Cabinet Cooling Assembly With Isolated Chambers and Heat Exchanger

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling devices for electrical assemblies often require reorganization of the cabinet to provide adequate cooling, especially when new apparatuses are added to a nearly full electric cabinet, making it difficult to maintain effective heat management.

Innovation Solution

A cooling device with a first chamber and a second chamber separated by heat exchanger means, featuring a thermoelectric cooling element for moisture condensation and fan-assisted cooling medium flow, allowing for efficient heat transfer and easy maintenance, and the ability to be retrofitted onto existing electric cabinets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the electric cabinet is nearly full with existing apparatuses, then the cabinet space is efficiently utilized, but it becomes difficult to provide adequate cooling when new apparatuses are added

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecabinet space utilizationVSAvoidcooling effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling device is divided into a first chamber that interfaces with the device chamber and a second chamber that interfaces with the cabinet interior, separated by heat exchanger means. This segmentation allows independent cooling zones where the first chamber provides dedicated cooling to the electrical apparatus while the second chamber handles ambient air exchange, enabling effective cooling even when the cabinet is full.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the device chamber is isolated from ambient air, then the cooling medium remains clean, but maintenance becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination of cooling mediumVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The heat exchanger means extracts and separates the cooling function from the device chamber while maintaining isolation. The first heat exchanger is positioned within the device chamber to provide cooling, while the second heat exchanger is positioned in the cabinet interior, allowing the cooling medium to remain isolated and clean while maintenance can be performed on external components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a thermoelectric cooling element is added for moisture condensation, then moisture control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture condensationVSAvoidcooling device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The thermoelectric cooling element is integrated with the heat exchanger means, combining moisture condensation functionality with the existing heat transfer structure. The thermoelectric element is positioned in thermal contact with the heat exchanger, allowing it to condense moisture while utilizing the same thermal pathways, thereby reducing overall device complexity compared to separate systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution provides effective heat management and easy maintenance by isolating the device chamber from ambient air, ensuring a clean cooling medium and maintaining at least 50% cooling power during maintenance, while being adaptable to existing cabinet configurations.

Implementation Method 1

a thermoelectric cooling element adapted to condense moisture from the first chamber, the heat exchanger means comprises a first heat exchanger, one of the sides of the thermoelectric cooling element being in heat transfer connection with a first end of the first heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPeltier effect: Peltier Effect

Implementation Method 2

heat exchanger means adapted to transfer heat from the first chamber to the second chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

fan means for generating a cooling medium flow inside the first chamber between the inlet flow opening and the outlet flow opening such that heat is transferred from the cooling medium into the heat exchanger means

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3012568B1Cooling device and cooled electrical assembly comprising the same
Publication Date: 2018.09.12 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP3012568B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3012568B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3012568B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cooling device comprising a first chamber (1), a second chamber (2) separated from the first chamber (1), heat exchanger means (4) adapted to transfer heat from the first chamber (1) to the second chamber (2), and fan means. The first chamber (1) comprises an inlet flow opening (12) and an outlet flow opening (14). The fan means is adapted to generate a first cooling medium flow (511) inside the first chamber (1) between the inlet flow opening (12) and the outlet flow opening (14) such that heat is transferred from the first cooling medium flow (511) into the heat exchanger means.