WO2017221281A1

WO2017221281A1 - Pole for telecommunications equipped with a device for passive or semi-passive conditioning

Info

Publication number: WO2017221281A1
Application number: PCT/IT2017/000124
Authority: WO
Inventors: Enzo CELANT; Stefano BAZZONI; Stefano Grimaldi; Matteo Aldo TORREGIANI
Original assignee: BORIA, Pier, Maria
Priority date: 2016-06-20
Filing date: 2017-06-20
Publication date: 2017-12-28
Also published as: ITUA20164517A1

Abstract

The invention refers to a pole (1) for cellular phones, adapted to contain electric and electronic apparatuses and equipped with a passive or semi-passive conditioning system, which uses an external heat exchanger (6), which has the shape of a helical serpentine to be able to be inserted on a part (20), with reduced diameter, of the pole (1), the heat exchanger (6) being protected by a sun screen (6a) which mimics the external outline of the pole (1) and which, together with the cylindrical parte (20), creates a sort of annular duct which surrounds the heat exchanger (6), so that, following heating of air present in the annular duct, an ascending current is formed, which improves the heat exchange.

Description

POLE FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPPED WITH A DEVICE FOR PASSIVE OR SEMI-PASSIVE CONDITIONING

The present invention refers to a pole for telecommunications, in particular for cellular phones, adapted to contain electric and electronic apparatuses and equipped with a system for passive or semi-passive conditioning, which uses a special external heat exchanger .

With their operation, the electric and electronic apparatuses produce heat, so that it is necessary to cool them by removing heat produced by the environment in which the apparatuses are contained.

The technologic evolution of electronic components of which the apparatuses are composed makes the temperature of he environment in which they are installed reach even 50÷55°C. This operating temperature increase therefore makes it possible, in temperate and sub-tropical areas, to use a single ventilation. However this fact brings about two hard consequences.

Firstly, if accumulators are present, as happens in almost all cases, the system is inefficient, since the life of such accumulators is strongly reduced, since they are not able to support the same temperatures of electronic components. Secondly, intense air flows take inside the housing various powders and dirt, in spite of the presence of filters, in addition to consume high amounts of electric energy .

A pole for telecommunications is a very slim structure, and it further has a relevant environmental impact. To reduce the visual effects of such installations, in some cases such poles are hidden by masking them inside fake palms, which are very high and of a strongly rectilinear shape. The use of a passive or semi-passive conditioning systems requires, among other things, a heat exchanger towards the outside environment having big sizes. It follows that the installation of a traditional heat exchanger on a pole for telecommunications would have a disastrous aesthetic effect, above all in case of installations in urban areas. Moreover, it would not allow an efficient hiding.

The present invention allows solving the above problem by providing a pole for telecommunications, in particular for cellular phones, as claimed in claim 1, equipped with one or more rooms adapted to contain electric and electronic apparatuses, equipped with a passive or semi-passive conditioning system for the rooms, means being provided which adapted to absorb heat produced by the electric and electronic apparatuses and transmit it, through a heat-carrying fluid, to at least one external heat exchanger, wherein the at least one external heat exchanger is shaped as a helical serpentine with one or more ranks.

This passive or semi-passive conditioning system comprises in particular:

• a first tank placed in the upper part of the pole;

• at least one internal heat exchanger for each of the rooms, adapted to absorb heat produced by the electric and electronic apparatuses;

• at least one external heat exchanger adapted to give to the outside environment heat absorbed by the at least one internal heat exchanger;

• a first piping which connects the lower part of the external heat exchanger with the first upper tank;

• a second piping which connects the first upper tank with the top part of the external heat exchanger;

• a third piping which connects the first upper tank with a second tank placed in the bottom part of the pole, or placed underground;

• a fourth piping which connects the second lower tank with the at least one internal heat exchanger;

• a fifth piping which connects the at least one internal heat exchanger with the first upper tank; wherein the at least one external heat exchanger is shaped as a helical serpentine with one or more ranks. By protecting the helical serpentine against sun radiations through a sun screen, which follows the external outline of the pole, the external heat exchanger according to the invention is perfectly hidden, with consequent aesthetic advantages .

The invention will now be described, as a non- limiting example, according to a preferred embodiment thereof and with reference to the enclosed figures, in which :

• figure 1 shows a pole for telecommunications according to the invention;

• figures 2 to 4 show enlarged details of the pole for telecommunications according to the invention; and

• figure 5 shows a preferred variation of the pole for telecommunications according to the invention.

With reference to figure 1, (1) designates a container of electric and electronic apparatuses, equipped with a device for the passive or semi-passive conditioning of rooms to be used in the invention.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the container (1) is a pole inside which the apparatuses are contained, while on the top of the pole the antennas (not shown) are installed.

The pole (1) according to the invention comprises:

• a first tank (2), preferably insulated, placed in the upper part of the pole itself;

· a plurality of rooms (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f) inside which the electric and electronic apparatuses are contained, the rooms being preferably mutually separated;

• an internal heat exchanger (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f) for each of the rooms (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f ) , adapted to absorb heat produced by the electric and electronic apparatuses, each of the internal heat exchangers (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f) being preferably equipped with a small fan (4'a, 4'b, 4'c, 4'd, 4'e, 4'f) adapted to generate an air circulation to increase the heat exchange;

• a second tank (5), preferably insulated, placed in the lower part of the pole (1) or placed underground;

• an external heat exchanger (6) adapted to give to the outside environment heat absorbed by the internal heat exchangers (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f ) , the external heat exchanger (6) being preferably protected by a sun screen (6a) adapted to create an annular duct included between the sun screen (6a) and the structure of the pole (1), the sun screen (6a) having also the function of preventing the sun radiation from directly reaching the external heat exchanger ( 6) ;

· a first piping (7) which connects the lower part of the external heat exchanger (6) with the first tank (2) ;

• a second piping (8) which connects the first tank (2) with the top part of the external heat exchanger (6), the connection occurring also through a short piping

(12) and a three-way valve (13), as better explained below;

• a third piping (9) which connects the first upper tank (2) with the second lower tank (5);

· a fourth piping (10) which connects the second lower tank (5) with the internal heat exchangers (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f);

• a fifth piping (11) which connects the internal heat exchangers (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f) with the first upper tank (2), the connection occurring also through the three-way valve (13) and the second piping (8), as better explained below.

The upper part of the fifth piping (11) is connected, through the three-way valve (13), with the second piping (8) and the short piping (12), so that the heat-carrying fluid which moves in the fifth piping (11) can go towards the top part of the external heat exchanger (6), or towards the first upper tank (2), according to the regulation of the three-way valve (13) .

The regulation of the three-way valve (13) is performed depending on the temperature of the outside environment and the temperature of the heat-carrying fluid going out of the internal heat exchangers (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f ) , the regulation being performed through a servomechanism controlled by a temperature comparator (not shown) .

If the difference between the temperature of the heat-carrying fluid which reaches the three-way valve (13) through the fifth piping (11) and the temperature of the outside environment is high enough to support a circulation through natural convection, the three-way valve (13) is regulated in order to connect the fifth piping (11) with the second piping (8), while if the temperature difference is not enough to support a natural convection, the three-way valve (13) is regulated in order to connect the fifth piping (11) with the short piping (12) which enters the first tank (2) .

The first situation typically occurs by night, in the morning hours and in the evening hours, while in the central part of the day the external temperature is higher and approaches that of the heat-carrying fluid. Obviously, the described situation can change depending on seasons and atmospheric conditions, so that during winter and in mid seasons, and, not rarely, also in summer, situations can occur in which the temperature of the outside environment is enough lower than that of the heat-carrying fluid till it supports a natural circulation even in the hottest hours of the day.

Therefore, there are two operating modes of the device of the invention, shown in figures 2 (a, b) .

The first operating mode (Fig. 2a) occurs when the temperature of the outside environment is enough lower than that of the heat-carrying fluid to support the natural circulation. In the first operating mode, the heat-carrying fluid rises from the second lower tank (2) towards the internal heat exchangers (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f ) , through the fourth piping (10), then goes out heated from the internal heat exchangers (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f) and, by moving in the fifth piping (11), the three- way valve (13) and the second piping (8), reaches the top part of the external heat exchanger (6), where it cools down, Then, it goes out of the bottom part of the external heat exchanger (6) through the first piping (7) and reaches the first upper tank (2) from which, through the third piping (9), returns in the second lower tank (5) .

The second operating mode (Fig. 2b) occurs when the temperature of the outside environment is not enough lower than that of the heat-carrying fluid to support the natural circulation. In the second operating mode, the heat-carrying fluid rises from the second lower tank (2) towards the internal heat exchangers (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f ) , through the fourth piping (10), then goes out heated from the internal heat exchangers (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f) and, moving in the fifth piping (11), the three-way valve (13) and the short piping (12), reaches the first upper tank (2), where it is mixed with the heat-carrying fluid present in the first upper tank (2) and cools down. Then it goes out of the first upper tank (2) through the third piping (9) and returns in the second lower tank (5) .

The second operating mode has a short time length, limited by the capacity of the first upper tank (2) . In fact, the inflow of hot heat-carrying fluid generates an increase of the temperature in the tank (2) itself, till the circulation blocks. This fact can occur if the length of the hottest period is exceptionally longer than normal. To solve this inconvenience, it has been foreseen to use a pump (10a), inserted for example in the fourth piping (10), next to the second lower tank (5). In this way, circulation is ensured and cooling can continue by using the still enough cold heat-carrying fluid present in the second lower tank (5) .

Figures 3 (a, b) show a variation of the device of the invention, wherein the first upper tank (2) is directly connected with the top part of the external heat exchanger (6) through a sixth piping (8a) while the fifth piping (11) ends in the top part of the first upper tank (2). According to the variation, the flow of the heat- carrying fluid is automatically regulated, giving rise to the same operating modes of the previous case.

In the first operating mode (Fig. 3a) , the heat- carrying fluid enters the first upper tank (2) and is layered in the top part of the tank (2) itself. Due to the fact that the external temperature is lower enough than that of the heat-carrying fluid, a circulation through natural convection is established between the first upper tank (2) and the external heat exchanger (6), through the first piping (7) and the sixth piping (8a). In this situation, the heat-carrying fluid coming from the fifth piping (11) is sucked and moves in the external heat exchanger (6) and returns cooled in the first upper tank (2) and from here, through the third piping (9), returns to the second lower tank (5). In the second operating mode (Fig. 3b) the heat- carrying fluid enters the first upper tank (2) and is layered in the top part of the tank (2) itself. Since in this second operating mode the external temperature does not drop lower than that of the heat-carrying fluid as to establish a circulation through natural convection between the first upper tank (2) and the external heat exchanger (6), the heat-carrying fluid coming from the fifth piping (11) is mixed with that contained in the first upper tank (2), then cools down and goes back in the second lower tank (5) through the third piping (9) .

The advantage of using the three-way valve (13) is that the operating mode change can be selected with care, with a greater plant efficiency. On the other hand, the variation is simpler, more economic and reliable.

An important evaluation parameter of the pole of the invention is its aesthetic, in order to limit the environmental impact, for this reason, it is rather appreciable that there are no elements projecting from the external outline of the pole itself. To obtain this result, the external heat exchanger (6) is shaped as a helical serpentine with one or more ranks, whose diameter is less than the external diameter of the pole, to be able to be inserted on a part (20), with reduced diameter, of the pole (1) and be wholly contained inside the sun screen (6a), which mimics the external outline of the pole (1) itself.

The substantially cylindrical part (20) is connected with the rest of the pole (1) through fitting elements (20a, 20b) . According to a preferred embodiment, the fitting elements (20a, 20b) are shaped as a frustum-of- cone or the like, in order to create, together with the substantially cylindrical part (20) and the sun screen (6a) a sort of annular duct which surrounds the external heat exchanger (6) . In this way, following heating of air present in the annular duct, an ascending current is formed, which licks the external heat exchanger (6), increasing the heat exchange.

Obviously, in order to be able to insert the external heat exchanger (6) on the cylindrical part (20), the pole (1) is made in order to be dismountable .

In order to reduce the negative effects of sun radiations, the sun screen (6a) is insulated.

Figures 4 (a, b) show two rooms (3a, 3b) adapted to contain the electric and electronic apparatuses, for example the electric accumulators (21) and the electronic apparatuses (22).

Since the electric accumulators (21) are seriously damaged by high temperatures, the compartment (3a) in which the accumulators (21) are housed is advantageously insulated.

Figure 4a is a simple enlargement of the compartments (3a, 3b), while Figure 4b shows an air flow generated by the fans (4'a, 4'b). The hot flow rises from the apparatuses (21, 22) and, pushed by the fans (4'a, 4'b), crosses the internal heat exchangers (4a, 4b), is cooled and descends along the walls to return to lick the apparatuses (21, 22).

Function of the fans (4'a, 4'b) is accelerating the air flow which licks the apparatuses (21, 22) and the internal heat exchangers (4a, 4b), increasing the thermal exchange efficiency. However, even without the fans (4'a, 4'b) the flow is equally established, since hot air going out of the apparatuses (21, 22) anyway goes upwards and then returns downwards as cooled. In other words, the exchangers can be adequately dimensioned, obtaining, with a moderate increase of costs, a simpler, and therefore more reliable, plant.

According to a preferred embodiment, shown in Figure 5, it is provided to use a small cold-generating machine (20), of a known type, to cool the heat-carrying fluid present in the first upper tank (2) . The cold-generating machine (20) can be advantageously installed above the first tank (2), providing for air intakes (21) and an evaporator (22), of the cold-generating machine (20), which is directly inserted in the first tank (2).

Cooling of the heat-carrying fluid in the first tank (2), in addition to the obvious removal of part of the heat produced by the apparatuses, produces the effect of making the heat-carrying fluid heavier and, therefore, of supporting the natural circulation.

The invention has been described as an example according to some preferred embodiments thereof. The skilled people in the art will be able to devise many other embodiments, all falling within the scope of the enclosed claims.

Claims

Pole (1) for telecommunications, in particular for cellular phones, equipped with one or more rooms (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f) adapted to contain electric and electronic apparatuses, equipped with a passive or semi-passive conditioning system for the rooms (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f ) , means being provided which are adapted to absorb heat produced by the electric and electronic apparatuses and to transmit it, through a heat-carrying fluid, to at least one external heat exchanger (6), characterized in that the at least one external heat exchanger (6) is shaped as a helical serpentine with one or more ranks.

Pole (1) for telecommunications, in particular for cellular phones, according to claim 1, characterized in that the passive or semi-passive conditioning system comprises:

• a first tank (2) placed in the upper part of the pole (1) ;

• at least one internal heat exchanger (4a, 4b, 4c,

4d, 4e, 4f) for each of the rooms (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f ) , adapted to absorb heat produced by the electric and electronic apparatuses;

• the at least one external heat exchanger (6) adapted to give to the outside environment heat absorbed by the at least one internal heat exchanger (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f ) ;

• a first piping (7) which connects the lower part of the external heat exchanger (6) with the first upper tank (2) ;

• a second piping (8, 8a) which connects the first upper tank (2) with the top part of the external heat exchanger (6);

• a third piping (9) which connects the first upper tank (2) with a second tank (5) placed in the bottom part of the pole (1), or placed underground;

• a fourth piping (10) which connects the second lower tank (5) with the at least one internal heat exchanger (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f ) ;

• a fifth piping (11) which connects the at least one internal heat exchanger (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f) with the first upper tank (2);

first upper tank (2), internal heat exchangers (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f) and pipings (7, 8, 8a, 9, 10, 11) being crossed by a heat-carrying fluid adapted to transfer heat produced by the electric and electronic apparatuses from the rooms (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f) to the outside environment.

Pole (1) for telecommunications, in particular for cellular phones, according to claim 1, characterized in that the helical serpentine is protected, against sun radiations, by a sun screen (6a).

Pole (1) for telecommunications, in particular for cellular phones, according to claim 3, characterized in that the sun screen (6a) is insulated.

Pole (1) for telecommunications, in particular for cellular phones, according to any one of claims 1 to

4, characterized in that the serpentine has a diameter less than the external diameter of the pole (1), to be able to be inserted on a part (20), with reduced diameter, of the pole (1) and be wholly contained inside the sun screen (6a).

Pole (1) for telecommunications, in particular for cellular phones, according to any one of claims 3 to

5, characterized in that the sun screen (6a) mimics the external outline of the pole (1).

6, characterized in that the sun screen (6a) and the substantially cylindrical part (20) create a sort of annular duct which surrounds the external heat exchanger (6), so that, following heating of air present in the annular duct, an ascending current is formed, which licks the external heat exchanger (6), increasing the heat exchange.

8. Pole (1) for telecommunications, in particular for cellular phones, according to any one of claims 1 to

7, characterized in that the substantially cylindrical part (20) is connected with the rest of the pole (1) through fitting elements (20a, 20b) shaped as a frustum-of-cone or the like.

9. Pole (1) for telecommunications, in particular for cellular phones, according to any one of claims 1 to

8, characterized in that the pole (1) is dismountable .

10. Pole (1) for telecommunications, in particular for cellular phones, according to any one of claims 1 to

9, characterized in that the rooms (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f) for containing the electric and electronic apparatuses are mutually separated.

11. Pole (1) for telecommunications, in particular for cellular phones, according to any one of claims 1 to

10, characterized in that the at least one internal heat exchanger (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f) are equipped with a small fan (4'a, 4'b, 4'c, 4'd, 4'e, 4'f).

12. Pole (1) for telecommunications, in particular for cellular phones, according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that one or more of the rooms (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f) inside which the electric and electronic apparatuses are contained, are insulated.

12, characterized in that it has a small cold- generating machine (20) , adapted to cool the heat- carrying fluid present in the first upper tank (2). Pole (1) for telecommunications, in particular for cellular phones, according to claim 13, characterized in that an evaporator (22), of the cold-generating machine (20) , is directly inserted in the first tank (2) .