Switchgear cabinet air-conditioning arrangement

• US 6,041,851 A
• Filed: 03/12/1997
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rittal GmbH & Company KG (Friedhelm Loh, PhD)
• Original Assignee: Rittal GmbH & Company KG (Friedhelm Loh, PhD)
• Inventors: Edelmann, Achim, Hain, Markus, Diebel, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCKINNON, TERRELL L
• Application Number:
  US08/819,704
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 165/48.1, 165/104.33, 165/104.34, 165/223, 165/80.3, 62/180, 236/49.3, 312/236, 361/384
• US Class Current: 165/104.33
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/565 for cabinets

Abstract

The invention relates to a switchgear cabinet air conditioning arrangement, having a central control arrangement as well as sensors communicating therewith and air conditioning components. Numerous air conditioning "strategies" are made possible, and hence an adaptation to variable conditions of use, are achieved by the measures where various air conditioning components are disposed at various locations in the switchgear and are controlled or regulated by means of the central control arrangement in dependence on sensor signals and/or adjustable or programmable controls.

Claims

1. An air conditioning arrangement for a switchgear cabinet containing a plurality of electrical/electronic assemblies, the air conditioning arrangement comprising:

a central control unit;

at least one air conditioning apparatus external to the cabinet;

a plurality of sensors at different, respective locations in the cabinet, said sensors each interfaced with the central control unit, such plurality of sensors including at least two temperature sensors and at least one moisture sensor; and

a plurality of individual cooling components disposed at respective locations in the switchgear cabinet, said cooling components each separately controlled by the central control unit in response to signals received from at least one of the sensors, the cooling components including at least one fan and at least one cooling component selected from the group consisting of a cooling apparatus and a heat exchanger, thereby providing both global and localized air conditioning as needed for the plurality of electrical assemblies within the switchgear cabinet.

2. The switchgear-cabinet air conditioning arrangement of claim 1 further including a heating device within the cabinet, said heating device separately controlled by the central control unit in response to signals received from at least one of the sensors.

3. The switchgear-cabinet air conditioning arrangement of claim 1 wherein at least one of the cooling components of the group of components comprising the cooling apparatus and the fan is actuated only at peak temperatures.

4. The switchgear-cabinet air conditioning arrangement of claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger is actuatable to lower the thermal base load.

5. The switchgear-cabinet air conditioning arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

such cabinet is installed in a location occupied during regularly recurring time of day and day of week and wherein;

the control unit has at least one sensor, the signal of which represents noise; and

the control unit controls, by the time of day and the day of the week, the cooling components for noise minimization.

6. The switchgear-cabinet air conditioning arrangement of claim 5 wherein the noise-optimized operation is controlled by a timer set for the time of day and for the day of the week.

7. The switchgear-cabinet air conditioning arrangement of claim 5 wherein:

the arrangement operates at a desired temperature that is lower than an operating temperature encountered during normal operations;

the cooling components include at least one internal fan and at least one external fan;

the internal fan operates at a first noise level and a first speed higher than its normal operating speed;

the external fan operates at a second noise level and a second speed lower than its normal operating speed;

the first noise level of the internal fan is less than the second noise level of the external fan; and

the cooling apparatus is operable when a heat exchanger is provided.

8. The switchgear-cabinet air conditioning arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

an emergency operation is provided in the central control unit;

the emergency operation is energy-optimized;

the desired temperature is increased in the emergency operation; and

higher threshold temperatures are permitted during emergency operation.

9. The switchgear-cabinet air conditioning arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the central control unit includes a detection stage;

an advanced operation which anticipates temperature rise is provided in the central control unit;

the advanced operation is selectable by means of the detection stage; and

the detection stage is time based.

10. The switchgear-cabinet air conditioning arrangement of claim 9 wherein:

the central control unit includes a detection stage;

an advanced operation which anticipates temperature rise is provided in the central control unit;

the advanced operation is selectable by means of the detection stage; and

the detection stage is based on electrical current.