At EXAIR we are confident in the many benefits and advantages of our products. We are aware that they are not the only possible solution. In such instances, it is always good to compare the differences between the relevant options, to make sure you are getting exactly what you need. In this blog, I am going to compare two different panel cooling solutions: our Cabinet Coolers and air-air heat exchangers.

An air-to-air heat exchanger does its job by swapping heat between the air inside the enclosure and the outside ambient air. For these systems to work well, there has to be a temperature difference between the two air volumes. A closed-loop system keeps exchanging heat to maintain a specific internal temperature. Most air-to-air units use a heat pipe for heat exchange, which is a device that transfers heat by turning a refrigerant liquid into vapor when one end of the pipe is in a hot area. The heated vapor then moves to the other end of the pipe, where it’s cooler. There, the vapor condenses back into a liquid (releasing latent heat) and heads back to the hot end of the pipe, repeating the cycle.

So, how does our system stack up against the exchanger? First off, as we mentioned, the efficiency of a heat exchanger is closely linked to the temperature difference (ΔT) between the cabinet’s interior and the surrounding environment. The smaller the ΔT, the less effective the cooling becomes. If the temperature in your facility starts to climb, like during the summer, you could face more problems. You can boost cooling with bigger air-to-air heat exchangers, but they might end up being larger than the enclosure itself!

EXAIR Cabinet Coolers work based on the temperature difference (ΔT) between the cold air they generate (usually around 20°F) and the target internal temperature of the enclosure (typically 95°F). Changes in the surrounding temperature won’t impact the cold air produced by the Cabinet Cooler. With our systems, the cooling power is solely determined by the amount of compressed air supplied, which in turn affects the volume of cold air generated. This allows us to significantly boost the cooling capacity without increasing the overall size, which is already much smaller compared to an air-to-air unit. Plus, our systems can operate at ambient temperatures that exceed the desired internal temperature. Our High Temp models can handle environments up to 200°F, something that an air-to-air heat exchanger simply can’t do.

Secondly, dirt in the surrounding environment can affect the cooling efficiency of an air-to-air heat exchanger. For the air-to-air unit to effectively dissipate heat, the heat pipe needs to connect with the outside environment. This opens up the chance for the ambient end of the heat pipe to get covered in contaminants like dust. This dust acts as an insulation barrier between the heat pipe and the surrounding air, which reduces the heat pipe’s ability to condense the vapors inside. Because of this, most air-to-air systems utilize filters to keep the heat pipe separate from the ambient environment. However, when these filters get clogged, it limits access to ambient temperatures, which in turn decreases the cooling capacity of the air-to-air unit.

EXAIR’s NEMA 12 and NEMA 4/4X Cabinet Coolers are designed to be dust and oil-tight. Plus, since there are no moving parts that can wear out, and no need for direct contact with the ambient air for cooling, dirty environments are not an issue. As long as clean, moisture-free compressed air is provided (which can be ensured with a filter separator), EXAIR Cabinet Coolers can operate maintenance-free for many years.

Lastly, air-to-air heat exchangers can be quite large. These bulky systems can be a hassle when space is limited around the enclosure. Additionally, the time and modifications needed to install a large air-to-air unit can lead to further complications. As previously mentioned, EXAIR’s Cabinet Coolers have a small footprint that remains consistent regardless of cooling capacity, and the installation process is also very simple.

As you can see, there are many advantages to choosing an EXAIR Cabinet Cooler over an air-to-air heat exchanger. If you have any questions about how an EXAIR Cabinet Cooler can solve problems in your facility, feel free to give me a call!

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

Send me an Email
Find us on the Web
Like us on Facebook
Twitter: @EXAIR_AW