GB2519806A

GB2519806A - Switchgear housing with modular expansion channel and chimney

Info

Publication number: GB2519806A
Application number: GB1319231.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yvette Peterman-Gunther; Bert Weijers
Original assignee: Eaton Industries Netherlands BV
Current assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions II BV
Priority date: 2013-10-31
Filing date: 2013-10-31
Publication date: 2015-05-06
Also published as: WO2015063268A1; GB201319231D0

Abstract

A switchgear housing comprises a number of switchgear cabinets arranged in a row next to each other, wherein each cabinet 5 has a blowout opening 11 at the back near the bottom of the cabinet. A number of expansion channel modules 3 are each arranged to a respective cabinet and in fluid connection with the blowout opening and at least one chimney module 4 is arranged to one cabinet, extending over substantially the full height of the cabinet, in fluid connection with the blowout opening of the respective cabinet 10 and having an outlet opening at the top. Both the chimney modules and expansion channel modules have connection openings for connecting to adjacent modules, such that an expansion channel is formed extending horizontally over the width of the switchgear housing.

Description

Switchgear housing with modular expansion channel and chimney The invention relates to switchgear housing build out of separate cabinets, which are arranged in a row next to each other. A term of art for such cabinets is panels.

1 0 Switchgear cabincts arc used for housing switches and like equipment, typically used in medium and high voltage applications. When switchgear malftmnctions in such applications, it could result in internal arcing causing a sudden increase in temperature of the air inside of the cabinet and accordingly a sudden increase in pressure inside the cabinet.

To prevent the cabinet from uncontrofled exploding due to the sudden pressure increase, such cabinets are typically provided with a blowout opening. A blowout opening is a specifically designed wall part of the cabinet, which will tear open upon increased internal pressure.

When the blowout opening tears open, the internal pressure is relieved and the remaining cabinet is no longer subjected to high pressures. However, the hot gases, which caused the high pressure, will flow out of the cabinet through the blowout opening at a high speed. If an operator would be standing in the vicinity of the cabinet, when such a blowout event occurs, it could cause serious injuries to the operator.

It is known in the prior art to provide a duct connecting the blowout openings of several cabinets, to guide the hot gases to a location, where the hot gases could do no damage.

For example DE 9102514 discloses switchgear housing having a number of cabinets, wherein each cabinet is provided at the top with a blowout opening. A duct is provided on top of the housing, to direct any blowout gases to the side of the housing. The duct connects to a cooler 3 0 to further cool the gases, before they flow into the space, in which the switchgear housing is placed.

It is furthermore known to provide each separate cabinet with a blowout opening near the bottom of the cabinet and with a separate vertical duet, which is also called a chimney.

Cooling means are typically provided within the chimney duct. Because hot gases tend to rise, a vertical duct improves this tendency such that the pressure is relieved quicker.

Furthermore, buildings in which switchgear is placed have typically a great height. When the gases are expelled vertically by the chimney, the gases are directed away from any operators standing on the floor.

DE 19520698 discloses a switchgear housing having a horizontal duct at the top of the 1 0 housing and a vertical chimney duct connectcd to the horizontal duct. The chimricy is however arranged at a position, which could otherwise be occupied by a cabinet. Also the hot gases are collected at the top of the housing in the duct, then guided downward and finally upward in the chimney. In view of fluid dynamics, this is far from optimal.

All of the known switchgear housings have the disadvantage that the duct connecting the several blowout openings has to be made at length depending on the configuration of cabinets within the housing.

Furthermore, it is not possible with the known switchgear housing to simply achieve a desired IAC (Internal Arc Classes) rating. The known housing is designed for a specific IAC rating and when a higher rating is desired, thc compicte housing has to be rcdcsigned.

It is therefor an object of the invention to provide a switchgear housing, in which the above mentioned disadvantages are reduced or even removed.

This objcct is achieved according to thc inycntion with a switchgcar housing comprising: -a number of switchgear cabinets arranged in a row next to each other, wherein each cabinet has a blowout opening at the back near the bottom of the cabinet; -a number of expansion channel modules, each arranged to a respective cabinet and in fluid 3 0 connection with the blowout opening; -at least one chimney module arranged to one cabinet, extending over substantially the full height of the cabinet, in fluid connection with the blowout opening of the respective cabinet and having an outlet opening at the top, wherein both the at least one chimney module and the number of expansion channel modules have connection openings for connecting to adjacent modules, such that an expansion channel is formed extending horizontally over the width of the switchgear housing.

The switehgear housing according to the invention uses a modular design for the expansion channel and the chimney. With this modular design it is possible to design the expansion channel according to the desired requirements and IAC rating. For example, one could decide to have a single chimney in the middle of the housing and two expansion channels on both 1 0 sides of the chimney. For an increased JAC rating, one could provide the housing with an additional chimney module. In such a configuration, one cabinet, in which a blowout occurs, has the disposal of two chimney modules. So the hot gases of the single cabinet can be divided over two chimneys.

Another advantage of the housing according to the invention is that the expansion channel is arranged near the bottom of the housing and that the hot, expanding gases of a blowout can flow in a natural, upwardly direction.

In an embodiment of the switchgear housing according to the invention the expansion channel modules have a width corresponding to the width of the cabinets and have a height at least corresponding to the height of the blowout openings.

When the modules have a width equal to the width of the cabinets, the modules will abut at the same time when the cabinets abut. This ensures that the connection openings are placed against each other and a long expansion channel is formed by the modules. A height at least equal to the height of the blowout openings is preferable to ensure, that the hot gases are not restricted and can flow freely into the expansion channel.

In a preferred embodiment of the switchgear housing according to the invention sealing means are arranged around the connection openings of the at least one chimney module and the expansion modules to provide an airtight connection of two adjacent connection openings.

The sealing means ensure that none of the hot gases can leak at the interfaces of two connection openings and that all of the gas is directed through the chimney Yet another embodiment of the switchgear housing according to the invention comprises two end plates for sealing the connection openings of the outer modules of the switchgear housing.

By providing end plates, it is possible to use the same modules on the outer two cabinets as on thc remaining cabinets in the row of cabinets. A module on an outer cabinet has only one neighboring cabinet and an end plate can close off the other connection opening of the module on the outer cabinet.

A preferred embodiment of the switchgear housing according to the invention comprises absorption means arranged in the at least one chimney module for absorbing the heat of the gases flowing through the expansion modules and the at least one chimney module.

The absorption means absorb the heat of the gases, such that when the gases are expelled, they have a temperature which is no longer harmful. The absorption means could for example comprise a fine wire mesh, through which the gases are forced. The wire mesh has a large heat exchanging surface, such that the heat can be easily absorbed.

In a thrther preferred embodiment of the switehgear housing according to the invention a bypass channel having a pressure release valve is provided parallel to the absorption means.

This bypass channel provides an additional safety in the rare case the pressure in the expansion channel and chimney gets to high.

In still a further preferred embodiment the switchgear housing according to the invention comprises at least three cabinets of which at least two cabinets are provided with a chimney module and at least one cabinet is provided with an expansion channel module.

By providing at least two chimney modules, a higher IAC rating can be achieved compared to conventional switchgear housings.

These and other features of the invention will be elucidated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a switchgear housing according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the modules used in the housing of figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of part of the cabinets and modules of the embodiment of figure 1.

Figurc I shows a pcrspcctivc vicw of a switchgcar housing I according to the invcntion. This switchgear housing 1 has a number of cabinets 2, in which switchgear can be installed. At the back of the cabinets 2, four expansion channel modules 3 are arranged and two chimney modules 4. A connection opening of the outer module 3 is sealed by an end plate 5.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the modules 3,4 used in the housing 1 of figure 1. The expansion channel modules 3 have at the front an opening 6, with which the modules are mountcd to thc back of a cabinct 2. Conncction opcning 7 arc providcd at thc sides of thc modulcs 3, 4. The connection openings 7 cnsurc that thc modules 3, 4 arc in fluid conncction with each other.

Thc chimncy modules 4 cach contain an absorbcr 8 having an inlet 9 and an outlet 10. When a blowout occurs, thc gas C will flow through thc cxpansion channel modules 3 and thc connection openings 7 towards the chimney modules 4, where the gas flow G is split up and guidcd into the inlet 9 of thc absorbcrs 8. Inside thc absorbers 8 the gas C will be cooled and finally expelled out of the housing 1 via the outlets 10.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of part of the cabinets 2 and modules 3 of the embodiment of figure 1, wherein the modules 3 are taken apart from the cabinets 2.

The cabinets 2 are provided at the back and near the bottom with a blowout opening 11. Such a blowout opening 11 is typically sealed by a wall part of the cabinet 2, but will break open in case of internal arc.

The modules 3 are mounted with the front plate against the back of the cabinet 2, such that the front opening 6 is aligned with the blowout opening 11.

Furthermore a sealing can be provided along the edge of the connection openings 7 to ensure an air tight seal of the diffcrcnt modules 3, 4.

Claims

Claims 1. Switchgear housing comprising: -a number of switchgear cabinets arranged in a row next to each other, wherein each cabinet has a blowout opening at the back near the bottom of the cabinet; -a number of expansion channel modules, each arranged to a respective cabinet and in fluid connection with the blowout opening; -at least one chimney module arranged to one cabinet, extending over substantially the fill height of the cabinet, in fluid connection with the blowout opening of the respective cabinet 1 0 and having an outlct opcning at thc top, wherein both the at least one chimney module and the number of expansion channel modules have connection openings for connecting to adjecent modules, such that an expansion channel is formed extending horizontally over the width of the switchgear housing.
2. Switchgear housing according to claim 1, wherein the expansion channel modules have a width corresponding to the width of the cabinets and have a heigth at least corresponding to the height of the blowout openings.
3. Switchgear housing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein sealing means are arranged around the connection openings of the at least one chimney module and the expansion modules to provide an airtight connection of two adjacent connection openings.
4. Switchgear housing according to any of the preceding claims, comprising two end plates for sealing the connection openings of the outer modules of the switchgear housing.
5. Switchgear housing according to any of the preceding claims, comprising absorption means arranged in the at least one chimney module for absorbing the heat of the gases flowing through the expansion modules and the at least one chimney module.
6. Switchgear housing according to claim 5, wherein a bypass channel having a pressure release valve is provided parallel to the absorption means.
7. Switchgear housing according to any of the preceding claims, comprising at least three cabinets of which at least two cabinets are provided with a chimney modu'e and at least one cabinet is provided with an expansion channel module.