KR20000069025A - Container for housing heat generating equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for removing heat from the inner compartment is mounted in the container 10 for protecting the heat generating equipment and maintaining a temperature between the predetermined lowest and highest temperatures in the inner compartment 15. The system comprises a first air flow release device having heat exchangers 35, 36 with an external environment and mutually opposite walls 23, which are connected to each other to form a panel 22 constituting at least partly the wall of the compartment. And a second discharge device for accumulation and release by the liquid contained in the space 25 defined by 24. At least one of the walls 23, 24 forming the space 25 conducts heat and is disposed in thermal contact with the interior of the compartment 15. Heat exchange means are arranged between the liquid contained in the space and the external environment.

Description

CONTAINER FOR HOUSING HEAT GENERATING EQUIPMENT}

Although forced ventilation systems have been proposed in the prior art to remove heat from the inner compartment of a container, it has not been demonstrated that its use can provide satisfactory results in addition to relatively high energy consumption.

Existing systems have problems with reliability and power supply because they cannot be powered by batteries, so if there is no major power, air conditioning stops as a rapid increase in internal temperature, operating and maintenance costs and noise problems. Even the use of conditioning systems has not proved an advantage.

It is a general object of the present invention to maintain the internal temperature of a container within an optimal numerical range for the operation of the apparatus contained therein with a significantly lower hourly variation than is possible with conventional systems and with higher reliability. It is to eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks by making a useful container for protecting the heat generating device, which allows it.

Another object of the present invention is to make a container required to prepare for container transportation useful, even though the possibility of evenly distributing high power has reduced the overall size within limits.

The present invention relates to a container for protecting a heat generating device such as, for example, an electrical device equipped with a system for maintaining a temperature inside the container within a predetermined range.

In many technical fields, there is a greater need for electrical devices that emit large amounts of heat due to the nature of the container and its device to maintain the internal temperature within a predetermined range even if the external temperature changes.

One of the biggest problems that arise during the use of electrical device containers is their maintenance associated with maintaining an optimum operating temperature therein due to the difficulties of heat dissipation generated by the device and by solar radiation. The useful life and reliability of the device is a function of the operating temperature, which is interpreted as the absolute value and distribution of the operating temperature and the hourly change in the value.

The problem is complicated by the fact that because of the sensitive nature of the electrical device, the electrical device is generally protected in a sealed container that protects it from the weather and from the handling of unauthorized persons.

1 is a front sectional view of line I-I of FIG. 2 of a first embodiment of a container according to the present invention;

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG.

3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a container according to the present invention;

4 is a side view of FIG. 3 showing an air circulation passage;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a side panel including a heat carrier liquid for removing heat from the container of FIG. 3. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with a variety of air circulation passage generations.

In view of this object, the present invention seeks to provide a container comprising a system for protecting a heat generating device, maintaining a temperature between a predetermined minimum and maximum temperature in an inner compartment of the container and dissipating heat from the inner compartment. The heat removal system comprises a panel which constitutes a wall of the compartment as the first air-flow releasing device having an air / air exchanger which exchanges heat with the external environment and the above walls which form a heat conducting air space. And second air / received in a space defined by mutually opposite walls connected to each other to form a panel arranged in thermal contact with the interior of the compartment by means of heat exchange provided between the liquid contained in the atmosphere and the external environment. It is characterized by consisting of a liquid dispersing device.

Depending on the amount of heat to be removed from the container according to the invention, air or liquid is used as the heat carrier fluid, in which the liquid substance can act as a heat carrier or heat accumulator depending on whether its temperature is higher or lower than the temperature of the external environment. An apparatus is provided.

Compared with conventional passive conditioning systems, the container according to the invention is produced from easy-to-use materials and allows for higher power for equal size and lower cost for equal power dissipated. In addition, given a smaller size for the equivalent power dissipated, the container is clearly assembled and is easy to transport with obvious cost advantages.

Possible embodiments are described by way of non-limiting example in which the above principles are applied with the aid of the accompanying drawings in order to clarify the advantages of the invention compared to the innovative principles of the present invention and prior art.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a container 10 made of a thermally conductive material such as steel or aluminum consists of sidewalls and bottom walls 13, generally indicated by reference numeral 12.

In the example shown, the container 10 is placed in a position that is buried in a hole in the ground 11. However, containers provided in this way can also be used on the ground surface. In the case of containers used in buried locations it should be protected against corrosion due to oxidation in the ground and any accidental currents.

The walls 12, 13 are designed to thermally contact the external environment (in this case the ground 11) once the container is in the operating position.

Above the container 10 is formed with an opening 14 for accessing an inner compartment 15 for receiving the device to be protected. The container has a first cover 16 for sealing the compartment 15 without gaps to prevent the possibility of water and dust ingress inside and a second designed to provide suitable mechanical resistance to prevent external load on the container from the outside. It is attached with a cover 17. Between the two covers 16, 17 also consists of an insulating mattress 18, for example, to prevent overheating of the outer cover 17 due to solar radiation which causes an undesirable increase in temperature inside the compartment 15. Thermal insulation engines may be arranged.

Advantageously it is ensured by suitable means, for example an O-ring, that the inner lid 16 can be secured to the wall defining the compartment 15 with bolts which are not presented for clarity and brevity in the figure. The outer cover 17 may be of the cast iron type which is generally used to block the manholes and technical holes under the road surface.

According to the innovative principle of the present invention, the container 10 is a system for removing heat generated therein, and the system utilizes accumulation and release as heat accumulation and a first discharge device using a flow of air as a heat carrier fluid. And a second release device for And it carries the liquid fluid contained in the panel 22 which forms the side wall of a container.

While the second device operates when the external temperature is higher than the internal temperature, the first discharge device can advantageously be used when the internal temperature is higher than the external temperature and it is impossible to dissipate heat to the outside. In addition, the second device acts as a heat filter in relation to the external environment to release or absorb heat in response to negative or positive temperature differences which cause a corresponding heat flow through the wall.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first discharge device consists of an external air circulation passage 27 extending between an inlet opening 28 and an outlet opening 29 in which each grill 30, 31 is suitably provided. The passage 27 is a passage portion 32 for lowering air toward the bottom of the container and a passage portion 33 and 34 for raising heat to cause a natural one-way circulation of the air and exchanging heat with the interior of the compartment 15. )

Along the passage 27 are arranged heat exchange members 35, 36 constituting a plurality of fins in thermal contact with the interior of the compartment 15.

Advantageously the heat exchangers 35, 36 are arranged along the passage portions 33, 34, which passage portions are opposite to the cover 16 and the panel 22 mentioned above of the second discharge device described in detail below. It is arranged along the passage portions 33, 34 located on the side walls which are not provided. In particular, the passage portion 34 with the heat exchanger 36 may be an integrated portion of the movable cover 16.

The shape of the circulation 27 is from the internal environment 15 to the heat exchangers 35, 36 between the inlet 30 and the outlet 31 as shown in FIG. 1 when the external temperature is lower than the temperature in the compartment 15. A natural circulation of air by the arrow 37 begins along the passage to take away the conducted heat. The heat accumulation system constituting the integrated part of the temperature control system in the container according to the invention comprises at least 30% and preferably up to 50% of the wall width of the panel 22 arranged opposite the wall of the container 10. Configure In the embodiment shown, as shown in FIG. 2, the panel 22 includes two side walls 12 of the container. However, depending on the specific conditioning needs, the panel 22 may include another wall, such as, for example, the bottom wall 13.

The panel 22 is provided with mutually facing walls 23 and 24 which are connected to each other to define a space 25 filled with liquid having a freezing temperature between the lowest and highest allowable temperatures within the container. Is done. The quantitative and physical characteristics of the liquid that can be frozen are selected in each case according to the heat released by the device protected in the container and the climatic characteristics of the place of use.

Panel 22 may be provided according to various known building techniques based on unique structural and economic needs. In some cases the panel 22 has a first wall 23 arranged to be in thermal contact with the environment towards the outside of the container and a second wall arranged to be in thermal contact with the air contained in the compartment 15 towards the inside ( 24).

The wall of the panel 22 may consist of a plurality of pins 26 (only partially shown in FIG. 2) to increase the contact surface with the liquid that can freeze in the space 25. In particular, the wall 24 may be advantageously mounted with a fin towards the inner compartment 15 to enhance heat exchange with the air in the container.

The material contained in the space 25 absorbs the heat generated by the device contained in the container when the external temperature is higher than the internal temperature in the compartment 15 of optimum temperature for long time protection and when the external temperature drops below the internal temperature. It is known to construct heat capacity that releases heat and also acts as a heat filter for the external environment.

When the outside temperature is above the internal temperature, the heat supplied to the heat exchanger is removed by returning heat to the inside environment when the inside temperature is above the outside temperature and removed through an air circulation or exchanger.

Another impeding role leading to inadequate temperatures for the correct operation of the device is played by the latent heat associated with any changing state of the freezing material.

The action of the heat capacity constituting part of the container according to the invention is briefly described below in connection with an exemplary summer day embodiment. Depending on the climate of the location being considered, the characteristics of the land on which the container is to be protected, and the actual amount of heat generated by the equipment contained within the container, the amount of liquid, its freezing temperature, and the proportion of the surface covered by the panel will be precise. The conditions described herein may occur with the circulation selected.

The material contained in the space 25 gradually solidifies at low external temperatures and releases heat accumulated during less cold periods. The frozen material at the next temperature rise absorbs the heat generated by the device and returns to the liquid, thus representing the dual role of the heat filter for the external environment and the heat accumulator for the heat released by the device.

If the heat accumulator is not equipped with cooling passages (suitable for low power and cold climates), heat dissipation can be achieved by utilizing the sensitive heat of the liquid in the accumulator and the latent heat associated with the liquid's change of state, especially at high temperatures. By using a high temperature liquid or a low temperature liquid at a low temperature. On the one hand, the heat accumulator is equipped with cooling passages (for high power and cold climates). It is advantageous to use only measurable heat.

As an indicator the hourly hardness of the internal temperature change in the container according to the invention can be maintained in the range of 0.1 ° C. and 1.5 ° C.

As the external environment becomes colder during the night hours, the panel 22 releases heat through contact of the container with the ground or surrounding air to reach the morning with a heat capacity that can absorb the heat released during the next hour.

It is clear that the described thermal cycling can be adapted to the unique action required by appropriately selecting the physical characteristics of the materials included in the panel. For example, a material having a high temperature external heat released by the device and a high melting temperature close to the maximum allowable in the container in the case of high power can be advantageously used. In this way, the latent heat is absorbed while the dissolution prevents it from actually reaching the maximum temperature. In the case of low emission temperatures and low external temperatures with the possibility of freezing, it may be advantageous to use a material with a low melting temperature in order to control the temperature near the low temperature limit in the operating range.

Advantageously the panel 22 may have one wall connected with a heat exchange member such as, for example, the exchanger 36 shown in FIG. 2. As such, heat dissipation through the passage 27 assists in cooling the heat capacity of the panel 22.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a housing 19 is arranged for the device to be protected within the compartment 15 of the container, which is for example a cable amplifier belonging to a telecommunications network and a signal amplifier for the optical fiber 20. Can be configured.

A housing 19, such as a device for supporting a plate, for example, to make the device easily accessible from the outside for maintenance and replacement, advantageously over the structure 21 which can be upwardly extended to exit the opening 14 of the container. Can be mounted.

3 to 6 show a second form of container embodiment with a heat removal system according to the invention. This second embodiment allows a receiving device mounted on the ground. For convenience the members that can be matched or matched to the members of the above embodiments are shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 plus the same number.

The container 110 with the side wall 112 and the bottom wall 113 in the context of FIG. 3 is in the form of an existing shield with an interior compartment 115 for storing the door 116 and the device not presented for clarity. Is made.

In FIG. 3 the container is presented with a partial cut off of the wall and roof to better reveal the interior. The container 110 is arranged for the reverse circulation of the compartment 115 and a plurality of first passageways for air from inside the compartment 115 for cooling by being placed opposite the rear wall of the shield and cooling outside. A first apparatus is provided for dissipating heat inside by circulation of an air stream between a plurality of fin heat exchangers 136 equipped with a plurality of second passages in communication with each other.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the exchanger 136 is subjected to the cooling effect experienced with the top 140 for the inlet of the flow out of the inner compartment 115 for each passage run by the air to be cooled. The lower portion 142 is formed by the heat exchange portion 141 where the air descends and the inlet of the air cooled in the compartment 115.

The exchanger 136 also has a bottom 143 for the inlet of the flow coming from outside for each passage run by the cooled air and a heat exchange where the cool air absorbs the heat generated by the outside air and returns it to the top. Portion 144 and top 145 for release to the outside.

In FIG. 4 the passages 143, 144, 145 for returning the cooling air upwards are only partially shown so as to see the rear passages 140, 141, 142 for the lowering of the air to be cooled.

The passageway 146 for the transport of air towards the part 140 for the inlet towards the exchanger 136 is in fact defined in part or in whole by a false ceiling 147 extending the length and width of the compartment. 115 is disposed in the upper portion. Advantageously, the false ceiling 147 in the area furthest from the exchanger 136 is provided with an opening 148 for the passage of air from the compartment 115 to the passage 146.

FIG. 4 shows an operating diagram of the above-mentioned air-circulating discharge device when a suitable means is provided for providing forced circulation of the internal air and for example configuring the blower 160 shown schematically in FIG. 3. . After exiting the exchanger 136, the air in the compartment 115, indicated by the arrow 149, is directed towards the top of the compartment where most of the heat generated by the device for removing heat by the suitably formed deflector 161 is concentrated. It is advantageously shipped. The heated air thus enters passage 146 through opening 148 and is conveyed to portion 140 for inlet to exchanger 136. The air here hits the wall of the exchanger in thermal contact with cooled air (indicated by arrow 150) that is cooled and descended by gravity along portion 141 where heat continues to be generated because of air from the outside. Thus, the last cooled air leaves the exchanger to enter the compartment 115 again through the lower portion 142.

6 presents a container of a variant that is advantageously suitable for use in a climate where forced circulation of air is not required. In this case air 149 exits exchanger 136 and out through compartment 115 and is upwardly backed by natural circulation, e.g., around a container wall with less thermal insulation, such as around door 116. In addition to the heat that can penetrate through, the heat generated by the device is removed. The heated air then penetrates into the upper passage 146 as mentioned above.

In the region closest to the exchanger 136, the passage 146 is advantageously like a siphon with a first portion 162 for the lowering of the air and a second portion 163 for coming back towards the inlet 140 of the exchanger. Is formed. As such, reverse circulation of air is prevented when the outside temperature is higher than the inside temperature. The heat exchange circulation in the exchanger 136 is naturally the same as above. Cooling air 150 entering the exchanger via bottom 143 exits through top 145 and back upwards by natural circulation along middle portion 144 due to the heating generated by heat generated from flow 149. A deflector 151 may be provided on the roof of the container above the exchanger 136 that is designed to force air 150 out of the exchanger to improve the efficiency of the exchanger when the wind blows outside the container. Advantageously deflector 151 also functions as a protective screen against the sun's rays in the exchanger area.

The container 110 also provides a closed passage for circulation of the heat carrier liquid between each panel 122 disposed opposite the side wall 112 of the container and the corresponding heat exchanger 152 disposed over its roof. And constitutes a second releasing device.

As shown schematically in FIG. 3, the panel 122 consists of walls 123 and 124 facing each other and connected to each other to define a space 125 filled with the aforementioned heat-carrying liquid between the walls.

Advantageously panel 122 is externally protected with a layer of thermal insulating material 153.

In the embodiment shown, each exchanger 152 is each top end 155 and bottom end 156 for a hydraulic relationship with the interior of the panel 122 that will provide a respective outlet and inlet for the liquid in the panel. It consists of a pin portion (externally and also advantageously internally) of the passage 154 extending in parallel therebetween. This form can be seen in FIG. In portions proximate panel 122, passage 154 is mounted with a suitable thermal insulator.

Optionally, exchanger 152 may be wall mounted with a wavy surface to enhance heat exchange between the interior and exterior.

The fins 157 are advantageously in the panel 122 in a manner to facilitate the return of the liquid upwards without shaking from the inlet 156 to the outlet 155 as schematically shown in FIG. 5 by the arrow 158. Are suitably constructed and directed in. Fin 157 also has the function of increasing the contact surface between the liquid and the conductive wall 124.

From the side of the regulator 157 down the passage above the passage intersection portion decreases on the inlet side of the fluid and increases on the outlet side to further homogenize the circulation in the horizontal portion of the exchanger.

The heat carrier liquid circulation passage is also provided with a suitable expansion container 159 advantageously disposed on the roof of the container as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

A simple operation of the system for removing heat from the container 110 shown in FIGS. 3-6 is described. The air-circulating release device operates when the external temperature is lower than the temperature in the compartment 115. The air in the compartment is heated by the influence of heat generated by the device and flows back to the opening 148 and flows back to the opening 148 to enter the upper passage 146 defined by the false ceiling 147. Travel along the passage within natural or forced circulation until it is reached. Here the internal air is heated by the air 150 coming from the outside and lowered along the exchanger to return to the compartment 115 and to repeat the circulation.

Heat release is effected by the liquid circulation device when the amount of heat removed from the air / air exchanger is less than the amount of heat generated by the device in addition to any heat that can penetrate into the compartment 115 through an insufficiently insulated wall. This liquid is an aqueous solution of a suitable mixture and absorbs heat from the compartments 115 through the inner wall 124 of the panel 122.

If the external temperature is lower than the liquid temperature, the natural circulation of the liquid begins through the liquid / air exchanger 152. This circulation causes cooler fluid entering the panel 122 through the lower inlet 156 to push the fluid already present in the space 125 to be carried upward by the deflector 157. This fluid rises to reach the entire wall 124 of the panel to remove heat from the interior of the container and finally exits the panel through the outlet 155. Along the fin portion of the exchanger 152, the outside air cools down the temperature carrier liquid and the liquid returns downward along the passage 154 for the inlet to the panel 122 to repeat the heat release circulation. There is no circulation through the exchanger 152 when the external temperature is higher than the temperature of the solution. Convective flow is formed by the effect of heating the wall 124 with the subsequent exchange of a solution layer in direct contact therewith in the panel 122. In this case panel 122 simply acts as a heat accumulator until the external temperature drops to the temperature of the fluid and the exchanger 152 can resume operation.

Advantageously, the fluid in the current passage can be chosen with varying densities and viscosities as a temperature that regulates the amount of heat removed according to its temperature. In particular, the characteristic of the fluid can be to completely stop the circulation below 4-5 ° C. to prevent overcooling of the compartment 115 in the case of very low outside temperatures.

It is evident from the foregoing description that there is no energy consumption with respect to the internal environmental control of the container according to the invention. If it is required to place a small blower in the container to mix the air, therefore to facilitate heat exchange through the wall or to provide a forced circulation of the air flow along the passage, there will be little but energy consumption.

In the embodiments which naturally apply the innovative principles of the present invention, the above description is not taken as a limitation of the protection scope of the patents given and claimed by the examples of the innovative principles above.

In particular, the numbers and arrangement of panels 22, 122 and heat exchangers may differ from those described.

The heat accumulation panel of the embodiment of FIG. 1 may also be equipped with a passage for circulation of the fluid to the liquid / air exchanger as in the embodiment of FIG. 3. Such exchangers may for example be arranged in the air outlet passage behind the exchange surface 34. Thus, the container of FIG. 1 can release more heat. Optionally or else, the air passage and the portion of the neighboring wall 24 may have a exchange pin between the fluid in the panel and the air in the passage.

In addition, the surface of the exchanger may be provided with all the features of the form and chemical-physical treatments known to the exchangers skilled in the art for improving heat exchange, particularly with respect to the shape of the external exchanger fins.

Claims (27)

The heat removal system comprises a first air flow release device having air / air exchangers 35, 36, 136 exchanging heat with the external environment, facing each other, at least partially the walls 12, 122 of the compartments 15, 155, The walls 23, 24, 123, which form spaces 25 and 125 for conducting heat and are arranged in thermal contact with the interior of the compartments 15 and 155 by heat exchange means provided between the liquid contained in the spaces 25 and 125 and the external environment. Air / liquid discharge by liquid contained in spaces 25 and 125 defined by walls 23, 24, 123 and 124 connected to each other to form panels 22 and 122 composed of at least one of A system for protecting the heat generating device and for maintaining a temperature between a predetermined minimum and maximum temperature within the interior compartments 15, 155 and removing heat from the interior compartments 15, 115. Maid Naner (10,110). 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the panels (22,122) occupy at least 30% of the walls of the compartment and preferably at least 50% of the wall width. 3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the panel at least partially occupies the side walls (12, 112) of the compartments (15, 115). 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first discharge device extends between openings 28 and 143 of the inlet and openings 29 and 145 of the outlet and is adapted to absorb heat from the interior of the compartments 15 and 115. A container characterized in that it consists of an external air circulation passage including a portion (33, 34, 144) for exchange. 5. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that there is a passage zone in the form of a siphon (32, 33) between the inlet (28) and the outlet (29). 5. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that the heat exchange portion (33, 34, 144) extends along the walls (12, 122) of the compartment (15, 115) where the panel (22, 122) is not provided. 5. The upper opening 14 according to claim 4, which can be closed by a gapless inner cover 16 and secondly by an outer cover 17 designed to provide mechanical resistance to the load acting on the container. Container, characterized in that mounted. 8. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that the heat exchange portion (33, 34) extends opposite the inner cover (16) of the compartment (15). 8. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that the inner cover (16) consists of a heat exchanger portion (36) which constitutes a corresponding heat exchange portion (34) of the outer air passage. 5. The inlet portion in an air / air exchanger (136) according to claim 4, wherein said first discharge device comprises an outlet opening (148) from a compartment and said portion (144) for exchanging heat with outside air. A passage for internal air circulation with passages (146) extending between the portions (140) opposite the upper portion of the compartment (115). 11. A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the exchanger (136) is a countercurrent exchanger. The passage 146 is characterized in that it is separated from the compartment 115 by a false ceiling 147 having an opening 148 for the passage of air from the compartment 115 to the passage 146. container. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat exchange means between the liquid contained in the space (25) and the external environment constitute the walls (23, 24) of the panel (22). 14. Container according to claim 13, characterized in that at least a portion of the inner wall (24) is in thermal contact with a portion (34) of the airflow discharge device. The heat exchange means between the liquid contained in the space 125 and the external environment extends out of the container between each hydraulic outlet connection 155 and the inlet connection 156 for the liquid in the panel 122. And a portion 152 of the passageway 154. 16. Container according to claim 15, characterized in that it is associated with a plurality of exchangers (152) connected in parallel with each panel (122). The container of claim 15, wherein the exchanger is arranged on the roof of the container. 16. The container of claim 15, wherein the portion (152) of the passageway (154) is pinned inwards and outwards. 16. The container of claim 15, wherein said portion (152) of said passage (154) is mounted to a wall having a wavy surface. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the walls (23, 24, 123, 124) of the panels (22, 122) consist of a plurality of pins (26, 157). 21. The container of claim 20, wherein the pins (157) are formed in such a way as to construct a deflector designed to facilitate returning the liquid inside the panel (122). 11. Container according to claim 10, characterized in that it consists of means (160) for forced circulation of internal air in the passage (146). 11. Container according to claim 10, characterized in that it consists of a deflector (151) disposed externally on the air / air exchanger (136) to facilitate circulation of outside air. 11. The siphon of claim 10, wherein the siphon has a first portion 162 for the lowering of air from the passage 146 and a second portion 163 for directing air back toward the inlet 140 at the exchanger. Container arranged. 11. Container according to claim 10, characterized in that a deflector is arranged for diverting air from the outlet of the air / air exchanger (136) to the top of the compartment (115). 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid in the space (25, 125) has a freezing temperature between a predetermined minimum and maximum temperature inside the compartment (15, 115). 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid in the space (25, 125) has a density and viscosity which increases as its temperature drops.