RU2797553C2 - Ventilation unit for electrical cabinet - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: ventilation equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a ventilation unit (5) for an electrical cabinet containing a fan (VENT), a housing (6) which contains a plinth (60) and a cover (61) assembled on a plinth, characterized in that: the housing (6) has the shape of a straight plate having a square base, four side surfaces and a top surface; the said plinth (60) comprises a bottom wall (600) forming said housing base and a side wall following the four side walls of the housing, an opening (62) made through its bottom wall, and a seat formed around its opening and containing a fan, following each side surface, the side wall of the plinth contains the first grate (601), and the ventilation unit contains the second grate (501) mounted pivotally and covering the said first grate.

EFFECT: ventilation unit which is intended for use in an electrical cabinet and which can, in particular, have a number of protection classes without having to be replaced and without complex changes to its architecture.

9 cl, 17 dwg

Description

The field of technology to which the invention belongs

[0001] The present invention relates to a ventilation unit for an electrical cabinet, such as an electrical cabinet.

[0002] The invention also relates to an electrical installation comprising an electrical cabinet housing a plurality of ventilation units in accordance with the invention.

State of the art

[0003] Temperature control in an electrical cabinet, such as an electrical cabinet or electrical panel, is an issue that often receives attention. The equipment present in an electrical cabinet tends to heat up, so it is necessary to keep the temperature inside the cabinet below a predetermined threshold so that the equipment is not damaged. To overcome this limitation, it is traditional to use a ventilation system to establish an air flow through the volume of the electrical cabinet by drawing air in from outside and exhausting the hot air present in the cabinet to the outside.

[0004] Known ventilation systems are often placed on the top wall of an electrical cabinet. They contain an inlet connected to the internal volume of the cabinet to receive the external air flow, an air outlet and a fan located between the inlet and outlet to draw the air flow from the inlet towards the outlet.

[0005] In general, the ventilation system associated with the electrical cabinet consists of a unit located on the top wall of the electrical cabinet. This unit is most often designed to meet only one protection class (IP code), which limits its use. In addition, it is very often bulky and occupies the entire top wall of the cabinet, which prevents easy adaptation of the air flow that must be generated through the electrical cabinet, for example, in the event of changes in the electrical equipment placed in the electrical cabinet, and eliminates the creation of redundancy between a plurality of ventilation units connected to one cabinet with electrical equipment.

[0006] The object of the invention is to propose a ventilation unit which is intended for use in an electrical cabinet and which can, in particular, have a plurality of protection classes without having to be replaced and without complex changes to its architecture. The ventilation unit will be easily connected with one or more other similar ventilation units to solve the above mentioned tasks.

Disclosure of invention

[0007] This goal is achieved by a ventilation unit for an electrical cabinet, comprising a fan, a housing that includes a plinth, and a cover assembled on the plinth, characterized in that:

– the body is in the form of a straight plate with a square base, four side surfaces and a top surface,

- said plinth comprises a bottom wall forming said case base and a side wall following the four side walls of the case, an opening made through its bottom wall, and a seat formed around its opening and accommodating a fan,

– the cover is attached to the plinth and contains the upper surface of the housing,

- following each side surface, the side wall of the plinth contains the first grille, and the ventilation unit contains the second grille, installed pivotally and covering the said first grille.

[0008] According to one feature, the ventilation unit includes a plurality of cavities, each of which is located in front of each first basement grille, and while the ventilation unit contains a separate filter element located in each cavity, in front of each first basement grille.

[0009] According to another feature, the lid includes a plurality of rotatable flaps, each of which provides access to a separate cavity containing the filter element.

[0010] According to another feature, every second grille is connected to the lid and mounted pivotally on said lid.

[0011] According to another feature, the ventilation unit includes a protective casing forming a cap designed to cover the said housing.

[0012] According to another feature, the protective cover comprises a main wall attached to the cover and a plurality of inclined sides extending in front of the side surfaces of said body.

[0013] The invention also relates to an electrical installation comprising an electrical cabinet having a bottom wall, a top wall and side walls, said installation comprising a modular ventilation system comprising a plurality of independent, identical ventilation units, each ventilation unit being as defined above in this document, and is located on the top wall of the electrical cabinet.

[0014] According to one feature, the ventilation units are placed on the top wall of the electrical cabinet, touching at least one of their side surfaces.

[0015] According to another feature, the installation comprises an adaptable airflow control system in an electrical cabinet, said airflow control system comprising:

– a housing containing at least one air inlet designed to bring into connection with the internal volume of the electrical cabinet at least two air outlets and at least one main channel configured to connect said air inlet with two air outlets,

a switching device placed inside said main duct between the first air outlet and the second air outlet, said switching device comprising movable shutters that can switch between a first position in which the air inlet communicates exclusively with the first air outlet , and a second position in which the air inlet communicates with at least the second air outlet.

Brief description of the drawings

[0016] Other features and advantages will be shown in the following detailed description, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 shows a ventilation unit according to the invention.

[0018] [Fig. 2] FIG. 2 shows a ventilation unit according to the invention, exploded.

[0019] [Fig. 3]

[0020] [Fig. 4]

[0021] [Fig. 5]

[0022] FIG. 3, 4 and 5 show various configurations of a ventilation unit in accordance with the invention.

[0023] [FIG. 6A]

[0024] [FIG. 6B]

[0025] [FIG. 6C]

[0026] [Fig.6D]

[0027] [FIG. 6E]

[0028] FIG. 6A-6E show in sectional views the various configurations adopted by the ventilation unit according to the invention.

[0029] [Fig. 7]

[0030] [Fig. 8]

[0031] [Fig. 9]

[0032] [Fig. 10]

[0033] Figures 7-10 illustrate the principle of placing a plurality of ventilation units side by side in accordance with the invention.

[0034] [Fig. 11] Fig. 11 shows an airflow control system used in connection with two ventilation units in accordance with the invention.

[0035] [Fig. 12A]

[0036] [FIG. 12B]

[0037] FIG. 12A and 12B illustrate the principle of operation of an airflow control system in accordance with the invention.

Implementation of the invention

[0038] The invention relates to a ventilation system used in an electrical cabinet. An electrical cabinet should be understood as an electrical cabinet, an electrical panel, or the like. In the rest of the description and in the drawings, the electrical cabinet should be understood as cabinet 1 with electrical equipment1.

[0039] In the rest of the description, the terms "upper", "lower" or the like should be considered in relation to the vertical axis (A) shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0040] In a non-limiting manner, the electrical cabinet 1 may comprise a bottom wall 10, a top wall 11, and four side walls 12 in opposite pairs. These walls define the first internal volume V1 in which the electrical equipment is placed. In the electrical cabinet, the electrical equipment 13 may be mounted on supports such as suitable racks and rails 14. The electrical cabinet 1 includes a grille 15 which allows air to be exchanged between the interior and the outside. Fig. 12A and 12B clearly show the distinguishing features of an electrical cabinet of this kind.

[0041] Cabinet 1 with electrical equipment 1 may be made of metal material.

[0042] The ventilation system comprises one or more ventilation units 5 (also marked on the accompanying drawings with reference numerals 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 if there are multiple units), with each ventilation unit 5 placed on the top wall 11 of the cabinet 1 with electrical equipment and contains an air inlet in communication with the internal volume V1 of the cabinet with electrical equipment. Traditionally, in operation, each ventilation unit 5 generates an air flow through the volume of the cabinet 1, introducing outside air in through the grate 15 and exhausting hot air out. The grate 15 is preferably placed on the bottom portion of the electrical cabinet, opposite each ventilation unit, so that the airflow can flow through the entire interior volume V1 of the electrical cabinet (see FIGS. 12A and 12B).

[0043] Referring to FIG. 1 and 2, the ventilation unit 5 according to the invention comprises a housing 6 containing, in general, a plinth 60 and a cover 61 mounted on said plinth, and a fan (VENT) which is housed in said housing 6.

[0044] The ventilation unit 5 is in the form of a straight plate having a square base, which, as will be seen later in this document, allows it to be easily inserted together with other similar ventilation units in a small space. Thus, the ventilation unit 5 has a top surface, a bottom surface, and four side surfaces that are pairwise parallel.

[0045] Its plinth 60 comprises a bottom wall 600, the outer surface of which forms the bottom surface of the block 5, and a plurality of sides that follow the four side surfaces of the ventilation block 5.

[0046] The bottom wall of the plinth 60 includes a hole 62, for example, round in shape, and around this hole there is a seat 63, where the fan VENT of the ventilation unit 5 is to be installed. In said seat 63, a fan fixing means may be provided for fixing the fan in its cavity. The VENT fan is located in the seat 63 in such a way that its air intake coincides with the hole 62. A round grille 620 can be placed in front of its hole 62.

[0047] The side wall of the plinth 60 is in the form of four gratings, called internal gratings 601, which follow the four surfaces of the ventilation unit 5.

[0048] The cover 61 is designed to be mounted on the plinth 60 so as to close it from above. It takes the form of a plate, the outer surface of which forms the upper surface of the ventilation unit.

[0049] Block 5 also contains four movable gratings, called outer gratings 501, each of which is designed to be placed in front of the internal plinth grating 601, so that they can be located following a separate side surface of the block. Each of these movable outer grilles 501 is mounted so as to be able to rotate about an axis that follows the top edge of the side surface of the block 5. Each movable outer grille 501 may be connected to the cover and may contain two opposite connecting protrusions 502, each of of which is installed pivotally in the opening of the cover 61. Thus, each movable outer grille 501 can take a "closed" position, in which it is folded against the corresponding internal grille 601 of the plinth, and one or more other open positions, in each of which it can be rotated around its axis so as to have a certain non-zero angle of inclination.

[0050] Each of the inner gratings 601 and the outer gratings 501 has flaps. The flaps of each inner grille 601 are inclined at an acute angle with respect to the vertical plane, and the flaps of each respective outer grille 501 are symmetrically inclined with respect to said vertical plane (so that they form chevrons) (see Fig. 6B).

[0051] Along each of its outer edges, cover 61 may also include a separate slot 64 that opens into an interior cavity of housing 6. This cavity is positioned just ahead of a respective internal plinth grille 601 and is configured to receive a filter element 65. For each slot 64, the lid may include a pivoting flap 640 that is configured to close the slot 64 in the closed position and allow access to the slot 64 and the cavity in the open position after pivoting.

[0052] The filter element 65 may be any type of foam or the like that can retain particles while still allowing air to flow through.

[0053] The ventilation unit 5 may also include a plate 66 placed between the fan head and the cover to hold the fan in the ventilation unit.

[0054] In addition, the ventilation unit 5 may also include a protective cover 67 (FIG. 5) added to increase its protection class (IP code). This protective cover 67 is in the form of a cap and includes a square top plate which is intended to rest on the cover and a plurality of sides 670 which slope down and outward, each of which is intended to be placed in front of a separate side surface of the block to protect it.

[0055] According to one feature, the ventilation unit 5 according to the invention thus has an architecture that allows it to have different protection classes, by merely changing the configuration. Thus, FIG. 6A-6E illustrate different ventilation unit configurations for each protection class.

[0056] FIG. 6A - IP41: To be in this first configuration, the block does not include filter elements and each outer grille 501 is rotated through a certain non-zero angle, preferably less than 90°.

[0057] FIG. 6B - IP44: This second configuration is identical to the first configuration except that all of the outer grilles 501 are folded and therefore placed in front of each inner grille 601.

[0058] FIG. 6C - IP54: This third configuration repeats the features of the first configuration, with the addition of a filter element 65 in front of each inner grille 601. Thus, in this configuration, each outer grille 501 is rotated through a certain non-zero angle.

[0059] FIG. 6D - IP55: This fourth configuration is identical to the third configuration, except that the outer grilles 501 are folded against the inner grilles 601.

[0060] FIG. 6E - IP55 "external": This fifth configuration is identical to the fourth configuration, with the ventilation unit additionally having its own protective cover 67 that covers its housing.

[0061] In addition, it should be noted that each of these five configurations also serves to control the air flow. In fact, in the first configuration, the flow rate may be maximum. It will be lower in the second configuration because it is prevented by the outer gratings 501, and even lower in the third configuration due to the addition of filter elements.

[0062] As mentioned above, the square shape of the ventilation unit 5 allows it to be easily connected with one or more other such ventilation units, optimizing the space occupied.

[0063] According to one feature of the invention, it is actually possible to place side by side, on the top wall of the cabinet, at least two ventilation units according to the invention. Two blocks 5.1, 5.2 are adjacently connected so that the side surface of one abuts against the side surface of the other.

[0064] FIG. 7 shows, first of all, a solution having one ventilation unit 5.1. This block can be placed, for example, in the center on the top wall of the cabinet with electrical equipment.

[0065] Then, FIG. 8 shows a solution having two side-by-side ventilation units 5.1, 5.2, which are placed on the top wall 11 of the electrical cabinet 1. In this solution, as shown in FIG. 10, to ensure adjacent arrangement, the outer gratings 501.1, 501.2, which face each other, are necessarily folded against their respective inner grating 601.1, 601.2. It may be noted that the outer grilles of non-contiguous sides can, in turn, be raised depending on the selected IP configuration. In this configuration, the ideal abutment of the two ventilation units 5.1, 5.2 serves to prevent any backflow of air in this area and thus any loss of efficiency of the two-unit system. In FIG. 10, filter elements 65.1, 65.2 are present, but they are still optional.

[0066] FIG. 9 shows a solution having four side-by-side ventilation units 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 placed on the top wall of the electrical cabinet. The four blocks thus form a large square. Thus, in this solution, each ventilation unit has two side surfaces that are in contact with the side surface of an adjacent ventilation unit. As before, the connections are made in such a way as to exclude any backflow of air and thus do not cause any loss of efficiency. The outer grilles of the non-contacting sides can be raised to match the specific protection class.

[0067] When installed outdoors ("outdoor" option), it is also possible to have a suitably shaped casing that covers two, three or four side-by-side ventilation units.

[0068] The possibility of placing a plurality of ventilation units 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 according to the invention on the same top wall 11 of the electrical cabinet 1 serves to easily adjust the air flow required to cool the electrical equipment 13 present in the electrical cabinet 1. In particular, it is possible to increase or decrease the number of ventilation units installed in the cabinet, depending on the need.

[0069] According to one specific aspect of the invention shown in FIG. 11, it is also possible to have two ventilation units 5.1, 5.2 according to the invention used in redundancy by adding a suitable airflow control system 2 in a common electrical installation. This airflow control system 2 may comprise a housing 22 in the form of two channels 20, 21, which are connected to each other at right angles and are preferably located inside the volume of the cabinet 1 with electrical equipment. The first passage 20 may include a plurality of air inlets IN1, IN2 that serve as an entry point for the airflow generated in the electrical cabinet. The second channel 21 extends along the axis (X) and contains, for its part, two openings 210, 211, each of which forms a separate outlet OUT1, OUT2 for air, which is in communication with a separate ventilation unit. This system further comprises an airflow switching device 3, consisting, for example, of two pivotally movable dampers 30, 31. The two movable dampers 30, 31 are capable of occupying a first, "closed" position, in which they close the connection between each inlet IN1, IN2 and a second air outlet OUT2, and a second "open" position in which they allow connection between each air inlet IN1, IN2 and the second air outlet OUT2. Preferably, the two movable shutters 30, 31 are operable and rotatable solely under the pressure of the air flow flowing in the second channel of the system.

[0070] It can also be seen that the system is located in the volume V1 of the electrical cabinet, while the two ventilation units 5.1, 5.2 are outside the electrical cabinet.

[0071] Referring to FIG. 12A and 12B, the working principle of the two redundant ventilation units 5.1, 5.2 is as follows:

– In the first operating state of the system (FIG. 12A), the fan VENT1 of the first ventilation unit 5.1 is running and the fan VENT2 of the second fan unit 5.2 is stopped. The air flow F1 drawn from inside the electrical cabinet 1 enters the system through each air inlet IN1, IN2, passes into the first channel 20 and from there to the second channel 21. Since the fan VENT1 is running, the air flow F1 is pulled towards the first outlet system 2 air outlet OUT1 and exits through the first air outlet OUT1 and the fan VENT1. Since the fan VENT2 is stopped, the air flow does not press on the movable shutters 30, 31 and thus they remain in their closed position.

- In the second operating state of this system (FIG. 12B), the fan VENT1 of the first ventilation unit 5.1 is stopped (for example, it is broken or undergoing maintenance, or the like). The fan VENT2 of the second ventilation unit 5.2 is active. The air flow F2 drawn from inside the volume V1 of the electric cabinet 1 enters the system 2 through each air inlet IN1, IN2, passes into the first channel 20 and from there to the second channel 21. Since the fan VENT1 is stopped and the fan VENT2 is running, the flow air outlet F2 is directed towards the second air outlet OUT2. The air flow F2 presses and presses on the movable shutters 30, 31 in such a way that causes them to rotate. Thus, the air flow F2 passes through the hole, which is formed by turning the shutters, and reaches the second air outlet OUT2, from where it is discharged to the outside by the fan VENT2.

[0072] It should be noted that the detection of the stop of the fan VENT1 and the activation of the fan VENT2 can be performed by any means, automatic and/or manual.

[0073] Thus, the solution according to the invention provides many advantages, among which:

– a reliable solution for the ventilation unit 5, for which, based on a certain architecture, it is possible to offer many different protection classes;

– a ventilation unit 5 that can be easily installed and connected to one or more other similar ventilation units, thus offering a high degree of modularity and a solution that can be adapted to the requirements;

- a ventilation unit 5 having a simple architecture and at the same time particularly efficient.

Claims (15)

1. A ventilation unit (5) for an electrical cabinet, containing a fan (VENT), a housing (6), which contains a plinth (60) and a cover (61) assembled on the plinth, characterized in that: the body (6) has the shape of a straight plate having a square base, four side surfaces and a top surface; – said plinth (60) comprises a bottom wall (600) forming said body base and a side wall following the four side surfaces of the body, an opening (62) made through its bottom wall, and a seat created around its opening and accommodating the fan , – the cover (61) is attached to the plinth (60) and contains the upper surface of the housing, - following each side surface, the side wall of the plinth contains the first grate (601), and the ventilation unit contains the second grate (501) mounted pivotally and covering the said first grate. 2. The ventilation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a plurality of cavities, each of which is located in front of each first basement grille, and in that the ventilation unit contains a separate filter element (65) located in each cavity, in front of each first plinth grate. 3. Ventilation unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the lid contains a plurality of rotary shutters (640), each of which provides access to a separate cavity that receives the filter element (65). 4. The ventilation unit according to one of paragraphs. 1-3, characterized in that every second grate (501) is connected to the cover (61) and installed pivotally on the said cover. 5. The ventilation unit according to one of paragraphs. 1-4, characterized in that it contains a protective casing (67), forming a cap designed to cover the said body (6). 6. Ventilation unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the protective cover (67) comprises a main wall attached to the cover and a plurality of inclined sides extending in front of the side surfaces of said body (6). 7. An electrical installation containing an electrical cabinet having a bottom wall (10), a top wall (11) and side walls (12), characterized in that it contains a modular ventilation system containing a plurality of independent, identical blocks (5.1, 5.2, 5.3 , 5.4) ventilation, and each ventilation unit is as defined in one of paragraphs. 1–6, and is located on the top wall (11) of the electrical cabinet. 8. Electrical installation according to claim 7, characterized in that the ventilation units are placed on the upper wall (11) of the cabinet with electrical equipment, touching at least one of their sides. 9. An electrical installation according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises an adaptable airflow control system in the electrical cabinet, said airflow control system comprising: – housing (22) containing at least one inlet (IN1, IN2) for air, designed to bring into communication with the internal volume (V1) of the electrical cabinet, at least two outlets (OUT1, OUT2) for air, and at least one main channel (20) configured to connect said inlet (IN) for air with two outlets (OUT1, OUT2) for air, – a switching device (3) placed inside said main channel (21), between the first outlet (OUT1) for air and the second outlet (OUT2) for air, and said switching device contains movable shutters (30, 31), which can switch between a first position in which the air inlet communicates exclusively with the first air outlet and a second position in which the air inlet communicates with at least the second air outlet.

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