Explosion-proof enclosures with active thermal management by heat exchange

• US 9,250,023 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Manahan, Joseph Michael, Kozlowski, Marc Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): CIRIC, LJILJANA V
• Application Number:
  US13/603,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20120325429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 165/200, 165/201
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0029 Heat sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0077 for tempering, e.g. with cooling or heating circuits for temperature control of elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/001 Casings in the form of plate-like arrangements; Frames enclosing a heat exchange core
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/136 explosion-proof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/202 Air circulating in closed loop within enclosure wherein heat is removed through heat-exchangers

Abstract

An explosion-proof enclosure including at least one heat exchanger for active thermal management. Equipment within the enclosure produces heat within the enclosure, while the at least one heat exchanger removes heat produced from the equipment and manages the internal temperature of the enclosure to a level suitable for hazardous locations.

Claims

1. An explosion-proof enclosure system, comprising:

an explosion-proof housing designed to contain an internal explosion without causing an external hazard; and

a heat exchanger system comprising;

a first portion positioned inside of the explosion-proof housing; and

a second portion mechanically coupled to the first portion, wherein the second portion is positioned outside of the explosion-proof housing.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an inlet pipe mechanically coupled to the first portion and the second portion, wherein the inlet pipe transports a cooled fluid from the second portion to the first portion; and

an outlet pipe mechanically coupled to the first portion and the second portion, wherein the outlet pipe transports a heated fluid from the first portion to the second portion.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe each traverse a wall of the explosion-proof housing.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are each sealed within the wall to maintain a desired hazardous rating integrity of the explosion-proof housing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first portion is integrated into a wall of the explosion-proof housing.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second portion is mechanically coupled to an exterior of the explosion-proof housing.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising equipment positioned inside of the explosion-proof housing, the equipment to be cooled or heated by the heat exchanger system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the explosion-proof housing is sealed to contain sources of ignition within the explosion-proof housing.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor that monitors a condition within the explosion-proof housing.