Heat Storage Cooling for Medium-Voltage Switchgear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medium-voltage switchgear experiences overheating and premature aging due to high power loss during peak loads, which reduces its availability and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A cooling device with heat storage means, such as a container filled with a fluid that absorbs heat during peak loads and releases it afterwards, acting as a heat buffer to prevent overheating, and a closed cooling circuit with a condenser for continuous heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the switchgear operates with high peak loads, then the power output increases, but the power loss increases causing overheating and premature aging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower outputVSAvoidtemperature

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the phase transition of a cooling fluid from liquid to gas (evaporation) to absorb heat during peak loads. The fluid is selected and pressurized such that it evaporates when heated by power loss, absorbing significant evaporation heat and preventing overheating of the switchgear components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of power loss (heat generation) into a beneficial cooling mechanism. The heat generated by power loss during peak loads is used to evaporate the cooling fluid, which then absorbs this heat and prevents overheating, effectively transforming the harmful thermal energy into a useful cooling process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Power

If the switchgear operates with high peak loads, then the power output increases, but the operational duration is limited due to overheating risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower outputVSAvoidoperational duration

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling fluid undergoes phase transition from liquid to gas during peak loads, absorbing large amounts of heat through evaporation. This allows the switchgear to sustain high power output for extended periods without overheating, significantly increasing the operational duration during peak load conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling fluid is pre-filled in the container at a specific pressure and temperature state before operation. This preliminary preparation ensures that the fluid is ready to immediately absorb heat through evaporation when peak loads occur, enabling the switchgear to handle high power demands for extended durations from the outset.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Power

If conventional cooling methods are used, then the switchgear can handle medium loads, but it cannot sustain significantly higher load peaks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload peak capacityVSAvoidavailability

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs phase transition of the cooling fluid (evaporation and condensation) to create a highly effective cooling system that can handle significantly higher load peaks. The fluid evaporates during peak loads to absorb heat and condenses afterwards to release heat, providing reliable cooling that maintains switchgear availability even under extreme loading conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling system operates periodically: the fluid evaporates during peak loads to absorb heat, then condenses afterwards to release the absorbed heat to other areas or surroundings. This periodic cycle of evaporation and condensation allows the switchgear to sustain high load peaks while maintaining reliability and preventing overheating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 switchgear to operate with significantly higher load peaks without overheating, extending its operational duration and reducing premature aging of components.

Implementation Method 1

the fluid in the container is heated during operation of the switchgear as a result of a power loss and thereby absorbs at least part of the power loss

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a pressure of the fluid in the container is specified in such a way that the fluid evaporates as a result of the heating in the container. The result of this is that the fluid absorbs the heat released by the power loss as evaporation heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

the cooling circuit has at least one cooling section, which is set up for cooling the fluid, preferably a condenser for condensing the fluid evaporated in the container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentEP2533261B1Cooling device for a circuit assembly for an electrical energy supply network and such a switching assembly

Publication Date: 2017.02.01 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SACHSENWERK

AI summary

The cooling device (18) has a heat storage unit (20) having container (19) which is arranged in or on the region of component (23). The container for holding fluid (21) is designed in such a manner so that the container contained fluid is heated during operation of the switchgear assembly as a result of the power loss. The switchgear (11) is insulated by the isolation gas (15), and the region comprising the inner space (16) of tank (13) of the switchgear is filled with the isolation gas. The container is arranged in the inner space of the tank. An independent claim is included for switchgear.