Gas-insulated electric apparatus

Abstract: A gas-insulated transformer comprises a transformer body (112) and a radiator (114) both filled with SF₆ gas. The radiator (114) comprises a gas introducing header (114A), a gas discharging header (114A), a plurality of radiation panels (114B), and couplers (114C) for couplinq the gas introducing header (114A), gas discharging header (114A) and radiation panels (114B). The coupler (114C) has a passageway having a cross section gradually increasing from an end portion of the radiation panel towards the header (114A).

Description: The present invention relates generally to a gas-insulated electric apparatus, e.g. a gas-insulated transformer using a high withstand voltage insulating gas such as SF 6 , and more particularly to a gas-insulated electric apparatus having a radiator for cooling the high withstand voltage insulating gas. Recently, a transformer station is often constructed within an office building or in a basement. In the transformer station, a high voltage electric apparatus such as a power transformer is installed. In a conventional high voltage electric apparatus, an insulating oil has been used as a cooling medium. The insulating oil is problem of safety, e.g. fire. Under the situation, in these years, SF 6 gas has been used in a high voltage electric apparatus. The SF 6 gas has been used not only as a high withstand voltage insulating gas but also as a cooling medium. Such a gas-insulated electric apparatus comprises an electric apparatus body and a radiator attached to the body. As is well known, however, the specific heat and conduction of SF 6 gas is lower than that of the insulating oil. Since the heat transmission performance is much inferior to that of the insulating oil, it is necessary to use a large-capacity radiator. In addition, the space in the office building or basement, where the high voltage electric apparatus is to be installed, is limited; thus, it is difficult to install the high voltage electric apparatus with a large radiator. Fig. 1 shows an example of a conventional self-cooling type gas-insulated transformer, which is a typical example of the above gas-insulated electric apparatus. In Fig. 1, the self-cooling type gas-insulated transformer 10 comprises a transformer body 12 and a radiator 14. Main components of the transformer body 12 are a casing 12A, a coil 12B and an iron core 12C. The coil 12B and iron core 12C are situated within the casing 12A in the insulated state. A high withstand voltage insulating gas or SF 6 16 is filled in the transformer body 12 and radiator 14. The radiator 14 will now be described in detail with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. A plurality of mutually distanced panels 14B, each having substantially the same thickness, are coupled between an upper header 14A and a lower header 14A, which have an oval cross section, via couplers 14C. The couplers 14C are provided at both end portions of each panel 14B. The couplers 14C, on the other hand, are attached to the mutually facing surfaces of the upper and lower headers 14A. The couplers 14C controls branching and confluence of insulating gas 16 which flows through the panels 14B. An open end portion of each of the upper and lower headers 14A is provided with a flange 14D1, 14D2. The flanges 14D1 and 14D2 are connected to a transformer body (not shown). Thereby, the inside space of the transformer body communicates with the inside space of the upper header 14A and the inside space of the lower header 14A. The other end portions of the upper and lower headers 14A are closed. Each panel 14B has a longitudinally extending inside space. The inside space of each panel 14B communicates with the inside space of the upper header 14A and the inside space of the lower header 14A. Accordingly, a closed gas passageway is formed by the mutually communicating inside spaces of the transformer body, upper and lower headers 14A and panels 14B. The SF 6 gas 16 filled in the closed gas passageway circulates naturally through the closed passageway, and radiates heat in the panels 14B principally, thereby cooling the inside spaces of the transformer body and radiator 14. The natural circulation of SF 6 gas 16 will now be described more specifically. The SF 6 gas 16 flows to a passageway 18A1 of the upper header 14A from the transformer body. Then, the gas 16 is branched into the panels 14B, flowing vertically downwards through passageways 18B of the panels 14B. The SF 6 gas 16 flowing through the passageways 18B of panels 14B is made confluent in a passageway 18A2 of the lower header 14A. The confluent SF 6 gas 16 returns to the transformer body. In the above, when the SF 6 gas flows through the passageways 18B of the panels 14B, the air around the panels 14B is heated and convection occurs. By the convection, heat radiation is principally caused. When the gas 16 flows in the passageways 18B of panels 14 in turbulent flows, radiation efficiency is increased. In this case, since SF 6 gas having less heat transfer performance is substituted for the insulating coil as a cooling medium, it is necessary to increase the circulation amount of SF 6 gas, thereby to enhance the cooling performance of the radiator 14. If the ratio of the cross section area of the passageway 18A1, 18A2 of each of the upper and lower headers 14A to the cross section area of each coupler 14C between each panel 14B and upper and lower headers 14A, at which SF 6 gas is branched or made confluent, is large, the branch loss coefficient and confluence loss coefficient are high. In this case, the following disadvantage arises, and the size of the radiator 14 cannot be reduced. First, the branch loss/confluence loss at the coupler 14C is expressed by the product of the square of the flow velocity of SF 6 gas at the passageways 18A1 and 18A2, the density of SF 6 gas and the branch loss coefficient or confluence loss coefficient; thus, if the branch loss coefficient or confluence loss coefficient increases, the branch loss or confluence loss increases or the circulation flow rate of SF 6 gas decreases. Secondly, if the branch loss or confluence loss increases, the flow rates of SF 6 flowing through the panels 14B tend to become non-uniform, and a laminar flow of SF 6 gas with low heat conductivity may occur in some of the panels 14B. In such a case, even if the number of panels 14B is increased, the radiation amount does not substantially increase. A second example of prior art will now be described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5. As is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a radiator 20 is connected to a transformer body of a self-cooling type gas-insulated transformer (not shown). The radiator 20 has a pipe-like upper header 20A, a pipe-like lower header 20A, and a plurality of mutually distanced panels 20B situated between the upper and lower headers 20A. Each panel 20B has substantially the same thickness. Each of the upper and lower headers 20A has a plurality of ducts 20C along its longitudinal direction. A hole is formed at both end portions of each panel 20B. The upper and lower headers 20A are inserted through the holes formed at both end portions of the panels 20B. The positions of the holes at both end portions of the panels 20B are made to agree with the positions of the ducts 20C of the upper and lower headers 20A, and the panels 20B are coupled to the upper and lower headers 20A by means of welding, etc. The ducts 20C of the upper header 20A are opposed to the ducts 20C of the lower header 20A. The ducts 20C of the upper and lower headers 20A control the branching and confluence of the insulating gas 16 flowing through the panels 20B. An open end portion of each of the upper and lower headers 20A is provided with a flange 20D1, 20D2. The flanges 20D1 and 20D2 are connected to the transformer body (not shown). Thereby, the inside space of the transformer body communicates with the inside spaces of the upper and lower headers 20A. The other end portion of each of the upper and lower headers 20A is closed. Each panel 20B has a longitudinally extending inside space. The inside spaces of the panels 20B communicate with the inside spaces of the upper and lower headers 20A. Accordingly, a closed gas passageway is formed by the mutually communicating inside spaces of the transformer body, upper and lower headers 20A and panels 20B. The SF 6 gas filled in the closed gas passageway circulates naturally through the closed passageway, and radiates heat in the panels 20B principally, thereby cooling the inside spaces of the transformer body and radiator 20. The natural circulation of SF 6 gas will now be described more specifically. The SF 6 gas flows to a passageway 22A1 of the upper header 20A from the transformer body. Then, the gas is branched into the panels 20B, flowing vertically downwards through passageways 22B of the panels 20B. The SF 6 gas flowing through the passageways 22B of panels 20B is made confluent in a passageway 22A2 of the lower header 20A. The confluent SF 6 gas returns to the transformer body. In the above, when the SF 6 gas flows through the passageways 22B of the panels 20B, the air around the panels 20B is heated and convection occurs. By the convection, heat radiation is principally caused. When the gas flows in the passageways 22B of panels 20B in turbulent flows, radiation efficiency is increased. In this case, since SF 6 gas having less heat transmission performance is substituted for the insulating coil as a cooling medium, it is necessary to increase the circulation amount of SF 6 gas, thereby to enhance the cooling performance of the radiator 20. It was thought that, in order to smooth convection of air around the panels 20B and enhance the heat exchange performance of the panels 20B, the outside diameter of each of the upper and lower headers 20A, which obstruct convection, is reduced. However, if the outside diameter of each of the upper and lower headers 20A is decreased, the inside diameter thereof is also decreased and the cross section area of the passageway 22A of each header 20A is decreased. Thus, it is disadvantageous, as in the first example, to decrease the outside diameter of each of the upper and lower headers 20A, and it is difficult to decrease the size of the radiator 20. On the other hand, the self-cooling type gas-insulated transformer of the second example, which uses the cooling medium such as insulating oil or insulating gas, is widely employed in medium- and small-capacity transformers. In the case of the self-cooling type transformer, however, the circulation force of the cooling medium for cooling the coil and iron core is weaker than that of a forced-circulation type apparatus; thus, it is necessary to reduce the pressure loss as low as possible, increase the circulation amount of cooling medium as much as possible, and let the cooling medium flow through the passageway for cooling the coil and iron core with a highest possible efficiency. If the circulation amount of cooling medium is small and the circulation efficiency of cooling medium caused to flow through the passageway for cooling the coil and iron core is low, the size, cost and installation space of the transformer must be increased. As is shown in Fig. 1, the SF 6 within the transformer body flows, as indicated by broken-line arrows, through not only the passageways provided in the coil 12B and iron core 12C but also the space between the coil 12B and casing 12A, thereby to cool the coil 12B and iron core 12C. The flow of SF 6 gas 16 through the space between the coil 12B and casing 12A, however, does little to contribute to cooling the coil 12B. Next, a problem arising when SF 6 gas 16 flows through the space between the coil 12B and 12A will now be described. Suppose that the flow rate of the SF 6 gas flowing through the passageway for cooling the coil 12B and iron core 12C is W1, and the flow rate of the SF 6 gas flowing through the space between the coil 12B and casing 12A is W2. In this case, SF 6 gas 16 of W1 and W2 flows in the radiator 14. In order to prevent an increase in pressure loss in the radiator 14, it is necessary to increase the size of the radiator 14, which will be situated in a larger installation space, thereby preventing a decrease in circulation flow amount. Further, in order to increase W1, it is necessary to increase the cross section area of the passageway for cooling the coil 12B and iron core 12C. As stated above, in the conventional transformer 10, the SF 6 16 flows through the space between the coil 12B and casing 12A; consequently, the installation space for installing the radiator 14 and the space between the coil 12B and iron core 12C increase, resulting in an increase in size and cost of the transformer 10. EP-A-0082360 discloses a cooling device for an electric transformer comprising cooling means disposed in the horizontal direction and through which cooling medium passes. First and second headers are provided at an inlet side and an outlet side of said cooling means. First tubing leads the cooling medium which has cooled the transformer to said first header, second tubing leads the cooling medium in said cooling means into said transformer through the second header, and a duct leads air to a region above the cooling means after completion of the heat exchange between the cooling medium in the cooling means and air. FR-A-2237289 discloses an external cooler for a transformer. The cooler has a fluid introducing header connected to the transformer for introducing insulating gas from the transformer. A fluid discharging header is connected to the transformer for discharging the insulating fluid to the transformer. A plurality of heat radiation elements extend between the fluid introducing header and the fluid discharging header. An object of the present invention is to provide a gas-insulated electric apparatus having a size reduced without degrading a cooling performance. Another object of the invention is to provide a self-cooling type gas-insulated electric apparatus having a size reduced without degrading a cooling performance. According to the present invention, there is provided a gas-insulated electric apparatus comprising: an electric apparatus body including a storing space, an electric element to be insulated, the electric element housed in the storing space, and a high withstand voltage insulating gas filled in the storing space; and a radiator for cooling the high withstand voltage insulating gas, including at least one gas introducing header connected to the electric apparatus body, for introducing the high withstand voltage insulating gas from the electric apparatus body, the gas introducing header having a plurality of ducts arranged along the longitudinal axis of the gas introducing header, at least one gas discharging header connected to the electric apparatus body, for discharging the high withstand voltage insulating gas to the electric apparatus body, the gas discharging header having a plurality of ducts arranged along the longitudinal axis of the gas discharging header, and a plurality of heat radiation elements each having a panel shape, having one open end portion directly or indirectly connected to the gas introducing header, via a respective one of the plurality of ducts of the gas introducing header, having the other open end portion directly or indirectly connected to the gas discharging header, via a respective one of the plurality of ducts of the gas discharging header, and having a gas passageway formed along the longitudinal axis of the heat radiation elements, the heat radiation elements receiving the high withstand voltage insulating gas from the gas introducing header, cooling the received high withstand voltage insulating gas by radiation, and discharging the cooled high withstand voltage insulating gas to the gas discharging header, characterized in that there is provided at least one varying means arranged in at least one of the gas introducing header and the gas discharging header, for varying the passageway cross section in at least one of the gas introducing header and the gas discharging header. This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view showing a typical prior art self-cooling type gas-insulated transformer; Fig. 2 is a front view of an example of the radiator mounted on the transformer shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a front view of another example of the radiator mounted on the transformer shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a front view of a self-cooling type gas-insulated transformer; Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view taken along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a characteristic graph showing a loss of gas flow in relation to the ratio of the cross section area of the passageway of a header to the cross section area of the passageway of a panel; Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B are a plan view showing an example of the shape of a duct of a header; Fig. 11 is a plan view showing another example of the shape of a duct of a header; Fig. 12 is a characteristic graph showing the relation between a dimension a and a pressure loss in a duct of a header; Fig. 13 is a front view of a radiator, which is a main component of a self-cooling type gas-insulated transformer; Fig. 14 is a front view of a radiator, which is a main component of a self-cooling type gas-insulated transformer according to the invention; Fig. 15 is a partial perspective view taken along line XV-XV in Figure 13; Fig. 16 is a front view of a radiator, which is a main component of a self-cooling type gas-insulated transformer according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 17 shows schematically various modifications of the transformer of Figs. 6 to 12, wherein the cross section areas of passageways of the headers are unchanged/varied, the cross section areas of passageways of the panels are identical/different, and the intervals between panels are identical/different; and Fig. 18 shows schematically various modifications of the transformer of Fig. 13, wherein the cross section areas of passageways of the headers are identical/different, the cross section areas of passageways of the panels are identical/different, and the intervals between panels are identical/different. A self-cooling type gas-insulated transformer will now be described with reference to Figs. 6 to 12. As is shown in Fig. 6, the self-cooling type gas-insulated transformer 100 comprises a transformer body 112 and a radiator 114. The radiator 114 is not in accordance with the present invention. Main components of the transformer body 112 are a casing 112A, a coil 112B and an iron core 112C. The coil 112B and iron core 112C are situated within the casing 112A in the insulated state. A high withstand voltage insulating gas or SF 6 gas 16 is filled within the transformer body 112 and radiator 114. The radiator 114 will now be described in detail with reference to Figs. 6 to 8. A plurality of mutually distanced panels 114B or gas radiation cylindrical members, each having substantially the same thickness, are provided between an upper header 114A serving as a gas introducing cylindrical member and a lower header 114A serving as a gas discharging cylindrical member, with couplers 114C mounted on both side portions of the panels 114B. The upper header 114A and lower header 114A have the same shape. The header 114A comprises a passageway-forming portion 114A1 with a substantially half cross section area, and a panel coupler 114A2 fixed to the passageway-forming portion 114A1. The header 114A, as a whole, is a cylindrical member having a shorter dimension or width dimension of about 170 mm. The panel coupler 114A2 has a plurality of holes along its longitudinal direction, which holes correspond to ducts 114C1 described below. Each panel 114B is a thin box having a shorter dimension or width dimension of about 460 mm. The couplers 114C are attached to the mutually facing surfaces of the upper and lower headers 114A. The couplers 114C controls branching and confluence of the insulating gas 16 in the panels 114B. Each coupler 114C functions as a funnel for SF 6 gas 16. The couplers 114C are attached to the upper header 114A so as to correspond to the panels 114B, and similarly couplers 114C are attached to the lower header 114A so as to correspond to the panels 114B. These couplers 114C have the same shape. As is shown in Fig. 8, each coupler 114C is a box-like member comprising a rectangular header-attachment plate 114C2, two large trapezoidal plates 114C3-1 and 114C3-2, and two small trapezoidal plates 114C4-1 and 114C4-2. The rectangular header-attachment plate 114C2 has a duct 114C1 with an area of a x b corresponding to a passageway cross section area ( a is a dimension along the shorter dimension (thickness dimension) of the panel 114B, and b is a dimension along the longer dimension (width dimension) of the panel 114B). The two large trapezoidal plates 114C3-1 and 114C3-2 face each other, and the two small trapezoidal plates 114C4-1 and 114C4-2 face each other. The shorter side portions of the large trapezoidal plates 114C3-1 and 114C3-2 are fixed to the longer side portions of the header-attachment plate 114C2, and the longer side portions of the large trapezoidal plates 114C3-1 and 114C3-2 are fixed to the longer side portions of the panel 114B. The longer side portions of the small trapezoidal plates 114C4-1 and 114C4-2 are fixed to the shorter side portions of the header-attachment plate 114C2, and the shorter side portions of the small trapezoidal plates 114C4-1 and 114C4-2 are fixed to the shorter side portions of the panel 114B. The coupler 114C can be regarded as an inverted funnel. The thickness of the coupler 114C gradually decreases towards the panel 114B, and the width of the coupler 114C gradually increases towards the panel 114B. Since the area of the duct 114C1 of the coupler 114C is large, SF 6 gas 16 coming from the header 114A can be guided into the panel 114B through the duct 114C1 having a large area (passageway cross section area), and the gas 16 flowing out of the panel 114B can be guided into the header 114A through the duct 114C1 having a large area (passageway cross section area). An open end portion of each of the upper and lower headers 114A is provided with a flange 114D1, 114D2. The flanges 114D1 and 114D2 are connected to the transformer body 112 via connection pipes 114E. Thereby, the inside space of the transformer body 112 communicates with the inside spaces of the upper and lower headers 114A. The other end portion of each header 114A is closed. Each panel 114B has a longitudinally extending internal space. The inside spaces of the panels 114B communicate with the inside spaces of the upper and lower headers 114A. Accordingly, a closed gas passageway is formed by the mutually communicating inside spaces of the transformer body 112, upper and lower headers 114A and panels 114B. The SF 6 gas filled in the closed gas passageway circulates naturally through the closed passageway, and radiates heat in the panels 114B principally, thereby cooling the inside spaces of the transformer body and radiator 114. The natural circulation of SF 6 gas will now be described more specifically. The SF 6 gas flows to a passageway 18A1 of the upper header 114A from the transformer body. Then, the gas is branched into the panels 114B, flowing vertically downwards through passageways 118B of the panels 114B. The SF 6 gas flowing through the passageways 118B of panels 114B is made confluent in a passageway 118A2 of the lower header 114A. The confluent SF 6 gas returns to the transformer body 112. In this case, when the SF 6 gas flows through the passageways 118B of the panels 114B, the air around the panels 114B is heated and convection occurs. By the convection, heat radiation is principally caused. On the other hand, it is now supposed that SF 6 gas is circulated at a constant flow rate through the inside spaces of the transformer body 112 and the radiator 114 in which panels 114B are provided between upper and lower headers 114A. In Fig. 9, the abscissa indicates the ratio of the passageway cross section area of the upper and lower headers 114A to that of the panel duct 114C1, and the ordinate indicates the sum of the branching loss and confluence loss at the time SF 6 gas 16 is branched into panels 114B and is made confluent at the lower header 114A. As is clear from Fig. 9, the loss decreases abruptly when the ratio of the passageway cross section area of the header 114A to that of duct 114C1 decreases, i.e. the passageway cross section area of the inlet and outlet portions of the panel 114B increases. In the above arrangement, the thickness of the coupler 114C is gradually decreased towards the panel 114B, and the width of the coupler 114C is gradually increased towards the panel 114B. Thus, the ratio of the passageway cross section area of the header 114A to that the duct 144C1 at the branching and confluent regions is low, the branching/confluence loss decreases, and the flow rate of naturally circulating SF 6 gas increases. Since the branching loss and confluence loss decrease, the flow rate at the passageway 118B of each panel 114B becomes uniform and the gas flows as a turbulent flow, not as a laminar flow. In addition, the circulation flow rate of SF 6 gas increases and accordingly the heat transfer coefficient increases, and the radiation performance per panel 114B is remarkably enhanced. Thereby, the gas-insulated transformer can be made compact and installed in a limited space; in addition, the cost of the transformer can be reduced. Desirable shapes of the duct will now be described with reference to Figs. 10A to 12. In the above arrangement, as shown in Fig. 10A, the duct 114C1 has a rectangular shape which is defined by a dimension a along the shorter dimension (thickness) of the panel 114B and a dimension b along the longer dimension (width) of the panel 114B and has an area a x b corresponding to the passageway cross section area. The above description is directed to the case where the width of the header 114A is about 170 mm and the width of the panel 114B is about 400 mm; however, the same function and effect can be achieved even if other dimensions are adopted. It is also possible to adopt a duct 114C1' of a rhomboid shape defined by a diagonal dimension a' in the transverse (thickness) direction and a diagonal dimension b' in the longitudinal (width) direction. In addition, as shown in Fig. 10B, it is possible to use a duct of an oval shape defined by the transverse dimension a (in the thickness dimension) of the panel 114B and the longitudinal dimension (in the width direction) of the panel 114B. In the case of the rectangular duct 114C1 of Fig. 11, if the dimension a is decreased and the opening area (passageway cross section area) of the duct 114C1 is increased, the circumferential dimension of the duct 114C1' is also increased. Furthermore, it is possible to use a duct having a cross section area of a mixed shape of a rectangular shape, a rhomboid shape and/or an oval shape. As a result, the loss increases. By contrast, if the dimension a is increased excessively, the loss due to an eddy near the duct 114C1 becomes greater than the loss in the case of less dimension a . The inventor has analyzed the relation between dimensions a and a' , and obtained characteristic data shown in Fig. 12. From Fig. 12, it is understood that in the case of the rectangular duct 114C1 the optimal dimension a is 16 mm ≤ a ≤ 45 mm, and, in the case of the rhomboid duct 114C1' the optimal dimension a' is 18 mm ≤ a' ≤ 40 mm. Further, it was recognized that in the case of the oval-cross section areaal duct, the maximum value of the transverse dimension is 40 to 45 mm and the minimum value thereof is 16 to 18 mm. In the case of the oval-cross section areaal duct, the optimal value is an intermediate value between that of the rectangular cross-sectional duct and that of the rhomboidal cross-sectional duct. Moreover, it is better to increase the passageway cross section area of the duct 114C, 114C' closer to the flange 114D1, 114D2 connected to the transformer body, and, inversely, to increase the dimension a , a' of the duct away from the flange 114D1, 114D2. Another transformer will now be described with reference to Fig. 13. In this transformer, the same structural elements as in the transformer of Figs. 6 to 12 are denoted by like reference numerals, and a description thereof is omitted. Specifically, the second transformer arrangement differs from the first transformer arrangement only with respect to the coupler 114C', the radiator not being in accordance with the present invention. Each coupler 114C' has an inclined portion, which is inclined in the thickness direction of the panel 114B, only on its side facing the transformer body. SF 6 gas circulates naturally through the inside spaces of the transformer body and the radiator 114-1, and heat is radiated mainly in the panels 114B. Thus, the transformer is cooled. In this case, although the passageway cross section area of the coupler 114C' is varied only on its side facing the transformer body, the same function and effect as in the first embodiment are achieved. In addition, in the vicinity of the upper and lower headers 114A, the thickness of the panel 114B increases only on its one side; thus, the air side passageway defined on the outside of the panel 114B is enlarged and the air flow rate increases. Thus, the air side heat transfer coefficient increases. In the transformer of Figs. 6 to 13, the inlet and outlet portions of all panels 114B are provided with couplers 114C or 114C' for varying the passageway cross section area; however, it is not necessary to provide the couplers 114C or 114C' on those panels 114B which are away from the transformer body and in which the flow rate is relatively low. In addition, in the first and second arrangements, all couplers 114C or 114C' have the same shape; however, on the side away from the transformer body where the flow rate is relatively low, the variation in thickness of the panel may be less than that in thickness of the panel on the side close to the transformer body. A first embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 14. In the first embodiment, the same structural elements as in the transformer of Figs. 6 to 12 are denoted by like reference numerals, and a description thereof is omitted. Specifically, the first embodiment differs from the arrangement of Figs. 6 to 12 only with respect to the header 114A'. The header 114A' of the first embodiment is thick on the side close to the transformer body and thin on the side away from the transformer body, thereby varying the passageway cross section area. Specifically, the header 114A' comprises a large-diameter portion 114A'a on the side close to the transformer body, a small-diameter portion 114A'b on the side away from the transformer body, and a connection portion 114A'c for connecting the large-diameter portion 114A'a and small-diameter portion 114A'b. In the first embodiment, too, SF 6 gas circulates naturally through the inside spaces of the transformer body and the radiator 114-2, and heat is radiated mainly in the panels 114B. Thus, the transformer is cooled. According to the first embodiment, the same function and effect as in the transformer of Figs. 6 to 12 can be obtained. In addition, by virtue of the header 114A' having a varying passageway cross section area, the following advantage can be obtained. That is, since the header 114A' has the large-diameter portion 114A'a on the side close to the transformer body, where the gas quantity is large and the flow rate is high, no problem arises even if the gas quantity and flow rate increase. Consequently, the branching loss and confluence loss can be reduced and the flow rate of naturally circulating SF 6 gas can be increased. Furthermore, the flow rate of SF 6 gas flowing through the panels 114B can be made uniform, the heat transfer coefficient is increased, and the radiation performance per panel 114B is enhanced, whereby the size of the radiator 114-2 can be reduced. In the first embodiment, the coupler for varying the passageway cross section area is provided at each of the inlet and outlet portions of panel 114B connected to header 114A' having a varying passageway cross section area; however, if the header 114A' can be sufficiently enlarged and the branching/confluence loss can be decreased, such a coupler can be omitted. In the first embodiment, the headers have the same passageway cross section area, but may have different passageway cross section areas. The couplers for varying the passageway cross section area may be provided only the inlet portions or outlet portions of the panels 114B. Further, only one of the headers 114A' for varying the passageway cross section area may be provided. In this case, the branching loss is generally greater than the confluence loss; thus, in order to reduce the branching loss, the header 114A' for varying the passageway cross section area may be provided only on the upper side. A second embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 16. In the second embodiment, the same structural elements as in the first embodiment are denoted by like reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof is omitted. Specifically, in the second embodiment, panels 114B having a small passageway cross section area and panels 114B' having a large passageway cross section area are employed. In the second embodiment, the panels 114B' having a large passageway cross section area are situated on the side away from the transformer body, and the panels 114B having a small passageway cross section area are situated on the side close to the transformer body. In the second embodiment, too, SF 6 gas circulates naturally through the inside spaces of the transformer body and the radiator 114-2, and heat is radiated mainly in the panels 114B. Thus, the transformer is cooled. The same function and effect as in the first embodiment can be achieved, and a greater quantity of SF 6 gas can be let to flow through the panels 114B' away from the transformer body while a smaller quantity of SF 6 gas can be let to flow through the panels 114B close to the transformer body. Next, various modifications of the transformer of Figs. 6 to 12 will now be described with reference Fig. 17, wherein the cross section areas of passageways of the headers are unchanged/varied, the cross section areas of passageways of the panels are identical/different, and the intervals between panels are identical/different. Type A is a radiator constituted by headers 114A' having varied passageway cross section areas, panels 114B having an identical passageway cross section area, and couplers 114C having varied passageway cross section areas on both the side close to the transformer body and the side away from the transformer body. Type A corresponds to the first embodiment. Type B is a radiator constituted by headers 114A' having varied passageway cross section areas, panels 114B and 114B' having different passageway cross section areas, and couplers 114C having varied passageway cross section areas on both the side close to the transformer body and the side away from the transformer body. Type C is a radiator constituted by headers 114A′ having varied passageway cross section areas, panels 114B and 114B' having different passageway cross section areas, and couplers 114C having varied passageway cross section areas on both the side close to the transformer body and the side away from the transformer body. In addition, the interval H1 between the panels 114B differs from the interval H2 between the panels 114B'. Type C corresponds to the second embodiment. Types D through F are radiators which are not in accordance with the present invention. Type D is a radiator constituted by headers 114A having an unchanged passageway cross section area, panels 114B having an identical passageway cross section area, and couplers 114C having varied passageway cross section areas on both the side close to the transformer body and the side away from the transformer body. Type E is a radiator constituted by headers 114A' having an unchanged passageway cross section area, panels 114B and 114B' having different passageway cross section areas, and couplers 114C having varied passageway cross section areas on both the side close to the transformer body and the side away from the transformer body. Type F is a radiator constituted by headers 114A' having an unchanged passageway cross section area, panels 114B and 114B' having different passageway cross section areas, and couplers 114C having varied passageway cross section areas on both the side close to the transformer body and the side away from the transformer body. In addition, the interval H1 between the panels 114B differs from the interval H2 between the panels 114B'. Then, various modifications of the transformer of Fig. 13 will now be described with reference to Fig. 18, wherein the cross section areas of passageways of the headers are unchanged/varied, the cross section areas of passageways of the panels are identical/different, and the intervals between panels are identical/different. Type G is a radiator constituted by headers 114A' having varied passageway cross section areas, panels 114B having an identical passageway cross section area, and couplers 114C' having a varied passageway cross section area only on the side close to the transformer body. Type H is a radiator constituted by headers 114A' having varied passageway cross section areas, panels 114B and 114B' having different passageway cross section areas, and couplers 114C' having a varied passageway cross section area only on the side close to the transformer body. Type I is a radiator constituted by headers 114A' having varied passageway cross section areas, panels 114B and 114B' having different passageway cross section areas, and couplers 114C' having a varied passageway cross section area only on the side close to the transformer body. In addition, the interval H1 between the panels 114B differs from the interval H2 between the panels 114B'. Type C corresponds to the fourth embodiment. Types J through L are radiators which are not in accordance with the present invention. Type J is a radiator constituted by headers 114A having an unchanged passageway cross section area, panels 114B having an identical passageway cross section area, and couplers 114C' having a varied passageway cross section area only on the side close to the transformer body. Type K is a radiator constituted by headers 114A' having an unchanged passageway cross section area, panels 114B and 114B' having different passageway cross section areas, and couplers 114C' having a varied passageway cross section area only on the side close to the transformer body. Type L is a radiator constituted by headers 114A' having an unchanged passageway cross section area, panels 114B and 114B' having different passageway cross section areas, and couplers 114C' having a varied passageway cross section area only on the side close to the transformer body. In addition, the interval H1 between the panels 114B differs from the interval H2 between the panels 114B'. In the second embodiment, the upper and lower headers 120A have the same cylindrical shape; however, the present invention is not limited to this. The header may have a circular shape, an oval shape, a polygonal shape, etc. Needless to say, the above embodiments may be combined.

Claims: A gas-insulated electric apparatus comprising: an electric apparatus body (112) including a storing space, an electric element to be insulated, the electric element housed in the storing space, and a high withstand voltage insulating gas (16) filled in the storing space; and a radiator (114) for cooling the high withstand voltage insulating gas (16), including at least one gas introducing header (114A) connected to the electric apparatus body (112), for introducing the high withstand voltage insulating gas (16) from the electric apparatus body (112), the gas introducing header (114A) having a plurality of ducts arranged along the longitudinal axis of the gas introducing header (114A), at least one gas discharging header (114A) connected to the electric apparatus body (112), for discharging the high withstand voltage insulating gas (16) to the electric apparatus body (112), the gas discharging header (114A) having a plurality of ducts arranged along the longitudinal axis of the gas discharging header (114A), and a plurality of heat radiation elements (114B) each having a panel shape, having one open end portion directly or indirectly connected to the gas introducing header (114A), via a respective one of the plurality of ducts of the gas introducing header, having the other open end portion directly or indirectly connected to the gas discharging header (114A), via a respective one of the plurality of ducts of the gas discharging header, and having a gas passageway formed along the longitudinal axis of the heat radiation elements (114B), the heat radiation elements (114B) receiving the high withstand voltage insulating gas (16) from the gas introducing header (114A), cooling the received high withstand voltage insulating gas (16) by radiation, and discharging the cooled high withstand voltage insulating gas (16) to the gas discharging header (114A), characterized in that the passageway cross section of at least one of the gas introducing header (114A) and the gas discharging header (114A) is tapered over a predetermined relatively small part of its length, the cross section of the passageway nearest to the connection with the electric apparatus body (112) being the largest. The gas-insulated electric apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one coupler (114C) interposed in at least one of a connecting portion between an end portion of the heat radiation element (114B) and the gas introducing header (114A) and a connecting portion between an end portion of the heat radiation element (114B) and the gas discharging header (114A), said coupler (114C) passing the high withstand voltage insulating gas (16) through, said coupler (114C) having a passageway with a shape of cross section gradually varying (114B) from the end portion of the heat radiation element towards the connecting portion, said passageway with a thickness gradually increasing from the end portion of the heat radiation element (114B) towards the connecting portion. The gas-insulated electric apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said duct (114C1) is a rectangle, a rhombus, an ellipse, and/or a shape between said rectangle, said rhombus and said ellipse, and the value obtained by dividing the cross section area of the duct (114C1) by the longer side of the duct (114C1) is 16 mm to 45 mm. The gas-insulated electric apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the passageway of the coupler (114C) has inclined portions on the side close to the electric apparatus body (112) and the side away from the electri apparatus body (112), whereby the passageway cross section area increases gradually from the end portion of the heat radiation element (114B) towards the connecting portion. The gas-insulated electric apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the passageway of the coupler (114C') has an inclined portion only on the side close to the electric apparatus body (112), whereby the passageway cross section area increases gradually from the end portion of the heat radiation element (114B) towards the connecting portion. The gas-insulated electric apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said heat radiation elements (114B, 114B') have different passageway cross section areas. The gas-insulated electric apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between the heat radiation elements (114B) is not constant.

Inventors: OGAWA NAOYA, OGAWA, NAOYA, Ogawa, Naoya, c/o Intellectual Property Division
Applicants: TOSHIBA KK, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H01F27
IPC codes: H01F27