GB2507822A

GB2507822A - Critical power module enclosure

Info

Publication number: GB2507822A
Application number: GB1220430.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rafal Woloszyn
Original assignee: Caterpillar NI Ltd
Current assignee: Caterpillar NI Ltd
Priority date: 2012-11-13
Filing date: 2012-11-13
Publication date: 2014-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 2032-11-13
Also published as: GB2507822B; GB201220430D0

Abstract

A critical power module enclosure is divided into two bays or compartments 108 and 110, typically housing an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) 114 and a genset 116. Fluid such as air flows between the two bays 108 and 110 assisted by a flow regulation device such as fan 140. The bays may be separated by a partition wall 112 having an opening 138; fan 140; and a closable louver 134 in the fluid flow path. Cold air can enter bay 108, via inlets 130, where it is heated by passing over the UPS before entering bay 110 where it heats generator set 116, drying alternator 120 and warming diesel engine 122 to assist cold-starting. During heating of generator bay 110 its inlet louvre (fig 1, 134) may be closed.

Description

I

CRITICAL POWER MODULE ENCLOSURE

Technical Field

100011 The present disclosure relates generally to a critical power module enclosure, and more particularly to an enclosure having a fluid flow path.

Background

100021 Critical power modules are used as auxiliary power supply units to an external load, and more particularly as an electrical power source for consistent supply of electrical power, when a main power system fails. The critical power module may comprise an enclosure housing a genset and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

The genset comprises an engine for generating mechanical energy and an alternator for converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy. The uninterruptible power supply comprises one or more batteries adapted to supply electrical power at an intended frequency and voltage. Critical power modules, specifically the gensets, do not operate effectively in cold conditions. This is because the alternators usually impose a high load on the engines in order to generate electrical power of the required frcquency and voltagc. In cold conditions the engine cannot tolerate the high load and thus the genset's "load acceptance" is low. Further, the alternator needs to be dry to avoid any short circuit. Typically, the critical power module includes a space heater to heat the cngine for start-up in the cold environment and to improve its load acceptancc, and to make the alternator dry. Further, the spacc heater may have a risk of condensate formation around its windings.

100031 U.S. Publication Number 2008/0048456 discloses an electrical power generation system for providing electrical power to an external load. The system includes a plurality of microturbine units, each microturbine unit having a combustion microturbine cngine coupled to an electrical generator. The electrical generator includes a means for converting the rotational movement of the turbine engine into electrical power. A single power module is electrically connected to the load and physically scparated from the plurality of generators. The power module has a number of components including an enclosure and a plurality of batteries within said enclosure.

A plurality of generator controls are located within the enclosure where each of the generator controls is coupled to one of the plurality of generators. However, this arrangement has shortcomings.

Summary

100041 In an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a critical power module enclosure comprising: a housing defining a first bay and a second bay; a fluid flow path defined within the housing to enable a fluid flow between the first bay and the second bay; and a flow regulation device configured to assist the fluid flow along the fluid flow path.

100051 In a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of operating a critical power module located in a housing having first and second bays and a fluid flow path between said bays, the method comprising the steps of: allowing a fluid to enter the first bay; enabling fluid to flow from the first bay into the second bay; and providing a flow regulation device to assist fluid flow through the fluid flow path.

100061 Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying figures.

Brief Description of the Figures

100071 Figure I is a perspective view of a critical power module, according to an

aspect of the present disclosure;

100081 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the critical power module of Figure I, but clearly illustrating a LiPS bay and a genset bay defined within the enclosure; and 100091 Figure 3 is a perspective vieiv of the critical power module of Figures 1 and 2 illustrating an air flow path between the LiPS bay and the genset bay.

Detailed Description

100101 Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a critical power module (CPM) 100, in which various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. In an exemplary embodiment, the CPM 100 includes an enclosure 102. The enclosure 102 includes a housing 106 supported on a base frame 104. In Figure 2, a portion of the housing 106 is removed to illustrate inner components of the CPM 100. The housing 106 may define a first bay 108 and a second bay 110, possibly separated by a partition wall 112. The first bay 108 may house an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) 114 supported on the base frame 104, hereinafter referred as the UPS bay in the present disclosure. The second bay 110 may house a genset system 116 also supported on the base frame 104, hereinafter referred to as the genset bay in the present disclosure. The base frame 104 may also support various other components associated with the UPS 114 and the genset system 116, for example, but not limited to, a radiator, a cooling system, a starter motor, a battery, user interfaces, and other related sub-systems. The UPS 114 may be configured to supply uninterruptible power immediately to an external load, such as but not limited to, for example, electric motors, heating elements, electronic circuitry, refrigeration devices, air conditioning units, computer servers, etc. Only once the genset system 116 generates external power of the required frequency and voltage, is it configured then to supply power to the external load.

100111 The UPS 114 may include plurality of components and subsystems to maintain a steady supply of power to the external load at the outset. In an exemplary embodiment, the UPS 114 may include a casing 118 enclosing power electronics 117 and energy storage devices 119. The energy storage devices 119 may store electrical energy and may include, but not limited to, an inductor, a batten', or a capacitor. The electrical energy from the genset system 116 may be supplied to the UPS 114 and utilized by the power electronics II? to charge the energy and storage devices 119.

[00121 The genset system 116 may include a plurality of components and subsystems for generating and supplying the power to the UPS 114 and/or the external load. The genset system I 16 includes an alternator 120 operatively connected to and driven by an engine 122. Tn an aspect of the present disclosure, the engine 122 may be a diesel engine. A person ordinarily skilled in the art may understand that the engine 122 may be any other type of internal combustion engine for example, but not limited to, a gasoline engine, or a gaseous fuel-powered engine.

[00131 Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the housing 106 may include a front panel 124 provided adjacent the UPS bay 108 and a rear panel 126 may be provided adiacent the genset bay 110. As illustrated in Figure 1, the housing 106 may include side panels 128 disposed between the front and rear panels 124, 126 and a top panel 129 mounted to side panels. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the front panel 124, the side panels 128, and the top panel 129 may be interconnected by mechanical connectors for example, but not limited to, rivets. Further, base frame 104, the front panel 124, the side panels 128 and the top panel 129 may be made of a rigid metal, for example, but not limited to, galvanized steel.

The front panel 124 may include at least one UPS bay inlet 130 (such as a louver) adapted to allow a fluid (such as air) to flow from the exterior of the housing 106 to the interior of the UPS bay. Further, the side panels 128 provided adjacent the UPS 114 may include at least one UPS bay outlet louver 132 adapted to allow the air to flow out from the UPS bay 108 and dissipate heat generated by the UPS 114. Further, the side panels 128 provided adjacent the genset system 116 may include at least one gcnset bay inlet 134 (such as a louver) adapted to allow the flow of the air from the exterior of the housing 106 into the genset bay 110. The rear panel 126, provided adjacent the genset system 116, may include at least one genset bay outlet (not shown) adapted to allow the air to flow out from the genset bay 110. A person ordinarily skilled in the art may understand that the inlet louvers 130, 134 and the outlet louvers 132 may be configured to be connected to a fan powered by a motor for directing air in and out of the housing. Further, the inlet louvers 130, 134 and the outlet louvers 132 may be selectively moved between an open position and a closed position based on the surrounding conditions i.e., cold, normal and hot surroundings.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in Figure 2, the partition wall 112 may include at least one opening 138 to define a fluid flow path arranged to enable air to flow from the UPS bay 108 into the genset bay 110.

in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the partition wall 112 may further include a flow regulation device 140, for example, but not limited to, a fan assembly. The flow regulation device 140 may be configured to assist the air flow from the UPS bay 108 into the genset bay 110 based on an operating condition of the CPM 100. The flow regulation device 140 may further include a UPS bay internal louver 142 operable to control the air flow from the UPS bay 108 into the genset bay 110. The flow regulation device 140 provided in the partition wall 112, may promote the flow of air, possibly warm air, from the UPS bay 108 into the genset bay 110 when the UPS bay internal louver 142 is in the open position.

Industrial Applicability

100161 The industrial applicability of a critical power module described herein will be readily appreciated from the foregoing discussion. During cold starting of the diesel engines, the engine may need to be warmed up to start and to accept a load of the alternator in attempt to create electrical energy based on the operating conditions.

Further, the alternator of the genset system may need to be thy to avoid any short circuit. Moreover, the UPS may emit heat when supplying electrical power to the external load. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening 138 defined in the partition wall 112 allows heat emitted from the UPS to be transmitted from the UPS bay 108 to the genset bay 110, so as to warm the genset system 116.

100171 Referring to Figure 3, during the cold start of the engine 122, the direction of the air flow path (shown by arrows) from the UPS bay 108 into the genset bay 110 is herein explained. The air, for example, cold air, enters the UPS bay through inlet louvers 130 provided on the front panel 124. Further, the cold air circulates around the UPS 114. The heated air may pass through the opening 138 provided in the partition wall I 12 and into the genset bay I 10. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the heated air i-nay dry the alternator 120 avoiding a short circuit in the genset system 116.

Further, the warm air may assist in cold start of the engine 122 of the genset system 116. The utilization of the heated air from the UPS bay 108 to the gensct bay 110 increases an overall efficiency of the CPM 100. In an aspect of the present disclosure, during the cold start of the engine 122, the UPS bay outlet louver 132 may be closed to divert the warm air into the genset bay 110 only. Moreover, the genset bay inlet louver 134 may closed to avoid any temperature loss in the genset bay 110. Thus, all of the air drawn into the genset bay 110 comes from the UPS bay 108, where it is heated by the UPS.

100181 In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the CPM 100 may operate in temperatures in range of -20°C to 40°C. The warm air dissipated from the UPS bay 108 may need to be regulated into the genset bay 110. The flow regulation device 140 controls the flow of warm air from the UPS bay 108 into the genset bay 110 based on the ambience or the surrounding temperatures. Although, the flow regulation device is illustrated as a fan, those skilled in the art may understand that the air may be regulated by any means known in the art without deviating from the scope of the

present disclosure.

[0091 It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed system and technique. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples.

All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.

100201 Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subiect matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law.

Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is: 1. A critical power module enclosure comprising: a housing defining a first bay and a second bay; a fluid flow path defined within the housing to enable a fluid flow between the first bay and the second bay; and a flow regulation device configured to assist the fluid flow along the fluid flow path.
2. The critical power module enclosure of claim I, wherein the housing comprises a partition wall separating the first bay and the second bay.
3. The critical power module enclosure of claim 2, wherein the partition wall comprises at least one opening to define the fluid flow path between the first bay and the second bay.
4. The critical power module enclosure of claim 3, wherein the flow regulation device is arranged in association with the at least one opening.
5. The critical power module enclosure of any preceding claim, wherein the flow regulation device further comprises closure means adapted selectively to allow the fluid flow from the first bay into the second bay.
6. The critical power module enclosure of any preceding claim, wherein the housing comprises a fluid intake port operable to allow fluid to enter the first bay from the exterior of the housing.
7. The critical power module enclosure of any preceding claim, wherein the first bay is configured to house an uninterruptible power supply.
8. The critical powcr module enclosure of any preceding claim, whercin the second bay is configured to house a gcnset.
9. The critical power module enclosure of any preceding claim, wherein the flow regulator device comprises a fan.
10. A method of operating a critical power module located in a housing having first and second bays and a fluid flow path between said bays, the method comprising the steps of: allowing a fluid to enter the first bay; enabling fluid to flow from the first bay into the second bay; and providing a flow regulation device to assist fluid flow through the fluid flow path.
II. The method of claim 10 and further comprising the steps of: providing an unintcrruptiblc power supply in the first bay; operating the unintcrruptiblc power supply such that it emits thermal cncrgy; and causing the fluid in the first bay to be heated by the thermal energy before it flows to the second bay.
12. The method of claim 11 and further comprising the step of providing a genset in the second bay; and causing the genset to be heated by the air flowing from the first bay.
13. The method of any of claims 10 to 12, and further comprising the step of providing a partition wall in the housing and an opening in the partition wall, the opening defining the fluid flow path through which fluid may flow between the first and second bays.
14. The method of any of claims 10 to 13 and further comprising the steps of providing a flow regulation device in the form of a fan; and operating the fan so as to vary the quantity of fluid flowing through the fluid flow path.
15. The method of any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the flow regulation device comprises adjustment means and the method further comprises the steps of controlling the adjustment means so as to vary the size of the fluid flow path and thus the amount of fluid flowing into the second bay.