Switchgear Air Leading Device for Overheating Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current switchgear designs experience overheating issues due to current-carrying components being placed in close proximity, leading to operational risks and the need for costly forced cooling solutions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of air leading devices, such as plates, positioned between circuit breaker poles to direct warm air upwards and reduce radiative energy transfer, enhancing temperature distribution by utilizing side walls for cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If current-carrying components are placed in close proximity to save space, then space utilization is improved, but overheating occurs due to poor heat dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
Air leading devices are introduced as intermediary elements positioned between current-carrying components. These devices actively direct air flow paths to enhance convective heat transfer, serving as mediators that facilitate heat dissipation without requiring increased spacing between components. The air leading devices channel cool air to hot components and guide warm air away, resolving the contradiction by adding a heat transfer medium pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic principles by employing air flow as the cooling medium. Air leading devices harness natural convection currents and potentially forced air flow to create effective heat removal paths. By using gas (air) dynamics to manage heat transfer, the system achieves improved cooling efficiency within compact spaces, directly addressing the overheating issue while maintaining high space utilization.
2Volume of moving object
If components are placed above other components to save space, then space utilization is improved, but radiative heat transfer causes upper components to overheat
Solution Approach 1:
Air leading devices serve as intermediary elements positioned between vertically stacked components. These devices interrupt direct line-of-sight radiative heat transfer paths by introducing air flow pathways and physical barriers. The intermediaries redirect both convective and radiative heat transfer, protecting upper components from excessive radiative heating while maintaining compact vertical arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The air leading devices create localized quality differences in the thermal environment between components. By positioning these devices specifically in critical heat transfer zones, the invention modifies local heat transfer characteristics without changing the overall component layout. This allows selective control of radiative and convective heat transfer in specific regions, protecting sensitive upper components while maintaining overall space efficiency.
3Temperature
If forced cooling solutions are implemented to prevent overheating, then temperature control is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air leading devices are designed to utilize natural convection currents generated by the heat-generating components themselves. The hot components create upward air currents that the air leading devices channel and direct, creating a self-sustaining cooling cycle without requiring external power sources or complex control systems. This self-service approach achieves effective temperature control while minimizing system complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the thermal management parameters by modifying air flow paths and velocities through strategically positioned air leading devices. By altering the convective heat transfer coefficient and air flow characteristics rather than changing component spacing or adding active cooling systems, the solution achieves improved temperature control with minimal increase in system complexity. The parameter changes focus on optimizing natural convection efficiency.
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 configuration effectively reduces overheating, improves temperature distribution, and minimizes the need for costly forced cooling solutions by utilizing passive cooling through directed air flow.
Implementation Method 1
a first air leading device of the at least one air leading device is located between the CB pole of the second phase and the CB pole of the third phase... direct the warm air, coming from components positioned below or between other components, up to the side of the switchgear or control gear wall
Implementation Method 2
the plates stop radiation energy from one pole from directly heating another pole, with this radiation being partially reflected and absorbed by the side walls of the compartment for example, or absorbed by the plates and re-emitted in all directions
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a)~5b)
AI summary
The present invention relates to a switchgear or control gear comprising a first compartment (1), a first phase (L1), a second phase (L2), a third phase (L3), and at least one air leading device (100). One or more parts of the first phase are located in the first compartment. A circuit breaker pole (4) of the first phase (L1) is housed in the first compartment. A circuit breaker pole (4) of the second phase (L2) is housed in the first compartment. A circuit breaker pole (4) of the third phase (L3) is housed in the first compartment. The circuit breaker pole (4) of the second phase (L2) is located above the circuit breaker pole (4) of the third phase (L3). A first air leading device of the at least one air leading device is located between the circuit breaker pole (4) of the second phase (L2) and the circuit breaker pole (4) of the third phase (L3).