ARC FLASH RESISTANT ENCLOSURE WITH SEGREGATED COOLING

• US 20180323022A1
• Filed: 09/29/2017
• Published: 11/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Skibinski, Gary L., Guskov, Nickolay N., Krautkramer, Steven J., Mariscal, Jesus, Clavette, James P., Liu, Zhijun
• Granted Patent: US 10,629,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/08 Stationary parts for restricting or subdividing the arc, e.g. barrier plate
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/565 for cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 13/025 Safety arrangements, e.g. in case of excessive pressure or fire due to electrical defect
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/16 responsive to fault current to earth, frame or mass with balanced or differential arrangement H02H3/26 ; monitoring earth connection H02H5/105
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20145 Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides

Abstract

Disclosed examples include enclosures with segregated or divided cooling paths and improved arc flash resistance. In one example, a TYPE 12, 50 DEGREE C. ambient common bus power conversion enclosure design provides enhanced arc flash protection & segregated cooling for high reliability of imbedded electronics. Example enclosures and systems can be used in association with AC/DC converters for motor drives or motor control centers, and/or for electroplating or painting systems with modular anode control (MAC) systems to implement an anodic DC electroplating for workpieces and other end use applications.

Claims

1. An enclosure, comprising:

a first compartment to operate at a first controlled temperature range, the first compartment including a variable frequency drive;

a second compartment to operate at a second controlled temperature range higher than the first controlled temperature range, the second compartment including magnetics and higher temperature rated components,

a first intake vent to receive ambient air into the first compartment;

a second intake vent to receive ambient air into the second compartment; and

a blower to direct air from both the first and second compartments out of the enclosure;

wherein ambient air received in the first compartment flows along a first cooling path extending from the first intake vent to the blower;

wherein ambient air received in the second compartment flows along a second cooling path extending from the second intake vent to the blower; and

wherein a terminal portion of the first flow path joins the second flow path prior to the blower.

2. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a partition at least partially separating the first compartment from the second compartment, and at least one opening in the partition through which the first flow path extends from the first compartment into the second compartment.

3. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the at least one opening is at an upper portion of the partition adjacent a top panel of the enclosure.

4. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising at least one door for accessing the first compartment.

5. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the at least one door includes the first intake vent, wherein the first intake vent is the only pathway to the ambient environment through the door.

6. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the blower is a TYPE 12, 50 degree C. 2-speed blower.

7. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein a first arc flash path of the first compartment extends between the first intake vent and the blower, the arc flash path making at least two 90 degree turns prior to the blower.

8. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein a second arc flash path of the second compartment extends between the second intake vent and the blower, the first arc flash path and the second arc flash path being coextensive within at least a portion of the second compartment.

9. The enclosure of claim 8, wherein both the first arc flash path and the second arc flash path exit the enclosure through a top panel of the enclosure.

10. An enclosure for electrical equipment comprising:

a low temperature compartment to operate at a first controlled temperature range, the low temperature compartment configured to house a first set of associated electrical components;

a high temperature compartment to operate at a second controlled temperature range higher than the first controlled temperature range, the high temperature compartment configured to house a second set of associated electrical components;

a first intake vent to receive ambient air into the low temperature compartment;

a second intake vent to receive ambient air into the high temperature compartment; and

a blower to direct air from both the low temperature compartment and the high temperature compartment out of the enclosure;

wherein ambient air entering the low temperature compartment flows along a first cooling path extending from the first intake vent to the blower;

wherein ambient air entering the high temperature compartment flows along a second cooling path extending from the second intake vent to the blower; and

wherein a terminal portion of the first flow path joins the second flow path prior to the blower.

11. The enclosure of claim 10, further comprising a partition at least partially separating the low temperature compartment from the high temperature compartment within the enclosure, and at least one opening in the partition through which the first flow path extends from the low temperature compartment into the high temperature compartment.

12. The enclosure of claim 11, wherein the at least one opening is at an upper portion of the partition adjacent a top panel of the enclosure.

13. The enclosure of claim 10, further comprising at least one door for accessing the first compartment.

14. The enclosure of claim 13, wherein the at least one door includes the first intake vent, wherein the first intake vent is the only pathway to the ambient environment through the door.

15. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein the blower is a TYPE 12, 50 degree C. 2-speed blower.

16. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein a first arc flash path of the low temperature compartment extends between the first intake vent and the blower, the arc flash path making at least two 90 degree turns prior to the blower.

17. The enclosure of claim 16, wherein a second arc flash path of the high temperature compartment extends between the second intake vent and the blower, the first arc flash path and the second arc flash path being coextensive within at least a portion of the second compartment.

18. The enclosure of claim 18, wherein both the first arc flash path and the second arc flash path exit the enclosure through a top panel of the enclosure.