Explosion-proof enclosures with active thermal management by heat exchange

Abstract

Enclosures for use in hazardous areas include heat exchangers for active thermal management. The enclosures are coupled to a device having heat transfer capabilities. Equipment within the enclosures produces heat within the enclosure. The heat exchanger removes heat produced from the equipment and manages the internal temperature of the enclosures to a level suitable for hazardous locations. The enclosures can be actively cooled or heated using the device.

1 . An enclosure system, comprising:
 a housing;   a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising a first heat transfer component in communication with a second heat transfer component, wherein the first heat transfer component is in communication with the inside of the housing, and the second heat transfer component is positioned outside of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is selected from the group consisting of thermoelectric coolers, shell and tube heat exchangers, plate heat exchangers, and spiral heat exchangers. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat transfer component is positioned inside the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat transfer component is integrated into a wall of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second heat transfer component is coupled to an exterior of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising equipment positioned within the housing, the equipment to be cooled or heated by the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first heat transfer component is coupled to the equipment. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first heat transfer component is a cooling plate. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is sealed. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan positioned within the housing or externally mounted to the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a control system coupled to the fan. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system coupled to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . An explosion-proof enclosure system, comprising:
 a housing having an internal cavity, the housing being sealed in compliance with hazardous area guidelines;   equipment positioned within the cavity;   a thermally conductive plate positioned within the cavity and proximate to the equipment;   a heat exchanger exterior to the housing;   an inlet tube; and   an outlet tube, wherein the inlet tube and the outlet tube each extend through the housing and connect the heat exchanger to the plate.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the plate comprises an opening therein for receiving a fluid flowing from the inlet tube. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a fluid flowing from the heat exchanger, through the inlet tube, to an opening within the plate, through the outlet tube, and back to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the inlet or outlet tube is spiral. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the plate comprises multiple plates in communication with each other. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the equipment is to be heated or cooled by the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the inlet and outlet tubes are sealingly coupled to a wall of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a fan positioned within the internal cavity or externally mounted to the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a control system coupled to the fan. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a control system coupled to the heat exchanger.