EP2653697B1 - Power generating unit with optimized cooling - Google Patents

Description

1. Field of the invention

The field of the invention is that of generating sets.

More specifically, the invention relates to a generator housed in a soundproof container of standardized dimensions, and more particularly in a container of the type "ISO 20 'dry" in accordance with the CSC (Container Safety Convention). "International Convention on Container Safety"), adopted by more than 100 countries. Such a container is formed of two longitudinal walls having a length of the order of 6 meters (20 feet) and two side walls having a width of the order of 2.4 meters.

These standard dimensions are important, to allow easy storage and transport, among a set of other containers of the same dimensions, for example on a ship.

2. Techniques of the prior art

It is known to use generators, either in areas that the power distribution network does not serve, or more typically to alleviate a possible power failure. In this case, the generators are mainly used to prevent situations where the interruption of the power supply would lead to serious consequences or financial losses, as in hospitals or airports.

Generally, these generators comprise a heat engine and an alternator connected to this heat engine so as to transform the energy received from the heat engine into electrical energy.

A disadvantage of such a device is that, to obtain optimum power, it is necessary to implement within this device means of generating and transforming energy quite large, which therefore generates significant noise pollution. This generated noise is unsatisfactory for the surrounding environment (eg hospital employees and patients).

It is known to place such means constituting a generator in soundproof containers. These containers, generally of standardized dimensions are formed of two longitudinal walls, two side walls, a base and an upper wall, so as to isolate the means for generating and transforming energy, the external environment.

To have high power, the generators are installed in containers 40 feet (about 12 meters) long, called "ISO 40 'dry" (see for example the document US 2003/0293901 .) Such containers have a large space, to move the elements away from each other, and optimize the heat dissipation and soundproofing. However, they have a large footprint, which is not acceptable in many cases.

We can then use a container of 20 feet, that is to say half the length. But in this case, it is not possible to obtain a very strong power. For example, for an ambient temperature of 45 ° C, it is not possible to obtain a power greater than 1000kwe COP (continuous power according to standard 8528).

Indeed, the use of a container of this size imposes a confinement that generates a strong increase in the temperature inside the container.

In other words, a disadvantage of such a device of the prior art is that the implementation of a generator forces to limit the power developed, to obtain acceptable noise and heat.

Yet another difficulty of such a generator is that the International Convention on Container Safety (CSC) requires that no element exceeds the container thereby preventing the development of such a group having cooling means extending to outside, for example on the roof, to comply with the CSC. The CSC also does not allow the presence of items to be dismantled for shipping.

3. Objectives of the invention

The object of the invention is in particular to overcome at least some of these disadvantages of the prior art.

More specifically, an object of the invention is, according to at least one embodiment, to provide a generator housed in a container of the type "ISO 20 'dry", which allows to obtain a relatively large power, and greater than the one available today for such a container, while optimizing the dissipation of the heat released.

Thus, according to at least one embodiment, an object of the invention is to provide such a generator, capable of delivering at least 1200 kwe COP (continuous power according to standard 8528) at an ambient temperature of 45 ° C.

Another object of the invention, in at least one embodiment, is to provide such a generator which limits as much as possible the noise generated.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a generator which is in conformity with the CSC and which, moreover, does not require any particular disassembly for maritime transport.

4. Presentation of the invention

These objectives, as well as others which will appear more clearly later, are achieved by means of a generator comprising, in a soundproof container of standardized dimensions, formed of two longitudinal walls having a length of the order of 6 meters, two side walls having a width of the order of 2.4 meters, a base and an upper wall, a heat engine and an alternator connected to said engine to be able to transform the energy received from said engine into electrical energy.

• un premier circuit de refroidissement des puissances rayonnées par ledit moteur, comprenant :
  • au moins trois entrées d'air distribuées sur un premier côté dudit conteneur, sur une première desdites parois latérales et lesdites parois longitudinales ;
  • au moins deux éléments de distribution de l'air reçu via lesdites entrées d'air, délivrant l'air vers ledit moteur et ledit alternateur respectivement en partie basse et en partie haute dudit conteneur ;
  • au moins deux premières sorties d'air, formées dans ladite paroi supérieure, sur le second côté dudit conteneur, au voisinage d'au moins un silencieux d'échappement dudit moteur, ledit silencieux étant monté sensiblement verticalement, de façon à être refroidi par l'air dirigé vers lesdites sorties ;
• un second circuit de refroidissement thermique dudit moteur, comprenant :
  • au moins trois radiateurs, distribués sur le second côté dudit conteneur, respectivement sur la seconde desdites parois latérales et lesdites parois longitudinales ;
  • au moins une seconde sortie d'air, formée dans ladite paroi supérieure, sur le second côté dudit conteneur ;
  • au moins un ventilateur d'extraction d'air, monté au voisinage de ladite sortie d'air.

According to the invention, the generating set uses two air circulation circuits, namely:

• a first cooling circuit of the powers radiated by said engine, comprising:
  • at least three air inlets distributed on a first side of said container, on a first of said side walls and said longitudinal walls;
  • at least two air distribution elements received via said air inlets, delivering air to said engine and said alternator respectively in the lower part and in the upper part of said container;
  • at least two first air outlets, formed in said upper wall, on the second side of said container, in the vicinity of at least one exhaust muffler of said engine, said muffler being mounted substantially vertically, so as to be cooled by the air directed to said outlets;
• a second thermal cooling circuit of said motor, comprising:
  • at least three radiators, distributed on the second side of said container, respectively on the second of said side walls and said longitudinal walls;
  • at least a second air outlet, formed in said upper wall, on the second side of said container;
  • at least one exhaust fan mounted in the vicinity of said air outlet.

Thus, the invention proposes a new and inventive approach to the implementation of cooling means in combination, in a container of the "ISO 20 'dry" type conforming to the CSC, making it possible to obtain efficient cooling, despite the small dimensions the container, and therefore an improved power, greater than that available in the generators of the prior art.

An advantage of such a generator is that the power generated is optimized, for implementation in a standardized compact container, easily transportable and stackable.

In one embodiment of the invention, the generating set uses two exhaust silencers whose outputs are defined in the upper wall so as to be each placed between two of the first air outlets.

In another embodiment of the invention, the generator set uses two fans for extracting air.

According to one implementation of the generator, the exhaust silencer or silencers are separated from said engine by a partition.

The generator may also include a control box, housed in the first side of the container.

In one embodiment of the invention, the generating set comprises at least one air filter, placed above the engine.

In another embodiment of the invention, the generator delivers a power of at least 1200 kwe COP at an ambient temperature of 45 °.

5. List of figures

• les figures 1A à 1E illustrent en vue d'ensemble un mode de réalisation d'un groupe électrogène selon l'invention, respectivement en vue du côté droit, en vue arrière, en vue du côté gauche, en vue avant et en vue de dessus ;
• les figures 2A et 2B illustrent en vue intérieure respectivement du côté droit et du côté gauche, un groupe électrogène selon le mode de réalisation des figures 1A à 1E ; et
• la figure 3 présente une vue de face de la cloison d'isolation séparant les silencieux du moteur.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly after reading the following description, given as a simple illustrative and non-limiting example, and the accompanying drawings below, in which:

• the FIGS. 1A to 1E illustrate an overall view of an embodiment of a generating set according to the invention, respectively in view of the right side, in rear view, in view of the left side, in front view and in plan view;
• the Figures 2A and 2B illustrate in an interior view respectively on the right side and on the left side, a generator according to the embodiment of the FIGS. 1A to 1E ; and
• the figure 3 has a front view of the insulation wall separating the mufflers from the engine.

6. Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

In all the figures of this document, identical elements are designated by the same reference numeral.

Subsequently, in relation to the FIGS. 1A to 1E , an embodiment of the invention. The FIGS. 1A to 1E are respectively right, rear, left, front and top views of an embodiment of the generator set according to the invention.

As illustrated in these figures, the generator 1 comprises a container "ISO 20 'dry" of standardized dimensions formed of two longitudinal walls, namely a right wall 2 and a left wall 4, these two walls longitudinal having a length of the order of 6 meters (more exactly 20 feet). The container also comprises two side walls having a width of the order of 2.4 meters, namely a rear wall 3 and a front wall 5, as well as a base (not visible in the various views) and an upper wall 6 .

The generator typically comprises a heat engine and an alternator (not visible on the FIGS. 1A to 1E ).
According to the invention, two separate air circulation circuits, namely a first cooling circuit of the powers radiated by the engine, and a second thermal cooling circuit of the engine, are defined in a particular and optimized manner. The engine and the alternator thus deliver a large power, for example of 1200 kW, and generate a large Joule effect heat which is reduced according to the invention by the first and second cooling circuits, so that cooling in the example above, allow normal operation at an ambient temperature of approximately 45 degrees Celsius.

In the following description, the first side C1 designates the side of the generator including the rear side wall 3 and the first half of each of the longitudinal walls 2, 4 in the vicinity of the rear side wall. The second side C2 designates the side of the generator including the front side wall 5 and the second half of each of the longitudinal walls 2, 4 in the vicinity of the front side wall.

Each of the right and left longitudinal walls 4 has two maintenance doors 22, 23, 42, 43 arranged near the center of each of these walls and substantially symmetrically.

The right longitudinal wall 2 further comprises an access door to a power connection module 21 on the C1 side and an access door 24 to the exhaust silencers and a radiator R1 on the C2 side. The left longitudinal wall 4 has on the C2 side a radiator R2, and an access door 44 to the exhaust silencer, and an air inlet grille A4 on the C1 side.

The rear side wall 3 comprises two air intake grids A2, A3 while the front side wall 5 comprises a radiator R3.

The Figures 2A and 2B illustrate the inside of a generator according to an embodiment of the invention in right and left side views respectively.

As illustrated in these figures, the generating set comprises, in addition to the motor 10 placed substantially in the center of the soundproof container, a frame 11, two mufflers 131, 132 mounted vertically and symmetrically close to each of the two longitudinal walls, and a desk 16. The two mufflers 131, 132 implemented to reduce the noise of the engine exhaust and thus improve the soundproofing of the container.

As stated above, the generator thus comprises two air circulation circuits, namely a first air circulation circuit for cooling the power radiated by the engine, and a second air circulation circuit for the air. thermal cooling of the engine (cylinder head and crankcase in particular).

The first cooling circuit of the powers radiated by the engine comprises, in addition to the four air inlets A1, A2, A3, A4 distributed on the first side of the container, two elements A5, A6 of distribution of the air received by the air inlets. The four air inlets allow the passage of AE air flows and route them to the distribution elements A5, A6. These distribution elements then direct the air towards the engine and the alternator, for example in the form of a flow of air AH at the top of the container and an air flow AB at the bottom of the container.

In this way, a large area of the engine and the alternator is cooled by the air flows AH, AB. The air flows AH, AB, which have warmed up in contact with the engine, are then directed to the quiet room 7, defined by the isolating partition 71 separating the mufflers from the engine. This partition, illustrated by the figure 3 , has openings 710, 711, 712, 713, 714 allowing the passage of air to the quiet local, then to the outputs A10, A11 defined on the upper wall 6. This partition also comprises two openings 135, 136 allowing let the exhaust from the engine to the exhaust silencers.

On their way to the outlets A10, A11, the air flows AH, AB circulate along the two exhaust silencers 131, 132 so as to cool them as well. The two mufflers 131, 132 are mounted vertically so as to optimize the space requirement and to be cooled along their entire length by the rising air flows to the outlets A10, A11. These two silencers each have an exhaust outlet 133, 134 so that they can eject the exhaust gas from the engine 10. In this embodiment, the outputs of the silencers are defined at the level of the upper wall so as to each be placed between the two air outlets A10, A11 of the first cooling circuit.

The second air circulation circuit for thermal cooling of the engine comprises three radiators R1, R2 and R3, distributed on the second side of the container, namely a radiator R1 on the right longitudinal wall, a radiator R3, on the wall front side, and a radiator R2 on the left longitudinal wall.

These three radiators define an optimized cooling surface, in a limited space, and cool the engine through a circulation circuit. This circuit comprises a first portion 12 for circulating a low temperature fluid (cooled by the radiators) which is directed from the radiators to the engine. This fluid is heated in contact with the engine, thereby lowering the temperature of the latter, and is returned to the radiators by a second portion 14 of the high temperature fluid circulation circuit.

In this embodiment, the cooling fluid contained in the circulation circuit is glycol water.

The passage of low temperature fluid at the engine thus allows the latter to cool and has the direct effect of heating the fluid. Four openings 121, 122, 141, 142 formed in the partition 71 allow the first portion of the circulation circuit 12 and the second portion of the circulation circuit 14 to direct the engine fluid to the radiators and vice versa. These four openings respectively correspond to the motor input 121 of the first portion (low temperature), the motor output 122 of the first portion, the motor input 141 of the second portion (high temperature), and the motor output 142 of the second portion.

The heated fluid changes from a high temperature to a low temperature by being cooled by the incoming air BE in the radiators R1, R2 and R3.

The second cooling circuit further comprises two exhaust fans B10 located, in this embodiment, at the end of the upper wall 6, the second side of the container. These fans make it possible to accelerate and control the flow of the BE air flow through the radiators R1, R2 and R3 and thus optimize the cooling of the fluid flowing in the radiators and the engine.

Of course, many other embodiments are possible. For example, it is possible to provide a different number of air inlets of the first cooling circuit. It is also possible to provide a different arrangement of these air intakes.

Moreover, it is possible to imagine an embodiment of the invention in which the number of radiators or the distribution of these are different from those of the embodiment shown. In addition, a greater number of second air outlets or fans can be provided.

Claims (7)

1. Power generator set (1) comprising, in a soundproof container of standardized dimensions formed by two longitudinal walls (2, 4) with a length of the order of 6 meters, two side walls (3, 5) with a length of the order of 2.4 meters, a base and a top wall (6), a heat engine (10) and an alternator connected to said heat engine (10) to enable the conversion of the energy received from said heat engine (10) into electrical energy,
   characterized in that it implements two air circulation circuits:

   - a first cooling circuit for cooling the power radiated by said engine, comprising:

   - at least three air inlets (A1, A2, A3, A4) distributed on a first side of said container, on a first of said side walls (3, 5) and said longitudinal walls (2,4);

   - at least two elements for distributing air received through said air inlets, delivering the air (AE) to said engine and said alternator respectively at the lower part and at the upper part of said container;

   - at least two first air outlets (A10, A11) formed in said upper wall (6) on the second side of said container, in the vicinity of at least one exhaust silencer (131, 132) of said engine (10), said silencer (131, 132) being mounted substantially vertically, so as to be cooled by the air (AS) directed towards said outlets;

   - a second circuit for the thermal cooling of said engine, comprising:

   - at least three radiators, distributed on the second side of said container, respectively on the second of said side walls and said longitudinal walls;

   - at least one second air outlet (B11, B 13) formed in said top wall (6) on the second side of said container;

   - at least one air extraction fan (B10) mounted in the vicinity of said air outlet.
2. Power generator set (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it implements two exhaust silencers (131, 132), the outlets of which are defined in said top wall (6) so that each of them is placed between two of said first air outlets.
3. Power generator set (1) according to any one of the claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it implements two air extraction fans (B10).
4. Power generator set (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said exhaust silencer or silencers (131, 132) are separated from said engine (10) by a partition wall.
5. Power generator set (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a control box (16) housed in said first side of said container.
6. Power generator set (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one air filter placed above said engine.
7. Power generator set (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it delivers power of at least 1200 kwe at an ambient temperature of 45°.

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