Angled Air Guide Element for Switchgear Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling devices for switch cabinets face inefficiencies in heat exchange due to uneven air flow, leading to condensate ejection into the cabinet interior and increased dimensions, which complicates space management and increases the risk of condensation.
Innovation Solution
The cooling device incorporates angled air guiding elements that taper towards the heat exchanger inlet, ensuring even air distribution and preventing condensate ejection by maintaining a constant air velocity profile, allowing for vertical heat exchanger placement and reduced overall depth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the heat exchanger is tilted to optimize air flow, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but air velocity peaks are formed causing condensate to detach and be thrown into the control cabinet interior
Solution Approach 1:
The air guiding element is divided into multiple segments (first air guiding element and second air guiding element) that work together to control air flow. The first element directs air onto the air inlet side while the second element manages flow along the side surface, creating a segmented approach to flow control that prevents velocity peaks while maintaining heat exchange efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The air guiding element acts as an intermediary component between the air inlet opening and the heat exchanger. It mediates the air flow by distributing it evenly across the heat exchanger surface, preventing direct high-velocity impact that would cause condensate detachment while still allowing effective heat exchange.
2Length of stationary object
If the heat exchanger is aligned vertically to limit device depth dimensions, then space requirements are reduced, but air flow uniformity across the heat exchanger surface deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air guiding element extends in the depth direction of the cooling device, creating a three-dimensional flow control structure. By utilizing the depth dimension, it can distribute air evenly across the vertically aligned heat exchanger surface, maintaining flow uniformity while keeping the device compact in the depth direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The air guiding element provides localized flow control at different positions. The first air guiding element addresses the air inlet side while the second air guiding element addresses the side surface, creating locally optimized flow conditions that collectively ensure uniform air distribution across the entire heat exchanger surface.
3Productivity
If air is directed precisely at the heat exchanger to optimize heat exchange, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but condensate forms and detaches due to high air velocity peaks
Solution Approach 1:
The air guiding element dynamically distributes air flow across the heat exchanger surface, adjusting the flow pattern to prevent velocity peaks. It creates a balanced flow distribution that maintains sufficient air movement for effective heat exchange while avoiding excessive velocities that would cause condensate detachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The air guiding element serves as an intermediary that modifies the air flow characteristics before it reaches the heat exchanger. It softens the air flow by distributing it evenly, preventing the formation of velocity peaks that would cause condensate detachment while still delivering sufficient air for effective heat transfer.
4Volume of moving object
If the air inlet opening is positioned vertically offset from the heat exchanger, then device compactness is improved, but effective air direction to the heat exchanger becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The air guiding element utilizes the depth dimension to bridge the vertical offset between the air inlet opening and the heat exchanger. By extending into the depth direction, it can redirect air flow effectively from the vertically offset inlet to the heat exchanger surface, maintaining air direction effectiveness while preserving device compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The air guiding element performs preliminary air flow conditioning before air reaches the heat exchanger. It pre-distributes the air flow in the correct direction and pattern, compensating for the vertical offset between inlet and heat exchanger, thereby ensuring effective air direction despite the compact vertical arrangement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances energy efficiency, reduces device dimensions, and minimizes condensate entry into the cabinet, enabling operation at higher evaporation temperatures and lower manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
A first heat exchanger (4) is arranged in the inner circuit and a second heat exchanger (5) is arranged in the outer circuit, between which a refrigerant is circulated
Implementation Method 2
components that give off heat to the air in the switch cabinet interior... a cooling device for cooling the air received in the interior of the switch cabinet
Implementation Method 3
The air from the switch cabinet interior being routed through the inner circuit with a first fan (17) and the ambient air of the switch cabinet arrangement being routed through the outer circuit with a second fan (18)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooling unit (1) for cooling the air (10.3) admitted to the interior (101) of a switchgear cabinet (100), which cooling unit has an inner circuit (2), through which the air (103) to be cooled is routed from a switchgear cabinet interior (101), and an outer circuit (3),which is partitioned from the inner circuit (2) in fluid terms and through which the ambient air (104) is routed, wherein the inner circuit (2) contains a first heat exchanger (4) and the outer circuit (3) contains a second heat exchanger (5), which have a coolant (6) circulated between them, wherein the heat exchangers (4, 5) have an air passage direction (x, y) along which the heat exchangers (4, 5) allow air to pass between an air inlet side (4.1, 5.1) and an air outlet side (4.2, 5.2), characterised in that at least one of the heat exchangers (4, 5) has a first air guide element (16) upstream on the air inlet side (4.1, 5.1), which air guide element extends at an angle (ß), where 5 < ß < 45°, with respect to the air inlet side (4.1, 5.1) and forms an air duct (7) between itself and the air inlet side (4.1, 5.1), which air duct tapers along a dimension (z) of the air inlet side (4.1, 5.1).