: a housing that is installed outdoors; a power electronics device that is disposed inside the housing; and an exhaust duct that is attached to the housing and that is long in the vertical direction. The housing has a first intake port provided on one side surface, and a first exhaust port provided at a lower part of another side surface opposite the one side surface. The exhaust duct is attached to the other side surface so as to cover the first exhaust port, and has a second exhaust port provided to an upper part of at least one of the side surfaces that are opposite each other in the width direction, and a snow protection filter provided to the second exhaust port.

Description

Power Electronics Systems

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power electronics system, and more particularly to a power electronics system including a housing installed outdoors and a power electronics device disposed inside the housing.

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a power conversion system as a power electronics system. This power conversion system includes a housing that is installed outdoors. An air intake port is formed on the side of the housing as a ventilation opening. By covering the air intake port, rainwater is prevented from entering the housing where the power electronics device is placed through the air intake port.

[0003] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-131429

[0004] Incidentally, power electronics systems are sometimes installed in snowy regions. In such cases, simply covering the ventilation openings (a collective term for intake and exhaust openings) with a cover can result in the openings of the cover and, ultimately, the ventilation openings themselves being blocked by accumulated snow. When the ventilation openings are blocked by snow, forced ventilation inside the housing cannot be achieved, reducing the cooling capacity of the power electronics equipment. Furthermore, power electronics systems are sometimes installed near residential areas. Because ventilation openings on the side of the housing are a source of noise, it is necessary to reduce the noise level in front of the ventilation openings.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a power electronics system that can reduce noise on the front side of a ventilation opening while preventing the ventilation opening from being blocked by snow, even when the ventilation opening is provided on the side of a housing.

[0006] The first aspect relates to a power electronics system. The power electronics system includes a housing installed outdoors, a power electronics device disposed inside the housing, and an exhaust duct attached to the housing and extending in a vertical direction. The housing has a first air intake port provided on one side surface and a first exhaust port provided in a lower portion of another side surface opposite the first side surface. The exhaust duct is attached to the other side surface so as to cover the first exhaust port, and has a second exhaust port provided in an upper portion of at least one of the side surfaces opposite in the width direction, and a snow filter attached to the second exhaust port.

[0007] A second aspect has the following characteristics in addition to those of the first aspect: The power electronics system further includes an intake duct that is long in the vertical direction and attached to the housing. A first intake port is opened in a lower part of the one side surface. The intake duct is attached to the one side surface so as to cover the first intake port, and includes a second intake port provided in an upper part of at least one of the side surfaces facing each other in the width direction, and a snow filter provided in the second intake port.

[0008] The third aspect has the same features as the first or second aspect, and further has the following characteristics: The snow filter is a metal louver or a metal mesh filter.

[0009] The fourth aspect has the following characteristics in addition to the first aspect: A sound absorbing material is provided on the inner surface of the exhaust duct.

[0010] The fifth aspect has the same features as the second aspect, but further includes the following: a sound absorbing material is provided on the inner surface of the intake duct.

[0011] A sixth aspect of the present invention has the following characteristics in addition to the fourth or fifth aspect: the sound absorbing material is made of metal and resin.

[0012] According to the first aspect, even when the first exhaust port is provided at the bottom of another side surface of the housing, by providing an exhaust duct that covers the first exhaust port, the second exhaust port can be positioned above the first exhaust port. This, combined with providing a snow filter on the second exhaust port, makes it possible to prevent the first exhaust port from being blocked by accumulated snow. Furthermore, noise generated at the first exhaust port is attenuated by being reflected by the inner surface of the exhaust duct. This, combined with the second exhaust port and the snow filter being oriented in the width direction of the exhaust duct, makes it possible to reduce noise on the front side of the exhaust duct.

[0013] According to the second aspect, even when the first air intake port is provided at the bottom of one side surface of the housing, by providing an air intake duct that covers the first air intake port, the second air intake port can be positioned higher than the first air intake port. This, combined with the provision of a snow protection duct at the second air intake port, makes it possible to prevent the first air intake port from being blocked by accumulated snow. Furthermore, noise generated at the first air intake port is attenuated by being reflected by the inner surface of the air intake duct. This, combined with the second air intake port and the snow protection filter being oriented in the width direction of the air intake duct, makes it possible to reduce noise on the front side of the air intake duct.

[0014] According to a third aspect, by configuring the snow filter with a metal louver or a metal mesh filter in consideration of weather resistance when installed outdoors, it is possible to realize a maintenance-free snow filter.

[0015] According to the fourth aspect, when noise is reflected on the inner surface of the exhaust duct, the noise can be further attenuated by the sound-absorbing material. Therefore, in combination with the suppression of exhaust duct vibration by the sound-absorbing material, it is possible to further reduce noise on the front side of the exhaust duct.

[0016] According to the fifth aspect, when noise is reflected on the inner surface of the intake duct, the noise can be further attenuated by the sound-absorbing material. Therefore, in combination with the suppression of vibration of the intake duct by the sound-absorbing material, it is possible to further reduce noise on the front side of the intake duct.

[0017] According to the sixth aspect, by forming the sound absorbing material from metal and resin in consideration of weather resistance when installed outdoors, it is possible to realize maintenance-free sound absorbing material.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a power conversion system according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a left side view schematically showing the power conversion system; FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of an exhaust duct; FIG. 4 is a right side view of the exhaust duct; FIG. 5 is a rear view of the exhaust duct; FIG. 6 is a front view of the exhaust duct; FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of an intake duct; FIG. 8 is a right side view of the exhaust duct; FIG. 9 is a rear view of the exhaust duct; and FIG. 10 is a front view of the exhaust duct.

[0019] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of a power electronics system according to the present disclosure will be described using a power conversion system as an example. Elements common to the various figures are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. Furthermore, in order to simplify the illustrations, illustrations of elements may be omitted as appropriate.

[0020] Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of a power conversion system 1 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a left side view schematically illustrating the power conversion system 1. The power conversion system 1 includes a housing 2 installed outdoors, a power conversion device 20 disposed inside the housing 2, an exhaust duct 3 attached to the housing 2 and extending in the vertical direction, and an intake duct 4 attached to the housing 2 and extending in the vertical direction. Hereinafter, terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear are based on Figs. 1 and 2, and the left-right direction may also be referred to as the width direction.

[0021] The housing 2 is made of metal and is formed, for example, in a box shape (a rectangular parallelepiped shape elongated in the left-right direction in the example shown in FIG. 1 ). Three doors 21 are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction on the front side surface (hereinafter referred to as the “front surface”) of the housing 2. These doors 21 constitute a part of the front surface of the housing 2. Similarly, three doors 22 are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction on the rear side surface (hereinafter referred to as the “rear surface”) opposite the front surface of the housing 2. These doors 22 constitute a part of the rear surface of the housing 2. Although not shown, the interior of the housing 2 is divided into three areas in the longitudinal direction, and doors 21, 22 are provided corresponding to each area. By opening these doors 21, 22, for example, maintenance of the interior of the housing 2 can be performed. Note that the housing 2 is not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped shape and may be formed in a cubic shape. Furthermore, it is sufficient that one door 21, 22 is provided for each area.

[0022] The lower part of the door 21 is provided with an exhaust port (first exhaust port) 211 that penetrates the door 21 in the thickness direction and exhausts air from the interior of the housing 2. An exhaust duct 3 is detachably attached to the door 21 so as to cover the exhaust port 211. Similarly, the lower part of the door 22 is provided with an intake port (first intake port) 221 that penetrates the door 22 in the thickness direction and introduces air into the interior of the housing 2. The lower parts of the doors 21 and 22 refer to the portions that are half or less (preferably one-third or less) of the height in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, an intake port 222 is also provided at the upper part of the door 22 to ensure the amount of intake air required for forced ventilation. However, it is sufficient that at least one intake port 221 is provided. Note that providing the intake ports 221 and 222 at the top and bottom reduces the amount of air that passes through the filter 24 (described later) compared to when only one intake port 221 is provided, thereby extending the life of the filter 24. An intake duct 4 is detachably attached to the door 21 so as to cover the intake ports 221 and 222. Bolts (not shown), for example, are used to attach the exhaust duct 3 and the intake duct 4. Depending on the amount of intake air required for forced ventilation, it is sufficient to provide the intake port 221 at the bottom of the door 21, and it is not necessarily necessary to provide the intake port 222.

[0023] In addition to the power conversion device 20, which is cooled by forced ventilation, a fan 23 for forcibly discharging air from the exhaust port 211 and a filter 24 for filtering air flowing in from the intake ports 221 and 222 are disposed inside the housing 2. For example, a known HEPA filter can be used as the filter 24. This prevents foreign matter from entering the housing 2. Note that the fan 23 is stopped during maintenance, and a wind pressure shutter can be provided to prevent foreign matter from entering the housing 2 through the exhaust port 211 while the fan 23 is stopped.

[0024] Fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the exhaust duct 3. Fig. 4 is a right side view of the exhaust duct 3. Fig. 5 is a rear view of the exhaust duct 3. Fig. 6 is a front view of the exhaust duct 3.

[0025] The exhaust duct 3 is made of metal such as stainless steel, and has a box-shaped main body 31 and a connecting portion 32 that extends rearward from a lower main body portion 311 (described later) of the main body 31. A tip opening 321 of the connecting portion 32 has an outline that is slightly larger than the exhaust port 211. A flange 322 that defines the tip opening 321 is fixed to the door 21 with bolts. This allows communication between the exhaust port 211 and the internal space of the exhaust duct 3.

[0026] The main body 31 includes a lower main body portion 311 with which the connecting portion 32 is integrally formed, an upper main body portion 312 having a width wider than that of the lower main body portion 311, and an intermediate portion 313 interposed between the lower main body portion 311 and the upper main body portion 312. The left-right width of the lower main body portion 311 is set to be greater than the width of the exhaust port 211. The intermediate portion 313 is formed so that its width gradually narrows toward the top. By making the width of the upper main body portion 312 narrower than that of the lower main body portion 311, the exhaust duct 3 can be made smaller and lighter. Furthermore, by making the right side surface 313a of the intermediate portion 313 and the top surface (top plate) 312a of the upper main body portion 312 sloped, snow accumulation on the sloped surface can be suppressed. Note that, like the intake duct 4 described below, the main body 31 may be formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape so that the left-right width of the upper portion of the main body 31 is the same as the left-right width of the lower portion of the main body 31.

[0027] An openable and closable maintenance window 323 is provided on at least one of the left and right sides (both sides in this embodiment) of the lower main body 311. That is, the maintenance window 323 is provided in the lower part of at least one of the sides (both sides in this embodiment) that face each other in the width direction (left-right direction) of the exhaust duct 3. By opening the maintenance window 323, maintenance such as removing foreign matter that has accumulated inside the exhaust duct 3 can be performed.

[0028] An exhaust port (second exhaust port) 324 is provided on at least one of the left and right sides (both sides in this embodiment) of the upper main body portion 312. That is, the exhaust port 324 is provided at the upper portion of at least one of the sides (both sides in this embodiment) that face each other in the width direction (left-right direction) of the exhaust duct 3. As a result, the exhaust port 324 is located higher than the exhaust port 211. The exhaust port 324 is provided with a snow filter 325 that prevents snow from entering the exhaust duct 3. Taking weather resistance into consideration, the snow filter 325 can be, for example, a metal louver or a metal mesh filter. This makes the snow filter 325 maintenance-free. These metal louvers and metal mesh filters are well known, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0029] A sound-absorbing material 326 is formed on the inner surface of the exhaust duct 3. The sound-absorbing material 326 can be made of metal and resin, taking into account weather resistance for outdoor installation. A suitable sound-absorbing material 326 of this type is one made by sandwiching urethane resin between aluminum plates. This makes the sound-absorbing material 326 maintenance-free. The sound-absorbing material 326 is attached using, for example, bolts (not shown).

[0030] Fig. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the intake duct 4. Fig. 8 is a right side view of the intake duct 4. Fig. 9 is a rear view of the intake duct 4. Fig. 10 is a front view of the intake duct 4.

[0031] The air intake duct 4 is made of a metal such as stainless steel and has a box-shaped main body 41 with an open front. The front opening 411 of the main body 41 has an outline that is slightly larger than the combined outline of the air intake ports 221 and 222. A flange 412 that defines the front opening 411 is fixed to the door 22 with bolts. This allows the air intake ports 221 and 222 to communicate with the internal space of the air intake duct 4.

[0032] The main body 41 is formed so that the width in the left-right direction is the same from top to bottom, unlike the main body 31 of the exhaust duct 3. The upper surface (top plate) 41a of the main body 41 is made into an inclined surface, which can suppress snow accumulation.

[0033] A maintenance window 413 is provided at the bottom of at least one (both sides in this embodiment) of the opposing sides in the width direction (left-right direction) of the intake duct 4. Opening the maintenance window 413 makes it possible to perform maintenance such as removing foreign matter that has accumulated inside the intake duct 4. Allowing foreign matter to fall to the bottom of the intake duct 4 makes it possible to prevent clogging of the filter 24, thereby extending the life of the filter 24.

[0034] An air intake port (second air intake port) 414 is provided at the upper part of at least one (both sides in this embodiment) of the side surfaces of the air intake duct 4 that face each other in the width direction (left-right direction). This means that the air intake port 414 is located higher than the air intake port 221. The air intake port 414 is provided with a snow filter 415 that prevents snow from entering the interior of the air intake duct 4. Taking weather resistance into consideration, the snow filter 415 can be, for example, a metal louver or a metal mesh filter. This makes the snow filter 415 maintenance-free. These metal louvers and metal mesh filters are well known, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0035] A sound-absorbing material 416 is formed on the inner surface of the intake duct 4. The sound-absorbing material 416 can be made of metal and resin, taking into account weather resistance for outdoor installation. A suitable sound-absorbing material 416 of this type is one made by sandwiching urethane resin between aluminum plates. This makes the sound-absorbing material 416 maintenance-free. The sound-absorbing material 416 is attached using, for example, bolts (not shown).

[0036] Next, we will explain forced ventilation in the above-described power conversion system 1. Air that flows into the interior of the intake duct 4 from the intake port 414 and snow filter 415 of the intake duct 4 flows into the interior of the housing 2 via the two intake ports 221 and 222 and the filter 24. The air that flows into the interior of the housing 2 cools the power conversion device 20, which is a heat-generating body, and is then exhausted by the fan 23 from the exhaust port 211 into the interior of the exhaust duct 3. The air that has been exhausted into the interior of the exhaust duct 3 is exhausted to the outside of the exhaust duct 3 from the exhaust port 324 and the snow filter 325.

[0037] When such forced ventilation is performed, noise is generated at the intake ports 221, 222 and the exhaust port 211. The noise generated at the exhaust port 211 is attenuated by reflection from the inner surface of the exhaust duct 3, as indicated by the dashed-dotted arrow in FIG. 2 . Providing a sound-absorbing material 326 on the inner surface of the exhaust duct 3 can further attenuate the noise. The exhaust port 324 is provided so as to be oriented in the width direction of the exhaust duct 3. This makes it possible to reduce noise on the front side (forward) of the exhaust duct 3. Furthermore, noise generated at the intake port 221 is attenuated by reflection from the inner surface of the intake duct 4, as indicated by the dashed-dotted arrow in FIG. 2 . Providing a sound-absorbing material 416 on the inner surface of the intake duct 4 can further attenuate the noise. The intake port 414 is provided so as to be oriented in the width direction of the intake duct 4. This makes it possible to reduce noise on the front side (rear) of the intake duct 4.

[0038] As described above, according to the present disclosure, even when the exhaust port 211 is provided at the bottom of the door 21 that forms the front surface of the housing 2, by providing the exhaust duct 3 that covers the exhaust port 211, the exhaust port 324 can be positioned above the exhaust port 211. This, combined with the provision of the snow filter 325 on the exhaust port 324, makes it possible to prevent the exhaust port 211 from being blocked by accumulated snow. Furthermore, noise generated at the exhaust port 211 is attenuated by being reflected by the inner surface of the exhaust duct 3. Combined with the exhaust port 324 and the snow filter 325 being oriented in the width direction of the exhaust duct 3, it is possible to reduce noise on the front side of the exhaust duct 3.

[0039] Furthermore, even when the air intake 221 is provided at least in the lower part of the door 22 that forms the rear surface of the housing 2, by providing an air intake duct 4 that covers the air intake 221, the air intake 414 can be positioned higher than the air intake 221. This, combined with the provision of a snow filter 415 at the air intake 414, makes it possible to prevent the air intake 221 from being blocked by accumulated snow. Furthermore, noise generated at the air intake 221 is attenuated by being reflected by the inner surface of the air intake duct 4. This, combined with the air intake 414 and the snow filter 415 being oriented in the width direction of the air intake duct, makes it possible to reduce noise on the front side of the air intake duct.

[0040] Furthermore, in consideration of weather resistance when installed outdoors, the snow filters 325, 415 can be made of metal louvers or metal mesh filters, thereby making the snow filters 325, 415 maintenance-free.

[0041] Furthermore, when noise is reflected on the inner surface of the exhaust duct 3, the noise can be further attenuated by the sound-absorbing material 326. Therefore, in combination with the suppression of vibration of the exhaust duct 3 by the sound-absorbing material 326, it is possible to further reduce noise on the front side of the exhaust duct 3.

[0042] Furthermore, when noise is reflected on the inner surface of intake duct 4, it can be further attenuated by sound-absorbing material 416. Therefore, in combination with the suppression of vibration of intake duct 4 by sound-absorbing material 416, it is possible to further reduce noise on the front side of intake duct 4.

[0043] Furthermore, in consideration of weather resistance when installed outdoors, the sound absorbing materials 326, 416 are made of metal and resin, which makes it possible to make the sound absorbing materials 326, 416 maintenance-free.

[0044] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments and can be implemented in various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. When the numbers, quantities, amounts, ranges, etc. of each element are mentioned in the above embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the mentioned numbers unless specifically stated or clearly specified in principle. Furthermore, the structures, etc. described in the above embodiments are not necessarily essential to the present disclosure unless specifically stated or clearly specified in principle.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the power conversion system 1 in which the power conversion device 20 is disposed inside the housing 2 has been described as an example, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The present disclosure can be applied to a power electronics system 1 in which a power electronics device 20 that requires cooling by forced ventilation is disposed inside the housing 2. For example, the present disclosure can also be applied to a secondary battery system in which a lithium-ion secondary battery is disposed inside the housing, or a power receiving and transforming system in which a transformer is disposed inside the housing.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the exhaust duct 3 is attached to the door 21 forming the front surface of the housing 2 so as to cover the exhaust port 211 provided at the bottom of the door 21, but this is not limited to this. The exhaust duct 3 may also be attached to the front surface of the housing 2 so as to cover an exhaust port provided at the bottom of the front surface (front side wall) of the housing 2. Similarly, in the above embodiment, the intake duct 4 is attached to the door 22 forming the rear surface of the housing 2 so as to cover the intake port 221 provided at the bottom of the door 22, but this is not limited to this. The intake duct 4 may also be attached to the rear surface of the housing 2 so as to cover an intake port provided at the bottom of the rear surface (rear side wall) of the housing 2.

[0047] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the exhaust port 211 is provided on the front surface of the housing 2 and the intake ports 221 and 222 are provided on the rear surface of the housing 2. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this example. The present disclosure can also be applied to a case in which an exhaust port and an intake port are provided on the opposing left and right side surfaces of the housing 2.

[0048] 1...power conversion system (power electronics system), 2...casing, 20...power conversion device (power electronics device), 21...door, 211...exhaust port (first exhaust port), 22...door, 221, 222...air intake port (first intake port), 23...fan, 24...filter, 3...exhaust duct, 31...main body, 311...lower main body part, 312...upper main body part, 313...middle part, 32...connecting part, 323...maintenance window, 324...exhaust port (second exhaust port), 325...snow filter, 326...sound absorbing material, 4...intake duct, 41...main body, 411...front opening, 412...flange, 413...maintenance window, 414...air intake port (second intake port), 415...snow filter, 416...sound absorbing material

Claims

1. A power electronics system comprising: a housing to be installed outdoors; a power electronics device placed inside the housing; and an exhaust duct attached to the housing and elongated in the vertical direction, wherein the housing has a first air intake port provided on one side and a first exhaust port provided at the bottom of another side opposite the first side, the exhaust duct is attached to the other side so as to cover the first exhaust port, and has a second exhaust port provided at the top of at least one of the opposing side surfaces in the width direction, and a snow filter attached to the second exhaust port.

2. A power electronics system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an intake duct attached to the housing and elongated in the vertical direction, wherein the first intake port is opened at the bottom of one of the side surfaces, the intake duct is attached to the one of the side surfaces so as to cover the first intake port, a second intake port is provided at the top of at least one of the opposing side surfaces in the width direction, and a snow filter is provided on the second intake port.

3. A power electronics system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the snow filter is a metal louver or a metal mesh filter.

4. A power electronics system according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust duct has an inner surface provided with a sound absorbing material.

5. A power electronics system according to claim 2, wherein the inner surface of the intake duct is provided with a sound absorbing material.

6. A power electronics system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the sound absorbing material is made of metal and resin.

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