Removable Power Electronics Enclosure for Electrical Panel Upgrades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power electronics for residential applications require multiple boxes or panels, occupying space and complicating repair, upgrade, and replacement, necessitating the replacement and rewiring of the entire electrical panel every time they need to be updated.
Innovation Solution
An enclosure system with integrated power electronics that connects to a residential electrical panel via a connector, allowing for easy installation and removal without disturbing the panel's circuits, featuring hinge components for mounting and a cable management system to facilitate easy servicing and reduce space occupation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If power electronics are packaged inside the main electrical panel, then integration is improved, but replacement complexity increases because the entire panel must be replaced every 50 years
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent segments: the main electrical panel and the power electronics enclosure. The enclosure is a separate, removable unit that can be replaced independently from the permanent electrical panel, resolving the contradiction by enabling integration while simplifying replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
A connector serves as an intermediary between the electrical panel and the power electronics enclosure. This connector enables electrical connection while allowing the enclosure to be removed and replaced without disturbing the panel's internal circuits or structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple boxes or panels are used for power electronics, then functionality is improved, but space occupation and repair complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple power electronics components (inverters, rectifiers, voltage converters) that would traditionally require separate boxes are merged into a single integrated enclosure. This maintains full functionality while reducing the total space occupied and simplifying repair and upgrade operations.
3Reliability
If the entire electrical panel is replaced to update power electronics, then system reliability is improved, but installation time and downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power electronics are extracted from the main electrical panel into a separate removable enclosure. This allows the enclosure to be updated, repaired, or replaced independently, dramatically reducing installation time and system downtime compared to replacing the entire panel.
4Adaptability or versatility
If power electronics are integrated into the electrical panel, then adaptability is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates due to rewiring requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The connector acts as an intermediary that provides easy disconnection and reconnection points. This allows the power electronics enclosure to be removed and replaced without any rewiring of the electrical panel, maintaining integration while dramatically improving ease of repair.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes an enclosure defining an interior space enclosed by a wall of the enclosure. Power electronics are disposed within the interior space. The power electronics can include at least one inverter configured to invert direct current (DC) power to alternating power, at least one voltage converter for boosting voltage from a DC source up to electrical panel voltage, at least one rectifier configured to rectify alternating current (AC) power to DC power, and at least one voltage converter for reducing voltage from electrical panel voltage to a battery charging level. Wall mounting features can extend from the enclosure, configured for mounting the enclosure to a wall surface. It is also contemplated that hinge components can extend from the wall of the enclosure so the enclosure can be hingedly mounted to an electrical panel as a door of the electrical panel.