Dual-Pipe Cooling for High-Voltage Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-voltage systems face challenges in cooling electrical devices within confined spaces while maintaining effective electrical insulation, as traditional cooling methods require bulky connections and can lead to material incompatibilities with insulating gases like SF6, risking degradation and chemical compound formation.
Innovation Solution
A high-voltage system utilizing a double-pipe cooling medium conveyor with a liquid cooling medium and a ventilating gas channel to prevent contact between the cooling medium and insulating gas, featuring a spacer arrangement and optional fan for gas circulation, humidity measurement, and moisture removal systems to manage leaks and ensure safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If liquid cooling medium is used to cool electrical devices in confined high-voltage systems, then cooling efficiency is improved, but risk of contact between cooling medium and insulating gas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into separate zones: an inner pipe for liquid cooling medium and an outer pipe for insulating gas, with a spacer arrangement creating distinct channels. This segmentation prevents direct contact between incompatible materials while maintaining efficient cooling through the inner pipe's liquid flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer arrangement acts as an intermediary element between the liquid cooling medium and insulating gas. It creates a physical barrier and defines separate flow channels, preventing harmful direct contact while allowing both systems to function independently within the same confined space.
2Reliability
If conventional gas cooling methods are used, then electrical insulation is maintained, but cooling capacity is insufficient for confined systems
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from gas-based cooling to liquid-based cooling by introducing a liquid cooling medium through the inner pipe. Liquid cooling provides superior heat transfer capacity compared to gas cooling, enabling effective temperature control in confined high-voltage systems while maintaining electrical insulation through the outer pipe's gas barrier.
3Productivity
If cooling connections are made bulky to ensure proper cooling, then cooling capacity is improved, but system compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system employs a nested pipe configuration where the inner pipe for liquid cooling is positioned within the outer pipe for insulating gas. This nested arrangement allows both cooling and insulation functions to coexist in a compact form factor, eliminating the need for bulky separate connections while maintaining adequate cooling capacity.
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 enables efficient cooling of high-voltage devices in confined systems with reduced material costs and increased safety by containing leaks and preventing contact between the cooling medium and insulating gas, maintaining effective electrical insulation and preventing overheating or chemical damage.
Implementation Method 1
heat generated from or at the electrical device may efficiently be transferred away from the electrical device by the liquid cooling medium
Implementation Method 2
liquid cooling-medium (such as e.g. water) to be conveyed to (and/or from) an electrical device through the first pipe
Implementation Method 3
the surrounding air may be replaced with another gas having better dielectric and insulating properties, such as e.g. sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
Implementation Method 4
the presence of the insulating gas may present a serious issue in the case of a leak in that, upon contact between e.g. water and SF6, the dielectric (and insulating) properties of the gas may be degraded
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a~2c
AI summary
A system is disclosed, the system comprising a container for enclosing an electrically insulating gas, an electrical device arranged within the container, and a cooling medium conveyor arranged at least partially within the container. The cooling medium conveyor comprises a first pipe for conveying a liquid cooling medium, and a second pipe that is disposed around the first pipe such that a channel for containing a ventilating gas is formed between an outside of the first pipe and the inside of the second pipe. The conveyor is arranged in thermal contact with the electrical device.