Moisture Control Systems For Enclosures

• US 20170347473A1
• Filed: 05/24/2017
• Published: 11/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Freer, Benjamin Avery, Taylor, Jesse Wade, Scarlata, Andrew Francis, Manahan, Joseph Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,863,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/80 Water
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40096 by using electrical resistance heating
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0454 Controlling adsorption controlling temperature swing adsorption B01D53/0462, controlling pressure swing adsorption B01D53/047
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/261 by adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/28 dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/088 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0212 Condensation eliminators
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0213 Venting apertures; Constructional details thereof

Abstract

An enclosure system can include an enclosure comprising at least one wall forming a first cavity. The enclosure system can further include a moisture control system in communication with the enclosure, wherein the moisture control system controls at least one condition within the cavity of the enclosure, where the at least one condition affects an amount of moisture within the first cavity. The moisture control system can include a sensor that measures an amount of moisture in desiccant disposed within a desiccant vessel. The moisture control system can include a structural filter and a desiccant vessel, where the structural filter is coupled to an enclosure and disposed within a cavity formed by the enclosure, where the desiccant vessel is removably coupled to the structural filter, and where the desiccant vessel is accessible from outside the enclosure.

Claims

1. An enclosure system comprising:

an enclosure comprising at least one wall forming a first cavity; and

a moisture control system in communication with the enclosure, wherein the moisture control system controls at least one condition within the cavity of the enclosure, wherein the at least one condition affects an amount of moisture within the first cavity.

2. The enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is located in a hazardous environment and complies with standards applicable to the hazardous environment.

3. The enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the moisture control system comprises:

a desiccant vessel that contains desiccant, wherein the desiccant vessel is disposed in the first cavity of the enclosure;

a heating element in contact with the desiccant vessel ; and

a power source electrically coupled to the heating element, wherein the power source provides power to the heating element,

wherein the heating element, when receiving the power, generates heat that is transferred to the desiccant within the container.

4. The enclosure system of claim 3, wherein the power source comprises a main source of power and an energy storage device, wherein the energy storage device provides reserve power to the heating element when the main source of power ceases to provide primary power to the heating element.

5. The enclosure system of claim 4, wherein the energy storage device is charged by the main source of power.

6. The enclosure system of claim 3, wherein the moisture control system further comprises:

an air moving device electrically coupled to the power source.

7. The enclosure system of claim 3, wherein the moisture control system further comprises:

a sensor device disposed within the desiccant, wherein the sensor device measures an amount of moisture in the desiccant.

8. The enclosure system of claim 7, wherein the moisture control system further comprises:

a controller coupled to the power source and the sensor device.

9. The enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the moisture control system comprises:

a structural filter disposed, in part, in the first cavity of the enclosure, wherein the structural filter traverses an enclosure wall of the enclosure, wherein the structural filter comprises a body that forms a second cavity; and

a desiccant vessel that is removably coupled to and disposed within the second cavity of the body of the structural filter, wherein the desiccant vessel is accessible by a user from outside the enclosure.

10. The enclosure system of claim 9, wherein the desiccant vessel comprises a base, wherein the base comprises mating threads that are threadably coupled to complementary mating threads disposed on the structural filter.

11. The enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the moisture control system comprises:

a breather disposed in an enclosure wall of the enclosure, wherein the breather comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the breather is disposed adjacent to the first cavity of the enclosure, and wherein the distal end of the breather is disposed, at least in part, in the enclosure wall of the enclosure; and

a desiccant vessel that is removably coupled to the enclosure, wherein the desiccant vessel is disposed adjacent to the distal portion of the breather, wherein the desiccant vessel is accessible by a user from outside the enclosure.

12. The enclosure system of claim 11, wherein the desiccant vessel comprises a base, wherein the base comprises mating threads that are threadably coupled to complementary mating threads disposed in the enclosure wall of the enclosure.

13. The enclosure system of claim 11, wherein the desiccant vessel comprises a body, wherein the body comprises a material that allows a user to see a color of the desiccant, wherein the desiccant changes color based on a moisture content of the desiccant.

14. An enclosure system comprising:

an enclosure comprising at least one wall forming a cavity; and

a moisture control system in communication with the enclosure, wherein the moisture control system comprises;

a moisture control device disposed, at least in part, within the cavity of the enclosure;

a sensor that measures a parameter associated with an effectiveness of the moisture control device; and

a controller that receives measurements made by the sensor and determines whether the effectiveness of the moisture control device has been compromised based on the measurements.

15. The enclosure system of claim 14, wherein the moisture control device comprises a desiccant vessel containing desiccant, wherein the parameter measured by the sensor is an amount of moisture in the desiccant disposed within the desiccant vessel, and wherein the controller determines whether the amount of moisture falls outside a range of acceptable values.

16. The enclosure system of claim 15, wherein the sensor is disposed within the desiccant.

17. The enclosure system of claim 14, wherein the enclosure is located in a hazardous environment.

18. An enclosure system comprising:

an enclosure comprising at least one wall forming a first cavity; and

at least one moisture control system in communication with the enclosure, wherein the at least one moisture control system controls at least one condition within the cavity of the enclosure, wherein the at least one moisture control system comprises;

a structural filter defining a portion of the first cavity of the enclosure, wherein the structural filter traverses at least part of an aperture that traverses the at least one wall of the enclosure; and

a desiccant vessel that is removably in communication with the structural filter, wherein the desiccant vessel is accessible by a user from outside the enclosure.

19. The enclosure system of claim 18, wherein the desiccant vessel comprises a base, wherein the base comprises mating threads that are threadably coupled to complementary mating threads disposed on the structural filter.

20. The enclosure system of claim 18, wherein the desiccant vessel abuts against the structural filter within the aperture in the at least one wall of the enclosure, wherein the desiccant vessel comprises a base, wherein the base comprises mating threads that are threadably coupled to complementary mating threads disposed on the at least one wall of the enclosure forming the aperture.