Moisture control systems for electrical enclosures

Abstract

An electrical enclosure system is described herein. The electrical enclosure system can include an electrical enclosure having at least one wall forming a cavity. The electrical enclosure system can also include at least one electrical device disposed within the cavity of the electrical enclosure. The electrical enclosure system can further include a moisture pump assembly disposed in a first aperture in the at least one wall, where the moisture pump assembly passes ambient air into the cavity. The electrical enclosure system can also include a vent assembly disposed in a second aperture in the at least one wall, where the vent assembly passes cavity air from the cavity to outside the electrical enclosure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrical enclosure system comprising:
 an electrical enclosure comprising at least one wall forming a cavity;   at least one electrical device disposed within the cavity of the electrical enclosure;   a moisture pump assembly disposed in a first aperture in the at least one wall, wherein the moisture pump assembly passes ambient air into the cavity; and   a vent assembly disposed in a second aperture in the at least one wall, wherein the vent assembly passes cavity air from the cavity to outside the electrical enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture pump assembly passes the ambient air into the cavity based on a differential in pressure between the cavity and outside the electrical enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 1 , wherein the vent assembly passes the cavity air from the cavity to outside the electrical enclosure based on a differential in pressure between the cavity and outside the electrical enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 1 , wherein the first aperture in the at least one wall of the electrical enclosure is located toward a bottom end of the electrical enclosure. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 1 , wherein the second aperture in the at least one wall of the electrical enclosure is located toward a top end of the electrical enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical device comprises a heat-generating device. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture pump assembly comprises:
 a moisture pump; and   a valve coupled to the moisture pump, wherein the valve is disposed between an outlet of the moisture pump and the cavity of the electrical enclosure.   
     
     
         8 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 7 , wherein the moisture pump comprises a channel disposed between an inlet and the outlet of the moisture pump, wherein the ambient air traverses the channel from the inlet to the outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 8 , wherein the moisture pump further comprises at least one baffle disposed in the channel. 
     
     
         10 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 8 , wherein the moisture pump further comprises desiccant disposed in the channel. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 7 , wherein the valve is a check valve that prevents the cavity air from flowing through the channel of the moisture pump. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 1 , wherein the vent assembly comprises:
 a vent; and   a valve coupled to the vent, wherein the valve is disposed between the cavity and an inlet of the vent.   
     
     
         13 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 12 , wherein the vent comprises a channel disposed between the inlet and an outlet of the vent, wherein the cavity air traverses the channel from the inlet to the outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 12 , wherein the valve is a check valve that prevents the ambient air from flowing through the channel of the vent into the cavity of the electrical enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical enclosure prevents the ingress of water into the cavity when the moisture pump assembly and the vent assembly are coupled to the electrical enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . The electrical enclosure system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical enclosure is located in and is rated for a hazardous location when the moisture pump assembly and the vent assembly are coupled to the electrical enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . A moisture control system to provide environment control for an electrical enclosure, the system comprising:
 a moisture pump assembly disposed in a first aperture in at least one wall of the electrical enclosure, wherein the moisture pump assembly passes ambient air into a cavity formed by the at least one wall; and   a vent assembly disposed in a second aperture in the at least one wall, wherein the vent assembly passes cavity air from the cavity to outside the electrical enclosure,   wherein the electrical enclosure has disposed in the cavity at least one electrical device.   
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling a climate in a cavity of an electrical enclosure, the method comprising:
 receiving, using a moisture pump assembly, ambient air from an ambient environment outside the electrical enclosure;   sending, by the moisture pump assembly, the ambient air into the cavity of the electrical enclosure;   receiving, using a vent assembly, cavity air from the cavity of the electrical enclosure; and   sending, by the vent assembly, the cavity air to the ambient environment outside the electrical enclosure.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the moisture pump assembly operates without electricity. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the moisture pump assembly removes moisture from the ambient air.