Heat transfer system for use with electrical devices and method of operating the same

• US 8,792,226 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Dhar, Sandeep, Greenwood, Peter James, Gadiyaram, Janaki, Prasad, Manish
• Primary Examiner(s): Datskovskiy, Michail V
• Application Number:
  US13/431,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20130258557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 361/600, 361/605, 361/611, 361/634, 361/637, 361641-648, 361/675, 361/676, 361/677, 361/624, 361/626, 361/631, 36167946-67954, 361700-702, 361/688, 361/689, 361690-695, 361/714, 361/715, 174/50.02, 174/16.2, 174/68.2, 174/68.3, 174/70.B, 174/71.B, 174/72.B, 174/88.B, 174/99.B, 174/133.B, 165/104.33, 165/185, 165/104.26, 312/223.2, 312/236, 454/184
• US Class Current: 361/622
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/20 Bus-bar or other wiring layouts, e.g. in cubicles, in switchyards installations of bus-bars H02G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/30 Cabinet-type casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/56 Cooling; Ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 5/10 Cooling

Abstract

A heat transfer system includes an electrical distribution cabinet extending about at least one current-carrying conductor. The heat transfer system also includes at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device coupled to the at least one current-carrying conductor. The heat transfer system further includes at least one heat pipe coupled to the at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device. The heat pipe is also thermally coupled to at least a portion of the electrical distribution cabinet.

Claims

1. A heat transfer system comprising:

an electrical distribution cabinet extending about at least one busbar;

at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device mechanically coupled to the at least one busbar; and

at least one heat pipe coupled to said at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device and thermally coupled to at least a portion of said electrical distribution cabinet.

2. The heat transfer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device comprises a thermally-conducting polymeric material.

3. The heat transfer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one heat pipe comprises a thermally-conducting material.

4. The heat transfer system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said at least one heat pipe comprises a metallic substance.

5. The heat transfer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device coupled to the at least one busbar comprises a first electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device; and

said at least one heat pipe is coupled to said first electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device and a second electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device, wherein said second electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device is coupled to said at least a portion of said electrical distribution cabinet.

6. The heat transfer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrical distribution cabinet is substantially closed to air ingress and egress.

7. The heat transfer system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrical distribution cabinet is open to air ingress and egress.

8. An electrical distribution cabinet comprising:

at least one busbar;

at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device mechanically coupled to said at least one busbar; and

at least one heat pipe coupled to said at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device and thermally coupled to at least a portion of said electrical distribution cabinet.

9. The electrical distribution cabinet in accordance with claim 8, wherein said at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device comprises a thermally-conducting polymeric material.

10. The electrical distribution cabinet in accordance with claim 8, wherein:

said at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device coupled to said at least one busbar comprises a first electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device; and

said at least one heat pipe is coupled to said first electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device and a second electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device, wherein said second electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device is coupled to said at least a portion of said electrical distribution cabinet.

11. The electrical distribution cabinet in accordance with claim 8, wherein said electrical distribution cabinet is substantially closed to air ingress and egress.

12. The electrical distribution cabinet in accordance with claim 8, wherein said electrical distribution cabinet is open to air ingress and egress.

13. A method of removing heat from an electrical distribution cabinet including at least one busbar, said method comprising:

energizing the at least one busbar;

transferring heat from the at least one busbar through at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device, wherein the at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device is mechanically coupled to the at least one busbar; and

transferring heat from the at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device to a portion of the electrical distribution cabinet through a heat pipe.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein transferring heat from the at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device to a portion of the electrical distribution cabinet through a heat pipe comprises transferring heat from a first electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device to the heat pipe.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein transferring heat from the at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device to a portion of the electrical distribution cabinet through a heat pipe comprises transferring heat from the heat pipe to the electrical distribution cabinet through a second electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device.

16. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein transferring heat from the at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device to a portion of the electrical distribution cabinet through a heat pipe comprises transferring heat from the at least one electrically-insulating and thermally conductive device to a thermally-conducting conduit of the heat pipe defining a passageway therein.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein transferring heat from the at least one electrically-insulating and thermally conductive device to a thermally-conducting conduit of the heat pipe defining a passageway therein comprises:

transferring heat from the at least one busbar through a first electrically-insulating and thermally conductive device into a heat pipe defining a passageway therein that is at least partially filled with a liquid;

inducing a first phase change in at least a portion of the liquid as heat is transferred into the heat pipe, thereby generating at least some vapor; and

inducing a second phase change in at least a portion of the vapor as heat is transferred from the heat pipe into the electrical distribution cabinet, thereby condensing at least a portion of the vapor within the passageway.

18. The method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising transferring heat from the electrical distribution cabinet to ambient air.