Electric equipment housing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Power converters in outdoor environments, such as photovoltaic power generation systems, face operational challenges due to low external air temperatures, leading to decreased durability and efficiency, as existing temperature control methods require stopping the air conditioner, which prevents operation in cold conditions.
Innovation Solution
An electrical equipment housing design that includes a first storage room for the power converter, a second storage room for the outdoor air conditioner units, a temperature sensor, and a heater, allowing the outdoor units to be heated when the temperature drops below a certain limit, thus maintaining operation and durability in low temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air conditioner operation is stopped to protect the outdoor unit when external air temperature becomes low, then the outdoor unit is protected from damage, but the temperature inside the housing increases and the power converter operation must be stopped
Solution Approach 1:
A second storage room is introduced as an intermediary space to house the outdoor unit, isolating it from the extreme external environment. This mediator space allows the outdoor unit to be protected from low temperature damage while still enabling the power converter to operate in the first storage room, resolving the contradiction between protecting the outdoor unit and maintaining power converter productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is segmented into two separate storage rooms: the first storage room for the power converter and the second storage room for the outdoor unit. This segmentation allows independent temperature management for each component, enabling the power converter to operate while the outdoor unit is protected from low temperature conditions
2Reliability
If the power converter is contained inside a sealed housing with air conditioner for temperature control, then the durability of the power converter is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed housing is segmented into two functional storage rooms with distinct purposes: the first storage room houses the power converter with air conditioner for temperature control, while the second storage room houses the outdoor unit. This segmentation organizes the complex system into manageable modules, improving durability while structuring the complexity in a systematic way
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
Enables the power converter to operate in low external air temperatures while maintaining its durability by heating the outdoor air conditioner units, preventing refrigerant floodback and reducing the need for additional snowfall countermeasures, thus ensuring continuous operation and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The heater heats inside the second storage room when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is a lower limit or less
Implementation Method 2
the heat generation of the devices in the interior in the power conversion is suppressed by cooling the devices by using a fan, etc.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an electrical equipment housing includes a first storage room, an air conditioner, a second storage room, a temperature sensor, and a heater. The first storage room contains a power converter converting electrical power. The air conditioner adjusts a temperature inside the first storage room. The air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit is provided inside the first storage room. The outdoor unit is provided outside the first storage room. The second storage room contains the outdoor unit. The temperature sensor senses a temperature inside the second storage room. The heater heats inside the second storage room when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is a lower limit or less.