Tag: electrical cabinet cooling

What’s So Great About Thermostat Control for EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems?

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems are a durable & reliable way to protect electrical enclosures (and the components they contain) from heat damage. All you need is compressed air…

Compressed air goes in; cold air comes out of the Vortex Tube and is circulated through the enclosure. The Vortex Tube’s hot flow and the warm exhaust from the enclosure are vented through the Cabinet Cooler’s body.

…and as long as the cooling capacity of the Cabinet Cooler System is equal to or greater than the heat load of the enclosure, everyone’s happy, right?

Well, almost. I mean, it’s great that the vital components inside the enclosure aren’t getting too hot, but if it’s getting colder than it needs to be inside, then you’re using compressed air when you don’t have to. And compressed air is EXPENSIVE.

If you’re talking to an EXAIR Application Engineer about panel cooling, we’re going to talk about Thermostat Control too. We have two options for that:

Thermostat, optional Mounting Bracket & Locknut, and Solenoid Valve (120VAC, 240VAC, or 24VDC)

Thermostat Control consists of a bimetallic probe-type Thermostat, spliced in to the ‘hot’ lead of a Solenoid Valve that’s plumbing into the compressed air supply of the Cabinet Cooler. These come preset at 95°F (35°C), which is based on the 104°F (40°C) temperature limit published by many manufacturers of electrical & electronic components. The setpoint temperature CAN be lowered (at the factory or in the field) if any particular component(s) need a cooler environment to operate in. It can also be raised, if everything in the enclosure can handle a higher temperature. THAT can save a good amount of compressed air (which, again, is EXPENSIVE.)

Operation is pretty simple: when the temperature starts to rise inside the enclosure, two dissimilar metal strips that are bonded together inside the thermostat start to thermally expand. Because they’re made of different metals, they expand at different rates, which makes the strips bend until they contact. This completes the electrical circuit to the Solenoid Valve’s coil, opening the valve to start operation of the Cabinet Cooler. As the temperature subsides and cold air flows into the enclosure, the two metal strips contract & straighten out, detaching the strip and the contact, which causes the Solenoid Valve to close, until temperature rises to the setpoint again.

EXAIR’s ETC Electronic Temperature Control provides the same function, but with some notable advantages:

EXAIR NEMA 4X 316SS Cabinet Cooler System with Electronic Temperature Control is installed on a control panel in a pharmaceutical plant.
  • A Type J Thermo couple is wired to a solid state temperature controller to sense & control the temperature. It’ll hold +/- 1°F of the setpoint temperature, as opposed to the +/-2°F accuracy range for the bimetallic Thermostat.
  • The LED readout provides constant indication of the temperature inside the enclosure. Personnel can verify, at a glance, that proper cooling is being applied. This is of great benefit to users who regularly monitor & log readings like this on enclosures with critical equipment inside, like nuclear power plants.
  • Push button control allows for on-the-fly adjustment of the setpoint temperature. This, along with the +/-1°F accuracy range, allows users to precisely set the desired temperature to a point just slightly under the maximum rating for the electronics, which, as mentioned above, can result in a reduction in compressed air consumption and hence, operating cost.
  • There’s also a calibration offset feature, which is handy if the Cabinet Cooler System is being installed on an enclosure with other temperature sensing equipment. This uses the push button controls to match the displayed temperature on the ETC to that of the existing equipment. It can also be used to verify the calibration of the ETC, which is another great benefit to users responsible for maintaining critical equipment.

As an EXAIR Application Engineer, it’s my goal to help you get the most out of our products, and your compressed air system. A big part of that is making sure you don’t use any more compressed air than you have to. If you’re ready to start saving, give me a call.

Russ Bowman, CCASS

Application Engineer
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Accessories for Your Compressed Air Products

Published on by Al WooffittLeave a comment

Here at EXAIR we are very proud of our Intelligent Compressed Air Products. We have spent a lot of time discussing their many benefits, including their efficiency, the fact that many have no moving parts, little to no maintenance, meeting or exceeding OSHA safety standards for noise or dead end pressure. One thing we don’t talk as much about is the accessories that go along with and complement our products. Several of these accessory items are the reason why our compressed air products can boast about having little to no maintenance, or reduced noise levels. In this blog I want to cover some of these unsung heroes.

From left to right, a few value-added accessories for your Vortex Tube: Hot Muffler, Cold Muffler, Automatic Drain Filter Separator, Oil Removal Filter, and Solenoid Valve/Thermostat Kit.

Some of the most popular accessories we offer are our compressed air Filters and Regulators. We suggest using these with all our products (or even with ones that aren’t ours).

The Filter Separator is designed to remove moisture, dirt, and rust from your compressed air system. The 5-micron filter element ensures that contaminants don’t clog or harm your compressed air equipment.

An Oil Removal Filter (which should always be installed after our Filter Separator) provides even more precise filtration by getting rid of oil and solid particles with a 0.03-micron element.

Our Pressure Regulators let you choose the operating pressure. At EXAIR, we always advise running at the lowest pressure necessary to complete the task. Pressure Regulators help you achieve that, reducing unnecessary air usage and fine-tuning the performance of EXAIR products for your specific application.

We have some accessories designed specifically for certain products. For our Line Vacs, there’s the Line Vac Hose. You can also find Thermostats and Solenoid Valves that work great with our Cabinet Coolers, and if you’re using Vortex Tubes, we suggest checking out our Mufflers.

When it comes to our Air Knives, we offer a variety of fantastic options:

If you’re looking for a simple and dependable way to mount your Air Knife, our Universal Air Knife Mounting System is just what you need.

If your project needs something longer than our stock Air Knives, or if you want to manage different sections of the air flow separately, our Coupling Bracket Kits are ideal.

And if you want to simplify the plumbing for your Air Knife, don’t miss our Air Knife Plumbing Kits. They’re suitable for all Air Knives that are longer than 24 inches.

If you’re looking for plumbing options, we’ve got a range of compressed air hoses and fittings that will simplify things for you.

Our Coiled Hoses work great with our Safety Air Guns, giving you more freedom of movement while you work.

Our Compressed Air Hoses are often used alongside our Industrial Housekeeping products to provide the necessary reach for the drum and dolly.

Finally, if you’re looking for a way to mount or position your Air Nozzles, check out our Magnetic Bases, Stay Set Hoses, and Swivel Fittings that can help create a complete setup.

No matter what your application requires or the product you need, we’ve got a variety of complementary accessory products that will simplify installation and adjustments. If you have any questions about these or any other EXAIR products, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

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Comparing EXAIR’s Cabinet Coolers to an Air-to-Air Heat Exchanger

Published on by Al WooffittLeave a comment

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!

How the EXAIR Cabinet Cooler System Works

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.

From right to left: Small NEMA 12, Large NEMA 12, Large NEMA 4X

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

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Stay Safe!!! Hazardous Location Cabinet Coolers

Published on by jasonkirbyLeave a comment

HazLoc Cabinet Cooler Systems are specifically designed and certified for use in purged electrical enclosures located in classified environments. These systems are approved for Class I Division I, Groups A, B, C, and D, as well as Class II Division I Groups E, F, and G, and Class III areas. EXAIR’s HazLoc Cabinet Cooler Systems have undergone rigorous testing by UL, ensuring compliance with the strict UL standards applicable to these environments.

Cabinet Cooler Systems offer an economical and dependable solution for cooling purged electric control panels in various environments. Utilizing Vortex Tube technology, these systems can generate up to 5,600 Btu/Hr without any moving parts, resulting in a low-maintenance option for cooling HazLoc purged cabinets.

EXAIR’s HazLoc Cabinet Cooler Systems distinguish themselves from competitors by receiving UL classification for Division I environments. These systems, which are thermostatically controlled for optimal efficiency, also feature UL-listed solenoids suitable for hazardous settings. Designed for quick installation on purged enclosures, EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems require minimal maintenance and are built to perform reliably in the most challenging industrial conditions.

EXAIR offers Hazardous Location Cabinet Cooler Systems in eight distinct cooling capacities, ranging from 1,000 Btu/Hr to 5,600 Btu/Hr. This variety enables you to select the optimal system tailored to your cooling requirements while minimizing compressed air waste. These Cabinet Cooler Systems effectively shield your electronic equipment from heat, dirt, and moisture, ensuring uninterrupted operation of your processes. They present a cost-effective alternative to cumbersome, high-maintenance coolant-based air conditioning systems and are designed for straightforward installation.

Components are prone to failure, sensors may provide inaccurate readings, controls can drift, and displays can become unreliable. EXAIR HazLoc Cabinet Coolers effectively address these issues, helping to maintain productivity and prevent costly shutdowns and the need for new components. If you have questions about HazLoc Cabinet Cooler Systems, or anything regarding EXAIR and our products, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Jason Kirby
Application Engineer
Email: jasonkirby@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jk