Control Drawer Ventilation Layout for Cabinet Heat Evacuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connection cabinets face inefficiencies in heat evacuation due to suboptimal air circulation within control-command drawers, which limits cooling effectiveness and restricts modular adaptability.

Innovation Solution

A control drawer design that allows for improved thermal management through optimized air flow, enabling efficient heat evacuation while maintaining modularity by allowing easy orientation changes without compromising airflow performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If air circulation is optimized through front face ventilation, then heat evacuation is improved, but air flow path becomes complex and cooling effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat evacuation efficiencyVSAvoidair flow path complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional ventilation approach by providing air intake at the rear face and air outlet at the front face of the control drawer, opposite to the traditional front intake-rear outlet design. This inversion creates a simplified linear air flow path that directly passes through the drawer from rear to front, eliminating complex circulation patterns while maintaining effective heat evacuation from electrical components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Temperature

If control drawer is designed for fixed orientation to optimize airflow, then cooling performance is improved, but modular adaptability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidmodular adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control drawer is designed with universal air intake and outlet openings that can function in multiple orientations. The rear face intake and front face outlet configuration allows the drawer to be installed in various positions (vertical, horizontal, inverted) while maintaining effective cooling, as the air flow direction adapts to the installation orientation rather than requiring a fixed position for optimal performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enhances cooling efficiency and maintains modular functionality by ensuring effective heat evacuation and adaptability in various orientations, addressing the limitations of existing designs.

Implementation Method 1

a control drawer (138) for an electrical connection cabinet, in which a flow of air passes through from its rear face (178) to its front face (176)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4064474B1Drawer for load control for electrical connection cabinet and electrical connection cabinet comprising such a drawer
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS
  • EP4064474B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4064474B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4064474B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control drawer (138) for an electrical connection cabinet comprises a front part (300) including a ventilation grille (326), a rear part (348) in which a rear ventilation zone and functional elements (362) are provided. The heat generated by the functional elements is removed by an airflow (FL1) which enters the functional unit through each ventilation grille in the front part and exits the functional unit through the rear ventilation zone, passing completely through the functional unit.The rear portion belongs to a drawer base on which the functional elements are fixed and includes an upstream connector group (354) connected to a power source, a downstream connector group (356) connected to an electrical load and a ventilation orifice (358) belonging to the rear ventilation area and which is located between the upstream connector group and the downstream connector group.