Battery Test and Condensation Prevention Method, System and Apparatus

• US 20130160522A1
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Kromrey, Timothy Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,097,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/29.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/386 using test-loads
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A single common load is provided for both space heating of the interior of an enclosure and for testing of a back-up battery therewith. The common load is coupled to either the battery for momentary load testing thereof, or to a power supply when heat is to be generated by the load for space heating of an interior of an enclosure. Providing only a single load for both space heating and battery testing results in reduced component costs, space savings and simplification of connections and wiring harnesses required. Power resistors, active components such as transistors or MOSFETs, and/or resistive heat tracing may be used as the common load, and deposed within the interior of the enclosure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing a battery and space heating an enclosure, comprising:

at least one switchable load located in an enclosure;

a voltage sensor for measuring voltage of a battery; and

monitoring and control equipment coupled to the voltage sensor and controlling the at least one switchable load;

wherein the at least one switchable load is coupled to a power source when temperature is to be raised in the enclosure; and

wherein the monitoring and control equipment couples the at least one switchable load to the battery when a test thereof is performed.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a relative humidity sensor for measuring relative humidity within the enclosure;

the monitoring and control equipment coupled to the relative humidity sensor;

wherein the at least one switchable load is coupled to a power source when the measured relative humidity is greater than a certain relative humidity value, whereby the enclosure temperature increases to prevent moisture condensation therein.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring and control equipment is located in the enclosure.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the battery is located in the enclosure.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the monitoring and control equipment, wherein the temperature sensor measures temperature within the enclosure.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the monitoring and control equipment couples the at least one switchable load to the power source when the measured temperature is less than a minimum temperature value, whereby the enclosure temperature increases.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the monitoring and control equipment couples the at least one switchable load to the power source when the measured temperature indicates a potential moisture condensation condition within the enclosure.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the monitoring and control equipment couples the at least one switchable load to the power source when the measured relative humidity indicates a potential moisture condensation condition within the enclosure.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communications interface coupled to the monitoring and control equipment and adapted for communicating information between the monitoring and control equipment and a remote supervisory and control system.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the information between the monitoring and control equipment and the remote supervisory and control system is communicated over a wired medium.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the information between the monitoring and control equipment and the remote supervisory and control system is communicated over a wireless medium.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure is selected from the group consisting of, an explosion proof enclosure, a dust proof enclosure, a water proof enclosure, a rain tight enclosure, and an indoor dry use enclosure.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one switchable load comprises at least one power resistor, transistor or MOSFET within the enclosure, and at least one switch for coupling the at least one power resistor to either the battery or the power source.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one switch is selected from the group consisting of an electro-mechanical relay, a power transistor, and a MOSFET.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one switchable load comprises resistive heat tracing within the enclosure, and a switch for coupling the resistive heat tracing to either the battery or the power source.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the switch is selected from the group consisting of an electro-mechanical relay, a power transistor, and a MOSFET.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one switchable load comprises at least one constant current power transistor or MOSFET.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one switchable load is thermally coupled to the enclosure.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heat sink in thermal communications with the at least one switchable load.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a fan blowing air within the enclosure across the heat sink.

21. A system for testing a battery and space heating an enclosure, said system comprising:

operational electrical components located within an enclosure;

at least one switchable load located within the enclosure;

a battery coupled to at least one of the operational electrical components;

a voltage sensor for measuring voltage of the battery; and

monitoring and control equipment coupled to the voltage sensor and controlling the least one switchable load;

wherein the at least one switchable load is coupled to a power source when temperature is to be raised in the enclosure; and

wherein the monitoring and control equipment couples the at least one switchable load to the battery when a test thereof is performed.

22. The system according to claim 21, further comprising:

a relative humidity sensor for measuring relative humidity within the enclosure;

the monitoring and control equipment coupled to the relative humidity sensor;

wherein the at least one switchable load is coupled to a power source when the measured relative humidity is greater than a certain relative humidity value, whereby the enclosure temperature increases to prevent moisture condensation therein.

23. The system according to claim 21, further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the monitoring and control equipment, wherein the temperature sensor measures temperature within the enclosure.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the monitoring and control equipment couples the at least one switchable load to the power source when the measured temperature is less than a minimum temperature value, whereby the enclosure temperature increases.

25. The system according to claim 21, wherein the operational electrical components are selected from any one or more of the group consisting of at least one circuit breaker, at least one fuse, at least one motor starter, generator control equipment, programmable logic controller (PLC), industrial process controller, radio communications relay and repeater.

26. A method for testing a battery and space heating an enclosure, said method comprising the steps of:

testing a battery by coupling at least one switchable load located within an enclosure to the battery and measuring a voltage drop thereof;

measuring a relative humidity within the enclosure;

determining whether the measured relative humidity within the enclosure is approaching a certain relative humidity value;

connecting the at least one switchable load to a power source when the measured relative humidity is greater than the certain relative humidity value, thereby increasing temperature and reducing the relative humidity within the enclosure; and

returning to the step of measuring the relative humidity within the enclosure.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

measuring a temperature within the enclosure;

disconnecting the at least one switchable load from the power source if the measured temperature is greater than a specified high temperature value; and

returning to the step of measuring the temperature within the enclosure.

28. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

measuring a temperature within the enclosure;

connecting the at least one switchable load to the power source if the measured temperature is less than a specified low temperature value; and

returning to the step of measuring the temperature within the enclosure.

29. The method according to claim 26, wherein the at least one switchable load comprises at least one power resistor or MOSFET within the enclosure, and at least one switch for coupling the at least one power resistor or MOSFET to either the battery or the power source.

30. The system according to claim 26, wherein the at least one switchable resistive load comprises resistive heat tracing within the enclosure, and switches for coupling the resistive heat tracing to either the battery or the power source.

31. The system according to claim 26, wherein the at least one switchable load comprises at least one constant current power transistor or MOSFET within the enclosure, and switches for coupling the at least one constant current power transistor or MOSFET to either the battery or the power source.

32. A method for testing a battery and space heating an enclosure, said method comprising the steps of:

testing a battery by coupling at least one switchable load located within an enclosure to the battery and measuring a voltage drop thereof;

measuring a temperature within the enclosure;

connecting the at least one switchable load to the power source if the measured temperature is less than a specified low temperature value; and

returning to the step of measuring the temperature within the enclosure.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the steps of:

disconnecting the at least one switchable load from the power source if the measured temperature is greater than a specified high temperature value; and

returning to the step of measuring the temperature within the enclosure.