OUTDOOR ENCLOSURE COOLING SYSTEM OPERATING AT OFF-PEAK HOURS

• US 20100063647A1
• Filed: 04/21/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commscope Inc of North Carolina (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Commscope Inc of North Carolina (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: HENDRIX, Walter, YEH, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,108,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/306
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20136 Forced ventilation, e.g. by fans H05K7/202 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/202 Air circulating in closed loop within enclosure wherein heat is removed through heat-exchangers

Abstract

A cooling system and method for an outdoor electronics enclosure includes an air conditioner controlled to operate during off-peak hours, so as to pre-cool batteries. The cooled batteries keep the enclosure cool during peak hours so that it is not necessary to run the air conditioner when electricity prices are at their peak. A clock or light sensor determines the time of day. A controller has stored data indicating the peak hours when electricity costs more.

Claims

1. A cooling system for an enclosure containing a thermal mass, comprising:

a cooling device;

a controller for controlling said cooling device;

a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the thermal mass, wherein said temperature sensor is connected to said controller; and

a time of day sensor connected to said controller;

wherein said controller controls said cooling device to cool the thermal mass to as desired temperature during off-peak hours in order to reduce the cost of operating said cooling system.

2. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure is an outdoor electronics enclosure containing electronics and batteries.

3. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said cooling device is an air conditioner.

4. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said time of day sensor is a clock.

5. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said time of day sensor is a light sensitive electronic device.

6. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the thermal mass is a series of batteries.

7. An outdoors enclosure for electronics, comprising:

an enclosure;

electronics contained within said enclosure;

batteries contained within said enclosure to provide power to said electronics;

a cooling device for cooling said enclosure;

a controller for controlling said cooling device;

a time of day sensor connected to said controller; and

a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of said batteries wherein said temperature sensor is connected to said controller;

wherein said controller controls said cooling device to cool said batteries to a desired temperature during off-peak hours in order to reduce the cost of cooling said enclosure.

8. The cooling system according to claim 7, wherein said cooling device is an air conditioner.

9. The cooling system according to claim 7, wherein said time of day sensor is a clock.

10. The cooling system according to claim 7, wherein said time of day sensor is a light sensitive electronic device.

11. The cooling system according to claim 7, wherein said batteries and said electronics are in separate compartments in said enclosure.

12. The cooling system according to claim 7, wherein said controller controls said cooling device to cool said batteries to a first temperature which is lower than a typical operating temperature during off-peak hours so that the thermal capacitance of said batteries is used to cool the enclosure during peak hours.

13. The cooling system according to claim 12, wherein the typical operating temperature is about 25°

C. and the first temperature is about 18°

C.

14. A method of operating a cooling system for an outdoor electronics enclosure, comprising:

determining the time of day;

measuring a temperature inside the enclosure;

controlling the cooling system to cool the enclosure during off-peak hours to a temperature below a typical operating temperature so as to use the thermal capacitance of the enclosure and/or the enclosure'"'"'s content to cool the enclosure during peak hours.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the outdoor electronics enclosure contains electronics and batteries.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the batteries are pre-cooled during off-peak hours and the batteries'"'"' thermal capacitance stores coolness so that the cooling system may be used less during peak hours.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the time of day is determined by a clock.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the time of day is determined by a light sensitive electronic device.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the typical operating temperature is about 25°

C. and the temperature below the operating temperature is about 18°

C.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the cooling system includes a controller connected to a time of day sensor and a temperature sensor in the enclosure, the controller using stored peak cost time data to determine times to operate the cooling system at off-peak prices.