Electric air handling unit

Abstract

An electric air handling unit for a vehicle manufacturing facility includes an electric heating coil assembly including at least one electric heating coil, an electric heating control panel configured to receive electrical power from a power distribution panel of the air handling unit and supply the electrical power to the electric heating coil assembly, and a first disconnect switch coupled between the power distribution panel and the electric heating control panel. The first disconnect switch is located external to a housing of the electric heating control panel, and the first disconnect switch is configured to selectively enable flow of the electrical power from the power distribution panel to the electric heating control panel and electrically isolate the electric heating control panel from the electric heating control panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric air handling unit for a vehicle manufacturing facility, the air handling unit comprising:
 an electric heating coil assembly comprising at least one electric heating coil;   an electric heating control panel configured to receive electrical power from a power distribution panel of the air handling unit and supply the electrical power to the electric heating coil assembly; and   a first disconnect switch coupled between the power distribution panel and the electric heating control panel, wherein the first disconnect switch is located external to a housing of the electric heating control panel, and wherein the first disconnect switch is configured to selectively (i) enable flow of the electrical power from the power distribution panel to the electric heating control panel and (ii) electrically isolate the electric heating control panel from the electric heating control panel.   
     
     
         2 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a direct exchange cooling unit;   a condensing unit power panel configured to receive the electrical power from the power distribution panel and supply the electrical power to the direct exchange cooling unit; and   a second disconnect switch coupled between the power distribution panel and the condensing unit power panel, wherein the second disconnect switch is located external to a housing of the condensing unit power panel, and wherein the second disconnect switch is configured to selectively (i) enable flow of the electrical power from the power distribution panel to the condensing unit power panel and (ii) electrically isolate the condensing unit power panel from the electric heating control panel.   
     
     
         3 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 2 , wherein the first disconnect switch and the second disconnect switch are flanged disconnect switches. 
     
     
         4 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 3 , wherein the electrical power is 480 volt power. 
     
     
         5 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 3 , further comprising a main control panel arranged between the power distribution panel and the first and second disconnect switches. 
     
     
         6 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 5 , further comprising a secondary power distribution system coupled between the power distribution panel and a plurality of electrical loads, wherein the secondary power distribution system is configured to convert the electrical power from a first voltage to a second voltage and supply the electric power to the plurality of electrical loads at the second voltage. 
     
     
         7 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 6 , further comprising a third disconnect switch coupled between the power distribution panel and the secondary power distribution system. 
     
     
         8 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 6 , wherein the secondary power distribution system includes a mini power-zone. 
     
     
         9 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a housing with a plurality of compartments including an electric heating compartment and a maintenance compartment, wherein   the at least one electric heating coil is located within the electric heating compartment, and   the electric heating control panel and the first disconnect switch are located within the maintenance compartment.   
     
     
         10 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 9 , further comprising the power distribution panel, wherein the power distribution panel is located within the maintenance compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 2 , further comprising a condensing unit coupled to the direct exchange cooling unit. 
     
     
         12 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 2 , further comprising a condensing unit control panel, wherein the condensing unit power panel is configured to supply the electrical power to the direct exchange cooling unit at a first voltage, convert the electrical power from the first voltage to a second voltage, and supply the electrical power to the condensing unit control panel at the second voltage. 
     
     
         13 . An electric air handling unit for a vehicle manufacturing facility, the air handling unit comprising:
 a housing with a plurality of compartments including an electric heating compartment and a maintenance compartment;   an electric heating coil assembly comprising at least one electric heating coil located in the electric heating compartment;   an electric heating control panel located in the maintenance compartment and configured to receive electrical power from a power distribution panel of the air handling unit and supply the electrical power to the electric heating coil assembly; and   a first disconnect switch coupled between the power distribution panel and the electric heating control panel, wherein the first disconnect switch is located in the maintenance compartment and external to a housing of the electric heating control panel, and wherein the first disconnect switch is configured to selectively (i) enable flow of the electrical power from the power distribution panel to the electric heating control panel and (ii) electrically isolate the electric heating control panel from the electric heating control panel.   
     
     
         14 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 13 , further comprising
 a direct exchange cooling unit;   a condensing unit power panel configured to receive the electrical power from the power distribution panel and supply the electrical power to the direct exchange cooling unit; and   a second disconnect switch coupled between the power distribution panel and the condensing unit power panel, wherein the second disconnect switch is located external to a housing of the condensing unit power panel, and wherein the second disconnect switch is configured to selectively (i) enable flow of the electrical power from the power distribution panel to the condensing unit power panel and (ii) electrically isolate the condensing unit power panel from the electric heating control panel.   
     
     
         15 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 14 , wherein the first disconnect switch and the second disconnect switch are flanged disconnect switches. 
     
     
         16 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 14 , further comprising a main control panel arranged, in the maintenance compartment, between the power distribution panel and the first and second disconnect switches. 
     
     
         17 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 14 , further comprising, in the maintenance compartment, a mini power-zone coupled between the power distribution panel and a plurality of electrical loads, wherein the mini power-zone is configured to convert the electrical power from a first voltage to a second voltage and supply the electric power to the plurality of electrical loads at the second voltage. 
     
     
         18 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 17 , further comprising a third disconnect switch coupled between the power distribution panel and the mini power-zone. 
     
     
         19 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 14 , further comprising a condensing unit coupled to the direct exchange cooling unit. 
     
     
         20 . The electric air handling unit of  claim 19 , further comprising a condensing unit control panel, wherein the condensing unit power panel is configured to supply the electrical power to the direct exchange cooling unit at a first voltage, convert the electrical power from the first voltage to a second voltage, and supply the electrical power to the condensing unit control panel at the second voltage.