Telecom Shelter Cooling and Control System

• US 20130035031A1
• Filed: 10/10/2012
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.), Schroff Technologies International, Inc. (RF Industries, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.), Schroff Technologies International, Inc. (RF Industries, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Riddoch, Henry, THERRIEN, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/648,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20130035031A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/257
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/1238 Shelters for engines, e.g. electrical meter housings
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2059 within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/207 Thermal management, e.g. cabinet temperature control

Abstract

A system configured to provide cooling of electronic equipment in a shelter in combination with an air conditioning (A/C) system. The system includes one or more blowers for drawing air into the shelter, a damper arrangement for controlling air exhaust. The system further includes a DC powered controller coupled to the one or more blowers, the damper arrangement, and the A/C system. The controller is configured to receive at least a first analog input signal associated with a shelter-interior temperature, a second analog input signal associated with a shelter-exterior temperature, and a plurality of alarm input signals and to generate the one or more first control signals to control blower rotational speed, the second control signal to open/close the damper arrangement, and a third control signal to inhibit/activate the A/C system based on at least the first analog input signal, or the second analog input signal, or a plurality of alarm input signals, or a combination of these.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A method for providing alternative cooling in addition to an air conditioning (A/C) system in a cabinet housing electrical equipment, the method comprising:

providing a cooling system to the cabinet, the cooling system including;

a blower subsystem including one or more blowers for drawing air into the cabinet;

a damper subsystem including a louver arrangement for controlling air exhaust; and

a controller operated from a DC supply, the controller including a microprocessor having at least a first analog input, a second analog input, a plurality of alarm inputs, one or more first control outputs, a second control output, and a third control output;

activating the controller by providing power from the DC supply;

receiving information associated with an interior temperature from the first analog input and information associated with an exterior temperature from the second analog input;

monitoring for signals associated with a general alarm and a plurality of specific alarms received through the plurality alarm inputs;

processing the information associated with the exterior temperature and information associated with one of the general alarm or any of the plurality of specific alarms;

if the exterior temperature is lower than a predetermined value, or no general alarm or one of the plurality of specific alarms is triggered, then processing information associated with the interior temperature;

if a first criterion based on information associated with the interior temperature is satisfied, then;

inhibiting the A/C system through the third control output;

operating each of the one or more blowers, respectively through the one or more first control outputs, at a rotation speed depending on the information associated with the interior temperature; and

closing or opening the louver arrangement through the second control output when the rotation speed respectively is or is not zero;

if a second criterion based on information associated with the interior temperature is satisfied, then;

activating the A/C system in cooling mode through the third control output; and

stopping the one or more blowers through the one or more first control outputs; and

if a third criterion based on information associated with the interior temperature is satisfied, then;

activating the A/C system in heating mode through the third control output; and

stopping the one or more blowers through the one or more first control outputs.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the first criterion is satisfied when the interior temperature is between a first temperature and a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein operating each of the one or more blowers further comprises adjusting the rotation speed from a first speed to a second speed as the interior temperature is increased from the first temperature to a second temperature plus a predetermined amount, the second speed being greater than the first speed.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the second criterion is satisfied when the interior temperature is greater than the second temperature.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the second criterion is satisfied when the interior temperature is greater than the second temperature and the exterior temperature is less than the predetermined value.

39. The method of claim 34 wherein the third criterion is satisfied when the interior temperature is less than the first temperature.

40. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

if the exterior temperature is less than the predetermined value, then;

activating the A/C system through the third control output; and

stopping the one or more blowers through the one or more first control outputs.

41. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

if one of the plurality of specific alarms is triggered due to a smoke alarm, then;

stopping the one or more blowers through the one or more first control outputs; and

closing the louver arrangement through the second control output.

42. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

if one of the plurality of specific alarms is triggered due to a hydrogen alarm, then;

turning on the one or more blowers at a predetermined rotational speed; and

opening the louver arrangement.

43. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

if one of the plurality of specific alarms is triggered due to an AC power failure, then;

operating the one or more blowers at an on state until DC power from the DC supply is off;

opening the louver arrangement; and

closing the louver arrangement by a spring return in the absence of DC power.

44. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

if the general alarm is triggered but no AC power fail alarm is received, then;

activating the A/C system through the second control output, and

stopping the one or more blowers.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the general alarm comprises:

a blower fail alarm if a rotation speed of any blower drops below a predetermined speed level of other blowers;

a thermistor fail alarm if the thermistor linked to either the first analog input or the second analog input is open/short circuited; and

a DC supply fault alarm if voltage drops below a predetermined level.

46. A cabinet for housing electrical equipment comprising:

an air conditioning (A/C) system;

an alternative cooling system comprising;

a blower subsystem including one or more blowers for drawing air into the cabinet;

a damper subsystem including a louver arrangement for controlling air exhaust; and

a controller operated from a DC supply, the controller including a microprocessor having at least a first analog input, a second analog input, a plurality of alarm inputs, one or more first control outputs, a second control output, and a third control output;

wherein the controller is operative to;

receive information associated with an interior temperature from the first analog input and information associated with an exterior temperature from the second analog input;

monitor for signals associated with a general alarm and a plurality of specific alarms received through the plurality alarm inputs;

process the information associated with the exterior temperature and information associated with one of the general alarm or any of the plurality of specific alarms;

if the exterior temperature is lower than a predetermined value, or no general alarm or one of the plurality of specific alarms is triggered, then process information associated with the interior temperature;

if a first criterion based on information associated with the interior temperature is satisfied, then;

inhibit the A/C system through the third control output;

operate each of the one or more blowers, respectively through the one or more first control outputs, at a rotation speed depending on the information associated with the interior temperature; and

close or open the louver arrangement through the second control output when the rotation speed respectively is or is not zero;

if a second criterion based on information associated with the interior temperature is satisfied, then;

activate the A/C system in cooling mode through the third control output; and

stop the one or more blowers through the one or more first control outputs; and

if a third criterion based on information associated with the interior temperature is satisfied, then;

activate the A/C system in heating mode through the third control output; and

stop the one or more blowers through the one or more first control outputs.

47. The cabinet of claim 46 wherein the first criterion is satisfied when the interior temperature is between a first temperature and a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature.

48. The cabinet of claim 46 wherein the second criterion is satisfied when the interior temperature is greater than the second temperature.

49. The cabinet of claim 46 wherein the second criterion is satisfied when the interior temperature is greater than the second temperature and the exterior temperature is less than the predetermined value.

50. The cabinet of claim 46 wherein the third criterion is satisfied when the interior temperature is less than the first temperature.

51. The cabinet of claim 46 wherein when the exterior temperature is less than the predetermined value, then the controller:

activates the A/C system through the third control output; and

stops the one or more blowers through the one or more first control outputs.

52. The cabinet of claim 46 wherein when one of the plurality of specific alarms is triggered due to a smoke alarm, then the controller:

stops the one or more blowers through the one or more first control outputs; and

closes the louver arrangement through the second control output.

53. The cabinet of claim 46 wherein when one of the plurality of specific alarms is triggered due to a hydrogen alarm, then the controller:

turns on the one or more blowers at a predetermined rotational speed; and

opens the louver arrangement.