An EXAIRCabinet Cooler® System with either the Thermostat Control or the Electronic Temperature Control (ETC) option includes a temperature measuring device that is used to control the operation of the Cabinet Cooler System to maintain the set-point temperature.
For most industrial enclosure cooling applications, a temperature of 95°F (35°C) is sufficient to be below the rated maximum operating temperature of the electrical components inside the cabinet. EXAIR Thermostats are preset to 95°F (35°C) and are adjustable. Maintaining the cabinet at 95°F (35°C) will keep the electronics cool and provide long life and reduced failures due to excessive heat. But if 95°F (35°C) is good, why not cool the cabinet to 70°F (21.1°C)?
When cooling an enclosure to a lower temperature, two things come into play that need to be considered. First, the amount of external heat load (the heat load caused by the environment) is increased. Using the table below, we can see the effect of cooling a cabinet to the lower temperature. For a 48″ x 36″ x 18″ cabinet, the surface area is 45 ft² (4.18 m²). If the ambient temperature is 105°F (40.55°C), we can find from the table the factors of 3.3 BTU/hr/ft² and 13.8 BTU/hr/ft² for the Temperature Differentials of 10°F (5.55°C) and 35°F (19.45°C). The factor is multiplied by the cabinet surface area to get the external heat load. The heat load values calculate to be 148.5 BTU/hr and 621 BTU/hr, a difference of 472.5 BTU/hr (119.1 kcal/hr)
The extra external heat load of 472.5 BTU/hr (119.1 kcal/hr) will require the Cabinet Cooler System to run more often and for a longer duration to effectively remove the additional heat. This will increase, unnecessarily, the operating costs of the cooling operation.
The other factor that must be considered when cooling an enclosure to a lower temperature is that the Cabinet Cooler cooling capacity rating is effected. I won’t go into the detail in this blog, but note that a 1,000 BTU/hr Cabinet Cooler (rated for 95°F (35°C cooling) working to cool a cabinet down to 70°F (21.1°C) instead of 95°, has a reduced cooling capacity of 695 BTU/hr (174 kcal/hr). The reduction is due to the cold air being able to absorb less heat as the air rises in temperature to 70°F instead of 95°F.
In summary – operating a Cabinet Cooler System at 95°F (35°C) provides a level cooling that will keep sensitive electronics cool and trouble-free, while using the least amount of compressed air possible. Cooling to below this level will result in higher operation costs.
If you have questions about Cabinet Cooler Systems or any of the 15 different EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air® Product lines, feel free to contact EXAIR and myself or any of our Application Engineers can help you determine the best solution.
Recent blog discussions about the EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems have covered many topics including correctly sizing one, the NEMA ratings, and how-they-work. In this blog I will review three special options that are available for the most extreme environmental conditions- high temperatures, dirty environments, and harsh or corrosive areas.
High Temperature – For enclosures that reside in high temperature ambient conditions such as near furnaces, boilers, or ovens, EXAIR offers a High Temp version, with special internal components designed to withstand the elevated temperatures. Cabinets near sources of high heat certainly need to be kept cool, and the EXAIR High Temperature Cabinet Cooler is specially suited to for use in these locations.
High Temperature Dual Cabinet Cooler System
Non-Hazardous Purge (NHP) – Cabinet Cooler Systems with this feature provide a continuous positive purge within the enclosure to prevent contaminants from entering through small holes or conduits. Especially suited for dirty and dusty environments, the NHP Cabinet Cooler Systems provide a slight positive pressure inside the enclosure. This is done by passing 1 SCFM (28 SLPM) of air through the cooler when the the solenoid is in the closed position. When the thermostat reaches the set-point temperature and energizes the solenoid, the full line pressure of air is delivered to the Cabinet Cooler providing the full cooling capability, and still keeping the positive pressure. When the internal temperature cools to the set-point, the solenoid closes and the system returns to the 1 SCFM (28 SLPM) of air flow condition.
Non-Hazardous Purge Cabinet Cooler for Dirty, Dusty Environments
Type 316 Stainless Steel NEMA 4X Cabinet Coolers – For enclosures that are in food service, pharmaceutical, harsh, and/or corrosive environments, and any application where 316 stainless steel is preferred, the Cabinet Coolers are available in the Type 316 stainless material. The systems are UL Listed for wash down environments, ensuring the enclosure electrical contents remain cool and dry under any condition. Noted applications include on ocean going ships, power plants, medical device manufacturing facilities, and bakeries.
Type 316 Stainless Steel NEMA 4X Cabinet Cooler System
Please note that the High Temperature, Non-Hazardous Purge and Type 316 Stainless Steel Cabinet Coolers are each available from stock! No waiting for these special models.
To discuss your application and how a Cabinet Cooler System or any EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air Product can improve your process, feel free to contact EXAIR, myself, or one of our other Application Engineers. We can help you determine the best solution!
My colleague, Brian Bergmann wrote a blog on how the EXAIR Cabinet Coolers work, “Cabinet Coolers 101”. I want to extend that conversation about how EXAIR Cabinet Coolers can better benefit you and your equipment.
With the hot summer months upon us, elevated temperatures can cause shutdowns and interference with electrical systems. For every 10 deg. C rise above the operational temperature, the life of an electrical component is cut in half. With freon based coolers, higher ambient conditions make them less effective; and opening the electrical panel to have a fan blow inside creates a dangerous electrical hazard as well as blowing hot, humid, dirty air inside the cabinet. To reduce loss in production and premature equipment failures, it is important to keep the electrical mechanisms cool. The EXAIR Cabinet Coolers are designed to do just that.
How does the Cabinet Cooler work?
EXAIR Cabinet Coolers are powered by a Vortex Tube which only uses compressed air to generate cold air. They do not have any moving parts, freon to leak, or refrigerant compressors to fail. These simple, but effective, cooling devices can be used in the toughest of environments. With the Vortex Tube as the “engine, the reliability of the EXAIR Cabinet Cooler is unmatched and makes it an easy choice for cooling electrical panels.
How the EXAIR Cabinet Cooler System Works
What NEMA ratings does EXAIR offer?
To match the same integrity as your electrical panel, EXAIR offers three different types of NEMA ratings that are UL listed and CE compliant. NEMA 12 is dust and oil tight, and can be related to the IEC standard, IP54. NEMA 4 is dust and oil tight as well as splash resistant for indoor and outdoor use. The NEMA 4X is the same as the NEMA 4 except it is made of stainless steel for corrosive areas and aggressive wash-down environments. Both the NEMA 4 and 4x corresponds to an IP66 rating. EXAIR Cabinet Coolers are easily installed and can match your electrical panel to keep the electrical components safe inside.
What size Cabinet Cooler do I need?
EXAIR makes it easy to get the proper cooling with the Cabinet Cooler Sizing Guide. This sheet goes over the important information to determine the external and internal heat loads. It also indicates the proper NEMA type and electrical requirements for easy installation. The cooling power ranges from 275 BTU/hr to 5,600 BTU/hr, and with the filled-out form, we can make sure that the correct model is used.
What types of systems are offered?
EXAIR offers a continuous operating system and a thermostat-controlled system. The continuous operating system includes the selected Cabinet Cooler, a filter, and a cold air distribution kit. The system will continuously cool until it is manually or automatically turned off.
The thermostat-controlled system is the most efficient way to operate a Cabinet Cooler. This system comes with the selected Cabinet Cooler, filter, cold air distribution kit, a thermostat and an electrical solenoid valve. The system is designed to operate only when cooling is needed. The thermostat controls a solenoid valve, and it is preset at 95°F (35°C). The thermostat can be easily adjusted to match other desired temperatures. The solenoid valves come in three different voltages, 120Vac, 240Vac, and 24Vdc (which ever voltage is easily accessible). With the thermostat-controlled system, you do not have worry about the system operating during off-peak conditions or cooler seasons.
What other options does EXAIR offer with the Cabinet Cooler Systems?
For better temperature control, EXAIR can replace the standard thermostat and solenoid valve with the ETC, or Electronic Temperature Control. It is a digital temperature controller with a LED screen for precision monitoring and adjusting. The controller has easy-to-use buttons to raise or lower the desired internal cabinet temperature. Once set, the ETC will hold the temperature to +/- 1 deg. F (+/- 0.5 deg. C). The LED displays the internal temperature for continuous monitoring. The ETC comes complete with the controller and a solenoid valve in two different voltages, 120Vac and 240Vac. The ETC is a great option for real-time accurate measurements for your panel cooling.
EXAIR NEMA 4X 316SS Cabinet Cooler System with Electronic Temperature Control installed on control panel in a pharmaceutical plant.
Another option that EXAIR offers is the Side Mount Kit. They are used to mount the Cabinet Coolers on the side of the electrical panel. They are manufactured to match the NEMA rating of the Cabinet Cooler. If you have limited space, don’t worry. The Side Mount Kits gives you more areas to mount the Cabinet Cooler to your electrical panel.
What about harsh environments?
With elevated ambient temperatures like near ovens, the high temperature version would be your option. The HT Cabinet Coolers work in temperatures from 125 deg. F to 200 deg. F (52 deg. C to 93 deg. C respectively). With refrigerant coolers, the elevated temperatures make it very difficult to cool effectively. But with the EXAIR HT Cabinet Coolers, the high temperature will not affect the ability to blow cool air.
If the environment is extremely dirty with lint, fibers, debris, etc., EXAIR offers a NHP, or Non-Hazardous Purge, version. The solenoid valve is designed to allow 1 SCFM of compressed air into the panel to keep a slight positive pressure. With the NHP Cabinet Coolers, the ingress of any fine particles into your electrical panel are eliminated.
For food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and corrosive type of applications, EXAIR can offer NEMA 4X Cabinet Coolers made from 316SS material. With the high corrosion resistance, the 316SS Cabinet Coolers will continue to operate without degrading in tough environments.
Electrical shutdowns are expensive and annoying. If you have interruptions from high internal temperatures, EXAIR Cabinet Coolers are a great solution. They can be installed quickly and easily. With no moving parts or costly preventative maintenance needed, they can operate for decades in keeping your electronics cool. If you have any questions about Cabinet Coolers or the Sizing Guide, you can contact an Application Engineer at EXAIR. We will be happy to help.
Here in Southwest Ohio, high temperatures have consistently been in the low-to-mid 90s for the last couple weeks. Temperatures that high mean it’s time to stay inside and crank up the A/C or head to the nearest swimming pool.
For the electronic control panels in your facility you’ll want to take a different approach. Traditional refrigerant-based air conditioners for electronic panels can be installed, but they’ll require long installation periods, maintenance and higher purchase prices. Refrigerant-based systems must be constantly monitored to replace filters, clean condensers, and checking the compressors to prevent any failure. As for tossing your control panel into a swimming pool to cool off, well I’ll let you be the judge of why that’s a bad idea 😉.
EXAIR’s Dual Cabinet Cooler With Electronic Temperature Controller
The best solution for keeping your electronics cool is an EXAIR Cabinet Cooler. With nothing more than a supply of compressed air to operate, the Cabinet Cooler installs in minutes through a standard electrical knockout. It has no moving parts to wear out, and when supplied with filtered compressed air the Cabinet Cooler requires absolutely NO maintenance. For higher temperature applications in extreme ambient conditions, we also have High Temperature Cabinet Coolers available.
Just last month we hosted a Webinar discussing Cabinet Coolers as the Intelligent Solution for Compressed Air Cooling. If you happened to miss it, you’re not too late!! Click here for a replay of the Webinar on the EXAIR website.
To which size Cabinet Cooler is right for you, complete the Cabinet Cooler Sizing Guide online. One of the EXAIR Application Engineers will then be able to determine the cooling capacity required based on the conditions of your cabinet. In less than 24 hours, you’ll have a response from us with the recommended model. With all Cabinet Cooler Systems available from stock, you can get one shipped out to you right away!
You can submit your data via email or fax, or you can call an EXAIR Application Engineer for immediate assistance.
IF you need a faster turn-around than that – call us or chat online and we will get the process started immediately. These products are in stock and ready to ship same day to solve your problem. Don’t wait until it’s too late, EXAIR’s Cabinet Cooler is THE solution for maintaining the temperature inside of your electronic enclosures.
My colleague, Brian Bergmann wrote a blog on how the EXAIR Cabinet Coolers work, “
