Claims
- 1. A cooling system for cooling a dielectric insulating fluid flowing through a transformer, the system comprising:
a plurality of cooling tubes oriented in a substantially vertical manner, wherein each tube has a top opening and a bottom opening and, wherein the tubes are interconnected to form a bundle configuration; one or more distributor headers positioned between and in fluid communication with the transformer and the top openings of the cooling tubes; one or more collector headers positioned between and in fluid communication with the transformer and the bottom openings of the cooling tubes; and a plurality of vertical air channels formed by the interconnected bundle configuration.
- 2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling tubes further comprise a plurality of outwardly radially projecting external fins extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the tubes.
- 3. The cooling system of claim 2, wherein the cooling tubes further comprise a plurality of inwardly radially projecting interior fins extending longitudinally along an inner surface of the tubes.
- 4. The cooling system of claim 3, wherein the fins have longitudinal grooves running parallel to the tubes.
- 5. The cooling system of claim 3, wherein the interior fins and exterior fins are evenly spaced apart.
- 6. The cooling system of claim 2, wherein the exterior fins comprise a plurality of exterior claw fins projecting radially outwardly from an exterior surface of the tube, each exterior claw fin having a claw at a terminal end thereof.
- 7. The cooling system of claim 6, wherein the exterior fins comprise a plurality of exterior ball fins projecting radially outwardly from an exterior surface of the tube, each exterior ball fin having a ball at a terminal end thereof.
- 8. The cooling system of claim 7, wherein the claw fins and the ball fins are designed to allow interconnection therebetween to form the bundle configuration.
- 9. The cooling system of claim 2, wherein the exterior fins comprise a plurality of exterior cooling fins projecting radially outwardly from an exterior surface of the tube.
- 10. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling tube s are made of aluminum.
- 11. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more distributor headers includes:
a manifold in fluid communication with the transformer; and one or more airfoil extensions extending therefrom and in fluid communication therewith and, wherein each of the one or more airfoil extensions includes a bottom surface having a plurality of openings.
- 12. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein each of the openings of the airfoil extension is in fluid communication with the top openings of a corresponding cooling tube.
- 13. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more collector headers includes:
a manifold in fluid communication with the transformer; and one or more airfoil extensions extending therefrom and in fluid communication therewith and, wherein each of the one or more airfoil extensions includes a top surface having a plurality of openings.
- 14. The cooling system of claim 13, wherein each of the openings of the airfoil extension is in fluid communication with the bottom openings of a corresponding cooling tube.
- 15. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling tubes in the bundle are connected in a honeycomb arrangement.
- 16. A method for cooling dielectric insulating fluid flowing through transformers, the method comprising:
circulating dielectric insulating fluid downwardly from a transformer through one or more vertical tubes; and circulating an air stream upwardly through vertical air channels formed by the interconnection of the tubes to cool the dielectric insulating fluid.
- 17. The method of claim 16, wherein circulating an air stream through the vertical air channels occurs through natural thermal convection.
- 18. The method of claim 16, wherein circulating an air stream through the vertical air channels occurs through thermal siphoning.
- 19. The method of claim 16, wherein circulating an air stream through the vertical air channels occurs through forced air flow.
- 20. The method of claim 16, wherein circulating dielectric insulating fluid occurs through natural thermal convection.
- 21. The method of claim 16, wherein circulating dielectric insulating fluid occurs through forced dielectric insulating fluid flow.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), this application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/184,520 filed Feb. 24, 2000, entitled System and Method for Cooling Transformers, the entirety of the disclosure of which is hereby specifically incorporated by reference
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60184520 |
Feb 2000 |
US |