Transformer Heat Exchanger Cooling Using Bernoulli Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cooling arrangements for transformers, such as those using bladed fans or natural convection, are noisy, complex, heavy, and inefficient, especially for high-power transformers, and struggle to handle sudden temperature increases during temporary overloading.

Innovation Solution

A cooling arrangement that utilizes a humidity-controlled fluid flow, generated by an impeller-motor device and discharged through a fluid discharge device, employing the Bernoulli effect to multiply the fluid flow and enhance heat transfer, reducing the number of radiators needed and improving cooling efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional bladed fans are used for air cooling, then cooling capability is provided, but noise level increases and structure becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional bladed fans with a fluid discharge device that utilizes the Bernoulli effect to generate cooling airflow. Instead of mechanical blades rotating to move air, the system uses controlled fluid discharge through specially designed nozzles to create high-velocity cooling flows, thereby eliminating complex mechanical rotating components and reducing noise while maintaining cooling capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs pneumatic principles by using compressed or pressurized fluid discharge through nozzles to generate cooling airflow. The fluid discharge device utilizes pressure-driven fluid dynamics and the Bernoulli effect to create effective cooling flows without mechanical moving parts, replacing the conventional fan mechanism with a pneumatic-based solution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Productivity

If radiator and cooler banks are increased in size to handle high power transformers, then cooling capacity is improved, but footprint and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capacityVSAvoidfootprint
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the cooling system by using high-velocity fluid discharge and the Bernoulli effect to intensify the cooling process. Instead of relying on large surface area radiators, the system achieves enhanced cooling capacity through increased fluid velocity and pressure, allowing for a compact design with reduced footprint while maintaining or improving cooling performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a surface-area-based cooling approach (large radiator banks) to a velocity-based cooling approach using high-speed fluid discharge. By utilizing the third dimension of fluid velocity and pressure dynamics, the system achieves effective cooling in a compact volume, reducing the horizontal footprint required for high power transformer cooling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Stability of the object's composition

If conventional cooling arrangements are used, then steady state cooling is maintained, but transient overloading conditions cannot be handled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesteady state coolingVSAvoidtransient overload handling
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic control capabilities to the cooling system through adjustable fluid discharge parameters. The fluid discharge device can dynamically modify flow rate, velocity, and pressure in response to varying thermal loads, enabling the system to adapt to transient overloading conditions while maintaining stable steady-state operation under normal conditions. This dynamic adjustability provides both stability and versatility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution significantly enhances heat transfer between the humidity-controlled fluid and the transformer's oil-to-air external heat exchanger, reducing the footprint and weight of cooling systems, while being quieter and easier to maintain, and capable of handling increased cooling demands during transient operations.

Implementation Method 1

employing the Bernoulli effect to multiply the fluid flow and enhance heat transfer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBernoulli effect: Bernoulli Effect

Implementation Method 2

by controlling the humidity it enables to control the heat transfer coefficient in the OAEHE

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

The state-of-the-art cooling of using standard fans produces high noise, has complex structure, is heavy and of difficult maintenance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4369362A1Cooling arrangement and method for cooling at least one oil-to-air external heat exchanger
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 HITACHI ENERGY LTD
  • EP4369362A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4369362A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4369362A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cooling arrangement (20) for cooling at least one OAEHE in a transformer. The cooling arrangement (20) comprises at least one impeller-motor device (10), at least one fluid pipe (11) and at least one fluid discharge device (12). The at least one impeller-motor device (10) is adapted to supply a humidity-controlled fluid to the inlet of the at least one fluid discharge device (12) via the at least one fluid pipe (11) and cause the humidity-controlled fluid to flow through the at least one fluid discharge device (12) and be discharged through the at least one fluid outlet of the at least one fluid discharge device (12) in a direction of the at least one OAEHE.