Insulated Evaporator Cooling for Switchgear Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat pipes cannot be directly connected to hot spots in medium voltage gas insulated switchgear due to dielectric reasons, limiting cooling efficiency, and require additional components like thermosyphons and gas-tight bushings, increasing costs and assembly time.
Innovation Solution
A cooling apparatus with an evaporator section surrounding the current carrying contact, using a fluid conduit that is electrically insulating and connects to a condenser, allowing the working fluid to be heated to a vapor state and passively returned, eliminating the need for additional insulating parts and allowing capillary-driven return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional heat pipes are used for cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but additional insulating components and gas-tight bushings are required, increasing device complexity and assembly time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heat pipe's fluid conduit with the evaporator into a single integrated component. The fluid conduit is formed within the evaporator body itself, eliminating the need for separate insulating parts and external connections. This merging resolves the contradiction by maintaining the efficient heat pipe cooling mechanism while removing the additional components that increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporator is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the heat exchange surface and contains the fluid conduit for working fluid circulation. The evaporator body integrates the functions of heat transfer, fluid containment, and electrical insulation, eliminating the need for separate dedicated insulating components and reducing overall device complexity.
2Temperature
If conventional heat pipes with metallic tubes are used, then heat dissipation is improved, but electrical insulation requirements necessitate additional components, increasing assembly time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fluid conduit and evaporator into a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate insulating parts and external connections. This integration maintains effective heat dissipation through the heat pipe mechanism while reducing assembly time by eliminating multiple assembly steps for adding insulating components and connecting separate parts.
3Reliability
If additional insulating parts and bushings are added to conventional heat pipes, then dielectric requirements are met, but device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously, including electrical insulation. The evaporator body itself provides the necessary dielectric performance while containing the fluid conduit, eliminating the need for additional dedicated insulating parts and bushings. This multi-functionality maintains reliability for dielectric performance while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporator is formed from electrically insulating material that provides both structural containment for the working fluid and electrical insulation properties. This composite approach integrates multiple functions into a single component, meeting dielectric requirements without adding separate insulating parts.
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 enhances cooling efficiency by directly contacting the current carrying contact and using capillary action for fluid return, reducing the need for external condensers and additional bushings, thus simplifying assembly and reducing costs while maintaining effective heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
a working fluid in the evaporator is heated to a vapour state
Implementation Method 2
using capillary action for fluid return
Implementation Method 3
the vapour in the condenser is condensed to the working fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling apparatus for a medium voltage or high voltage switchgear includes an evaporator, a fluid conduit, and a condenser. The evaporator is configured to surround at least part of a current carrying contact. The fluid conduit fluidly connects the evaporator to the condenser. A section of the fluid conduit is formed within the evaporator and is electrically insulating and is configured such that fluid can contact an outer surface of the current carrying contact. The cooling apparatus is configured such that in use a working fluid in the evaporator is heated to a vapour state, and the vapour is transferred by the fluid conduit to the condenser. The vapour in the condenser is condensed to the working fluid. The condensed working fluid is passively returned via the fluid conduit to the evaporator.