Patent · US Active

Switchgear cooling system comprising a heat pipe, fan and thermoelectric generation

US10855060B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
9References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 18, 2016
Grant dateDec 1, 2020
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 10, 2036

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10N10/17
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A cooling system includes an evaporator associated with a heat source. A condenser is located at a higher elevation than the evaporator. A heat pipe structure fluidly connects the evaporator with the condenser. A fan forces air through the condenser. A working fluid is in the evaporator so as to be heated to a vapor state, with the heat pipe structure transferring the vapor to the condenser and passively returning condensed working fluid back to the evaporator for cooling of the heat source. A plurality of thermoelectric generators is associated with the condenser and converts heat, obtained from the working fluid in the vapor state, to electrical energy to power the fan absent an external power source. The thermoelectric generators provide the electrical energy to the fan so that a rotational speed of the fan is automatically self-regulating to either increase or decrease based on a varying heat load.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.