Busway Joint Pack Heat Sink Insert Thermal Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The management of temperature rise in busway joint packs limits the thermal performance of busway systems, leading to increased material requirements and potential degradation due to excessive heat.
Innovation Solution
A busway joint pack with heat sink inserts that passively transfer thermal energy from the core to an exterior housing, using insulator assemblies with heat sinks and electrically insulating sheets to dissipate heat to the surrounding environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If larger phase-conductors are used to accommodate temperature rise at the busway joint pack, then thermal performance is improved, but the size and material requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat sink insert extracts thermal energy from the joint pack core and transfers it to the exterior housing, removing the harmful heat accumulation that would otherwise require larger phase-conductors to manage
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sink insert acts as an intermediary thermal transfer device between the internal connector plates and the external environment, facilitating heat dissipation without requiring larger conductor cross-sections
2Temperature
If heat dissipation structures are added to the busway joint pack, then temperature management is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat sink insert is integrated with the insulator assembly, merging thermal management functionality with the existing electrical insulation structure to avoid adding separate complex components
Solution Approach 2:
The insulator assembly serves dual purposes: providing electrical insulation between conductors and acting as a heat sink for thermal management, eliminating the need for dedicated separate components
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 solution reduces internal joint pack temperature, improving thermal performance, allowing for smaller phase-conductors and reducing material costs while enhancing durability and ease of assembly.
Implementation Method 1
configured to passively transfer thermal energy or heat from its core to an exterior housing such that the thermal energy is lost or transferred to the surrounding environment
Data Source
AI summary
A busway joint pack includes a first connector plate and a second connector plate that is spaced from the first connector plate such that the connector plates are configured to engage a pair of phase-conductors of a pair of busway sections. The busway joint pack further includes a first insulator assembly and a second insulator assembly. Each of the insulator assemblies includes a heat sink and two electrically insulating sheets on either major side surface of the heat sinks. The insulator assemblies are positioned adjacent to the connector plates such that the insulating sheets electrically insulate the heat sinks from the connector plates. Side panels are positioned adjacent to the heat sinks and abut end surfaces thereof to aid in transferring heat generated in the busway joint pack to the surrounding environment via the heat sinks and side panels.