EP2667137B1 - Modular thermosiphon and cooling housing - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a modular Thermosyphon comprising a plurality of ribbed cuboid thermosyphon modules with a respective condenser and evaporator side, which are separated from each other by an extending transversely to the ribs outer barrier wall, wherein a plurality of thermosiphon modules are arranged adjacent and wherein the respective outer barrier walls adjacent to each other in a common plane, which separates the condenser and the evaporator sides from each other. The invention also relates to a cooling housing with a modular thermosiphon.

It is well known that thermal siphons are also used as heat exchangers. These include a condenser and an evaporator, which are integrated into a closed and filled with a cooling medium cooling circuit. The evaporator side typically projects into a lower region, from which heat is to be removed. Due to the evaporation of the coolant located in the thermosiphon heat energy is removed from the evaporator side. The vaporized coolant moves within the closed cooling circuit in a natural cooling circuit up to a condenser side, where it is then put back under the release of heat energy in the liquid state and flows back to the evaporator side. The particular advantage of such a thermosyphon is that the heat transport function without using an active element such as a circulating pump or the like, so that a thermosiphon is a particularly safe and reliable variant of a heat exchanger.

In the patent EP 2284846 A1 is such a heat exchanger described, which is composed of a plurality of preferably similar thermosiphon modules and finds application in a cooling housing. The cooling housing is used to arrange a heat-generating component such as a transformer in a first sealed area, wherein the heat is transferred by the heat exchanger from the first sealed area to a second area from where the heat energy is released by means of forced cooling to the ambient air. The encapsulation of the first area serves in particular the purpose of keeping dirt or other harmful environmental influences such as saline air in ship transformers from the first area and thus to ensure greater reliability and longevity of the respective heat-generating component.

In the patent EP 0 536967 A2 discloses a protection system for a heat exchanger, by which overheating of the same is to be avoided. A partition is hereby provided for the separation of two different inner regions of the heat exchanger, which serve to guide each different gas flows, wherein respective Thermosyphonmodule are arranged by the partition wall .

The patent JPS5560180 A discloses an arrangement of heat pipes with juxtaposed partitions.

The modular arrangement of the thermosiphon modules to a thermosyphon serves primarily for the purpose of standardization, namely that by a suitable number of identical Thermosyphonmodulen in a simple manner individually a required cooling capacity can be installed in a cooling housing. Such a thermosiphon module generally has a cuboid or disc-like basic shape, which in turn has a rib-like structure. A rib usually comprises a channel leading up and down a closed cooling circuit, wherein the rib-like structure also enlarges the outer surface, so that a heat transfer to the respective surrounding cooling medium is facilitated.

The disadvantage, however, is that in a juxtaposition of the cuboid thermosyphon modules a strict separation of the evaporator and capacitor sides is prevented by the fact that each adjoining barrier walls of the thermosiphon modules do not close tight and so can be done mixing of the first and second cooling medium. Thus, contaminants of the second cooling medium, such as salty ambient air, may penetrate into the first encapsulated region of the cooling housing.

Based on this prior art, it is an object of the invention to provide a modular Thermosyphon, which despite its modularity, a simple and secure separation between the sides of the condenser and evaporator sides of the juxtaposed Thermosyphonmodule allows

This object is achieved by a modular thermosiphon according to claim 1. The barrier walls are angled at their respective adjacently arranged sides such that a respective common angled contact surface is formed by the angled side sections. The modular thermosiphon is characterized in that the angled side portions are resiliently configured, thereby causing a pressing force of adjacent side portions. The basic idea of the invention is that an increased and improved seal between the barrier walls is formed by the contact surface between the adjacent barrier walls. With a width of an in each case angled side section of, for example, 3 cm, an increase of the contact area by a factor of 15 is given compared with a thickness of the barrier wall of, for example, 2 mm. A resilient embodiment of the angled side sections, for example by using a spring steel, causes a contact force of adjacent side sections, so that in this way the sealing effect is increased again. Nevertheless, an assembly of several juxtaposed Thermosyphonmodule to a thermosiphon is particularly simple because a continuous barrier wall is avoided, but this is also carried out modularly. The attachment of the adjacent Thermosyphonmodule done, for example, two side support rails with corresponding holes to which then the laterally projecting barrier walls or barrier strips are screwed or secured in any other way.

A thermosyphon module usually has a plurality of ribs, which are arranged parallel to one another and perpendicular to the barrier wall. Therefore, the barrier wall, which is usually arranged at half height, is also a component of a thermosyphon module, which gives it a mechanical stability. The angling of the barrier wall according to the invention is a type of profile carrier formed, which increases the mechanical stability of the Thermosyphonmoduls in an advantageous manner.

According to a further embodiment, the barrier walls have a trapezoidal or U-shaped cross-section. As a result, the angled side regions are designed as straight surfaces, so that the sealing effect of the adjoining side regions is particularly high. Particularly preferred is a U-shaped design of the barrier to view. This allows the most space-saving possible juxtaposition of Thermosyphonmodulen invention.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the modular thermosyphon according to the invention, the barrier walls of the adjacent thermosiphon modules are arranged with alternating orientation. Alternating arrangement means that the depressions formed in the case of, for example, a trapezoidal or U-shaped cross-section are arranged alternately in opposite directions in adjacent barrier walls, so that a roof tile-like overlap is preferably provided. By such an overlap, for example, a dropping down of any condensed water from an overhead condenser area is reliably prevented in an underlying evaporator area, the condensate then collects in each barrier walls upwardly oriented as sinks. Optionally, in the case of increased occurrence of condensation, a pump device may also be provided which pumps the condensed water collected in the depressions from the condenser region

According to a further embodiment, a sealing means is at least partially provided on at least one common contact surface. Such a sealant is for example a silicone gel or else another sealant which can be applied to further increase the tightness of the barrier walls simply during assembly of the Thermosyphonmodule.

According to a further embodiment of the invention adjacently arranged angled side portions and a common contact surface forming barrier walls by means of at least one elongate clamping element with each other connected. Such a preferably elongate clamping element exerts a permanent contact pressure on the adjacent side sections, so that in this way the tightness is further increased in an advantageous manner. Such elongated clip elements are made of spring steel, for example, and can be easily postponed after mounting a Thermosyphonmoduls invention.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the modular thermosyphon according to the invention, adjacently arranged side sections of respective barrier walls are repeatedly angled and interlocked. As a result, the sealing effect is increased again and it is also possible that one or more thermosyphon modules are held by adjacent thermosyphon modules, for example when the side surfaces are sawtooth-like angled and interlocked.

The object according to the invention is also achieved by a cooling housing, comprising a first encapsulated inner region with a first cooling fluid, which is provided there to arrange a heat-generating component, comprising an adjoining second region, which is intended to be flowed through by a second cooling fluid are, wherein the first and the second region are thermally connected by a heat exchanger. The cooling housing is characterized in that a modular thermosyphon according to the invention is used as the heat exchanger, the evaporator sides projecting into the first region and the capacitor sides into the second region.

Thus, a cooling housing is provided, which on the one hand has a closed first inner region, which is largely shielded from environmental influences. The use of a modular heat exchanger according to the invention ensures that the thermal energy arising in the first inner region is removed to the outside, in which case the installed cooling capacity can be adapted particularly simply by installing a corresponding number of thermosiphon modules. The Thermosyphonmodule are particularly reliable due to the natural circulation of the coolant contained in them and do not require their own power supply. The angling of the barrier walls according to the invention is a ensures a particularly effective separation between encapsulated first interior and adjacent second area, so that the heat-generating component is particularly well protected against harmful effects of the ambient air or dirt.

According to a further embodiment variant of the cooling housing according to the invention, a dry-type transformer is arranged in the first encapsulated inner area as the heat-generating component. Such a dry-type transformer has, for example, a power in the range of 1 to 5 MVA and is used, for example, on ocean-going vessels for the on-board power supply. There, an encapsulation according to the invention is particularly important to protect the transformer from the harmful effects of salt-containing sea air. According to a particularly preferred embodiment variant of the cooling housing according to the invention, air is used as the first and / or second cooling fluid. In particular, ambient air as the second cooling fluid is suitable as a means of transport of the heat to be removed from the condenser area to an external heat sink.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the cooling housing according to the invention, at least one conveying device for the first or second cooling fluid is provided for generating a respective cooling fluid flow directed against the evaporator or condenser sides. This is, for example, in each case a blower, which blows the ambient air for improved heat exchange against the condenser side or a fan which blows the first cooling fluid in the encapsulated inner region against the evaporator side, so that an inner circuit of the first cooling fluid is formed in the encapsulated inner region.

Further advantageous embodiment possibilities can be found in the further dependent claims.

Reference to the dargesteilten in the drawings embodiments, the invention, further embodiments and other advantages will be described in detail.

Fig. 1

ein exemplarisches Thermosyphonmodul,

Fig. 2

einen ersten exemplarischen modularen Thermosyphon,

Fig. 3

einen zweiten exemplarischen modularen Thermosyphon,

Fig. 4

einen dritten exemplarischen modularen Thermosyphon,

Fig. 5

ein exemplarisches Kühlgehäuse mit Trockentransformator sowie

Fig. 6

Varianten von mehrfach angewinkelten Seitenabschnitten.

Show it:

Fig. 1

an exemplary thermosyphon module,

Fig. 2

a first exemplary modular thermosyphon,

Fig. 3

a second exemplary modular thermosyphone,

Fig. 4

a third exemplary modular thermosyphon,

Fig. 5

an exemplary cooling housing with dry transformer as well

Fig. 6

Variants of multi-angled side sections.

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary Thermosyphonmodul 10 according to the prior art in a three-dimensional view. This has a plurality of ribs 14, which are arranged transversely to a barrier wall 12. Each rib 14 comprises two internal channels for an internal cooling fluid, which transports heat energy in a closed circuit from the evaporator side located below the barrier wall 12 to the condenser side located above the barrier wall 12. At the upper and lower end of the thermosyphon module are provided cross-piping. The barrier wall 12 is formed by a flat metal strip, so that when stringing together several such thermosiphon modules no gap-free parting plane is formed, which could ensure a secure separation between the evaporator and condenser sides.

Fig. 2 shows a first exemplary modular thermosyphon 20 according to the invention in a side view. Three Thermosyphonmodule 28, 30, 32 are arranged side by side to a modular Thermosyphon, which in their central region respectively U-shaped barrier walls 38, 40, 42 which extend in a common plane 24. Above the common plane 24, the reference numeral 22 denotes the respective sides of the condenser, and below the common plane 24, the reference numeral 26, the respective evaporator sides of the thermosiphon modules 28, 30, 32. The respective fins of the thermosiphon modules 28, 30, 32 are connected in the upper and lower regions by means of common connection channels 34, 36, each rib having an upwardly and downwardly directed channel.

The U-shaped barrier walls 38, 40, 42 are aligned alternately, that is, the barrier walls 38 and 42 have the opposite orientation as the intermediate barrier wall 40. The barrier walls 38, 40, 42 are also roof tiles similar overlapping aligned, so that a Dripping of condensation water arising in the condenser region 22, even at a gap between the contact surfaces of the angled side sections of the barrier walls 38, 40, 42, does not lead to a transfer of condensed water to the evaporator sides 26. The adjacent angled rare sections may either directly adjoin one another and thus form respective contact surfaces 44, 46 or a seal or sealant may be provided therebetween.

Fig. 3 shows a second exemplary modular Thermosyphon 50 according to the invention in a side view. Three Thermosyphonmodule are arranged side by side to a modular Thermosyphon, which in their central region each have a U-shaped barrier wall 58, 60, 62 which extend in a common plane 54. Above the common plane 54 are denoted by the reference numeral 52, the respective capacitor sides and below the common plane 54 with the reference numeral 56, the respective evaporator sides of the thermosiphon modules arranged. The U-shaped barrier walls 58, 60, 62 are the same in this example, with common contact surfaces 64, 66 being formed between their adjoining angled, inclined surfaces, which lead to a significantly increased tightness between the barrier walls. Again, a sealing means is optionally provided on the respective contact surfaces or else an elongated clip element which presses both angled side sections against each other.

Fig. 4 shows a third exemplary modular thermosyphon 70 according to the invention in a side view. Three Thermosyphonmodule are arranged side by side to a modular Thermosyphon, which have in their central region respectively trapezoidal barrier walls 78, 80, 82 which extend in a common plane 74. Above the common plane 74 are denoted by the reference numeral 72, the respective sides of the capacitor and below the common plane 74 with the reference numeral 76, the respective evaporator sides of the thermosiphon modules arranged. The U-shaped barrier walls 78, 80, 82 are aligned in this example alternately, wherein between the adjacent angled side surfaces common contact surfaces 84, 86 are formed, which lead to a significantly increased tightness between the barrier walls.

Fig. 5 FIG. 1 shows an exemplary cooling housing with a dry-type transformer in a schematic sectional view 90. A cooling housing, for example made of a metal, is subdivided into a first encapsulated area 92 and a second area 94 adjoining it along a partition wall 114. In the first encapsulated region 92, a dry-type transformer 110 is arranged, for example with a rated power of 6 MVA. This produces a loss of heat during operation, which is dissipated from the first encapsulated area. For this purpose, by means of a conveying device 108 - in this case a fan - and an exemplary air baffle 112, a circulating circuit 96 of the air located in the first encapsulated area is generated, which is directed against an evaporator region 104 of a modular thermosyphone 100 according to the invention, so that there is a cooling the air takes place. Its barrier walls are part of the partition wall 114 in the region of the thermosyphon. Natural circulation of the coolant located in the modular thermosyphone 100 results in heat transfer of the heat released to the condenser side 102 of the modular thermosyphone 100. A current 98 forced from it by a fan 106 is applied to this Directed ambient air, so that the capacitor side emits heat energy to the ambient air. By using a modular thermosyphon according to the invention with angled side surfaces of the respective barrier walls, a particularly tight encapsulation of the first inner region is made possible and the dry transformer 110 arranged therein is particularly well protected.

Fig. 6 shows variants of multiply angled and provided for a respective toothing side portions of respective barrier walls in a representation 120. Reference numeral 122 is a sawtooth-like teeth and the reference numeral 124 denotes a rectangular toothing of multi-angled barrier walls, in each case only one thermosiphon module with a respective Barrier wall is shown.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

exemplary thermosiphon module

12

first outer barrier wall

14

ribs

20

first exemplary modular thermosiphon

22

Capacitor sides of the thermosiphon modules

24

common level of barrier walls

26

Evaporator sides of the thermosiphon modules

28

first thermosyphon module of the first thermosyphone

30

second thermosyphon module of the first thermosyphone

32

third thermosyphon module of the first thermosyphone

34

first common connection channel

36

second common connection channel

38

U-shaped barrier wall of the first thermosyphon module

40

U-shaped barrier wall of the second thermosyphon module

42

U-shaped barrier wall of the third thermosyphon module

44

first joint angled contact surface

46

second common angled contact surface

50

second exemplary modular thermosiphon

52

Capacitor sides of the thermosiphon modules

54

common level of barrier walls

56

Evaporator sides of the thermosiphon modules

58

U-shaped barrier wall of the first thermosyphon module

60

U-shaped barrier wall of the second thermosyphon module

62

U-shaped barrier wall of the third thermosyphon module

64

first joint angled contact surface

66

second common angled contact surface

70

third exemplary modular thermosiphon

72

Capacitor sides of the thermosiphon modules

74

common level of barrier walls

76

Evaporator sides of the thermosiphon modules

78

Trapezoid barrier wall of the first thermosyphon module

80

Trapezoid barrier wall of the second thermosyphon module

82

Trapezoid barrier wall of the third thermosyphon module

84

first joint angled contact surface

86

second common angled contact surface

90

exemplary cooling housing with dry-type transformer

92

first enclosed interior

94

second area

96

exemplary cycle of the first cooling fluid

98

exemplary flow direction of the second cooling fluid

100

fourth exemplary modular thermosiphon

102

Condenser area of the fourth thermosyphone

104

Evaporator area of the fourth thermosyphone

106

Conveying device for second cooling fluid

108

Conveying device for first cooling fluid

110

dry-type transformer

112

Air baffle

114

Partition between encapsulated interior and second area

120

Variants of multi-angled side sections

122

sawtooth-like toothing

124

rectangular toothing

Claims (10)

1. Modular thermosiphon (20, 50, 70, 100), comprising a plurality of fin-like (14) cuboid-like thermosiphon modules (10, 28, 30, 32) with a respective condenser side (22, 52, 72, 102) and evaporator side (26, 56, 76, 104) which are separated from one another by an outer barrier wall (12, 38, 40, 42, 58, 60, 62, 78, 80, 82) which runs transversely with respect to the fins (14), a plurality of thermosiphon modules (10, 28, 30, 32) being arranged adjacently, and the respective outer barrier walls (12, 38, 40, 42, 58, 60, 62, 78, 80, 82) running in a common plane (24, 54, 74) in a manner bordering one another, which common plane (24, 54, 74) separates the condenser sides (22, 52, 72, 102) and the evaporator sides (26, 56, 76, 104) from one another, the barrier walls (12, 38, 40, 42, 58, 60, 62, 78, 80, 82) being angled on their respective adjacently arranged sides in such a way that a respective common angled contact face (44, 46, 64, 66, 84, 86) is formed by way of the angled side sections, characterized in that the angled side sections are of resilient configuration, such that a pressing force of side sections which border one another is brought about as a result.
2. Modular thermosiphon according to Claim 1, characterized in that the barrier walls (12, 38, 40, 42, 58, 60, 62, 78, 80, 82) have a trapezoidal (78, 80, 82) or U-shaped (12, 38, 40, 42, 58, 60, 62) cross section.
3. Modular thermosiphon according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the barrier walls (12, 38, 40, 42, 58, 60, 62, 78, 80, 82) of the adjacent thermosiphon modules (10, 28, 30, 32) are arranged with an alternating orientation (38 - 40 - 42; 78 - 80 - 82).
4. Modular thermosiphon according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sealant is provided at least in regions on at least one common contact face (44, 46, 64, 66, 84, 86).
5. Modular thermosiphon according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that adjacently arranged angled side sections and barrier walls (12, 38, 40, 42, 58, 60, 62, 78, 80, 82) which form a common contact face (44, 46, 64, 66, 84, 86) are connected to one another by means of at least one clamp element.
6. Modular thermosiphon according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that respective adjacently arranged side sections of respective barrier walls are angled multiple times (122, 124) and are interlocked with one another.
7. Cooling housing (90), comprising a first encapsulated inner region (92) with a first cooling fluid, which inner region (92) is provided for arranging a heat generating component (110) there, comprising a second region (94) which adjoins said first inner region (92) and is provided for being flowed through (98) by a second cooling fluid, the first (92) and the second (94) region being connected thermally by way of a heat exchanger, characterized in that a modular thermosiphon (20, 50, 70, 100) according to one of Claims 1 to 5 is used as a heat exchanger, the evaporator sides (26, 56, 76, 104) protruding into the first region (92), and the condenser sides (22, 52, 72, 102) protruding into the second region (94).
8. Cooling housing according to Claim 7, characterized in that a dry transformer (110) is arranged as a heat generating component in the first encapsulated inner region (92).
9. Cooling housing according to either of Claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the first and/or the second cooling fluid are/is air.
10. Cooling housing according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that at least one conveying apparatus (108 and 106, respectively) for the first and second cooling fluid, respectively, is provided in order to generate a respective cooling fluid flow (96 and 98, respectively) which is directed towards the evaporator sides (26, 56, 76, 104) and condenser sides (22, 52, 72, 102), respectively.

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