Tag: enclosure cooler

New Press Release: Aluminum ATEX Cabinet Cooler Systems

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems have been providing durable and reliable heat protection for electrical & electronic panels for decades. With no moving parts to wear or electrical components to burn out, as long as you supply them with clean, moisture-free compressed air, they’ll operate darn near indefinitely, maintenance free.

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

Among the options we’ve offered with our Cabinet Cooler Systems are:

  • Three levels of NEMA integrity to suit the environment it’ll be installed in:
    • NEMA 12 (dust tight, oil tight, indoor duty)-for general industrial environments where no liquids or corrosives are present.
    • NEMA 4 (dust-tight, oil-tight, splash-resistant, indoor/outdoor duty)-for wash down areas, outdoor installations, etc. Basically, anywhere the panel could get wet.
    • NEMA 4X (dust-tight, oil-tight, splash-resistant, corrosion-resistant, indoor/outdoor duty)-for NEMA 4 environments where the panel is also exposed to corrosive elements. These are also popular (and oftentimes specified) in food and pharmaceutical uses. We offer them in either 303SS or 316SS.
  • Thermostat Control:
    • Our standard offering is a bimetallic probe thermostat, preset to 95ยฐF (35ยฐC) that gets wired in to the ‘hot’ lead of the Solenoid Valve, which gets plumbed to the compressed air supply line. We have 120VAC, 240VAC, and 24VDC Solenoid Valves.
    • ETC Electronic Temperature Control is a digital system with an LED readout for continuous display of the panel’s internal temperature, and the ability to change the temperature setpoint via push button control. ETC systems come in 120VAC and 240VAC configurations.
  • High Temperature Cabinet Cooler Systems. These are rated for use at ambient temperatures from 125ยฐF to 200ยฐF (52ยฐC to 93ยฐC).
  • Non-Hazardous Purge (NHP) Systems. These are Thermostat controlled, but they provide a slight positive pressure in the enclosure even when the Solenoid Valve is closed. They’re particularly well-suited for dirty environments where contamination could enter through small holes, conduits, etc. that cannot be positively sealed.

Over the last few years, we’ve also offered the NEMA 4 & 4X Cabinet Cooler Systems for UL Classified areas. Our HazLoc Cabinet Cooler Systems are rated for Class I Div 1, Class II Div 1, and Class III areas, and they meet the safety standards published by UL in the United States and Canada.

Our latest offering for hazardous locations is our ATEX Cabinet Cooler Systems. ATEX (an initialization of the French term “ATmosphรจres EXplosives” (explosive atmospheres) refers to a directive by the European Union aimed at safety in such environments. This month’s EXAIR Press Release details our Aluminum ATEX Cabinet Cooler Systems:

NEMA 4 ATEX Cabinet Cooler System safely cools a panel in a Zone 2 (explosive vapor) area of a battery plant.

NEW PRODUCT:ย ย Protect Sensitive Electronics in Explosive Environments with New Aluminum ATEX Cabinet Cooler Systems

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  EXAIRโ€™s ATEX Cabinet Coolerยฎ Systems deliver a powerful and affordable solution for keeping electrical enclosures cool in hazardous ATEX classified areasโ€”and theyโ€™re now available in durable aluminum construction. Engineered for use in Zones 2 and 22, these coolers are UL-tested, CE compliant, and meet stringent ATEX standards for purged and pressurized enclosures.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  With cooling capacities of up to 5,600 Btu/Hr., ATEX Cabinet Coolers are ideal for preventing overheating in electrical cabinets exposed to explosive atmospheres. Whether youโ€™re dealing with industrial control panels, application-specific electrical boxes, or simply sensitive electronics in hazardous locations, these systems ensure your equipment stays cool, safe and operational. Designed for quick and easy installation, the ATEX Cabinet Cooler mounts through a standard electrical knockout and maintains NEMA 4 integrity even in demanding environments. Optional thermostat controls reduce compressed air usage, while cold air distribution kits ensure even cooling throughout the cabinet.

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  EXAIR offers a comprehensive lineup of Cabinet Cooler Systems for NEMA 12, 4, 4X, hazardous location and ATEX applications. Built with no moving parts, every system is CE compliant, UL-listed, and designed for long-term reliability in the most challenging conditions. From control panels and motor centers to laser housings and surveillance equipment, EXAIR Cabinet Coolers protect your investments and keep your operations running smoothly. Prices start at $1,615.

If you have electrical or electronic panels that need cooling in hazardous environments, EXAIR has safe, durable, and reliable solutions. If you’d like to find out more, give me a call.

Russ Bowman, CCASS

Application Engineer
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Critical Equipment Needs Reliable Heat Protection

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

Electricity and water don’t mix. Electrical and electronic components don’t like many contaminants that can be found in industrial settings, either. Exposure to moisture or dirt are surefire ways to “let the smoke out” – it can be just as bad as letting them overheat. Once that’s happened, replacement of the failed components is usually the only option. THAT can get expensive not only in the cost of the component, but also in the downtime waiting for it to come in…which can be a REAL problem if they’re not in stock.

Luckily, there’s no shortage of cooling devices for electrical panels. They all have certain areas/situations where they’ll work just fine, but most have areas/situations that can cause real problems:

Panel air conditioners work a lot like the a/c in your home or office, and if you’ve ever used window a/c units, they work EXACTLY like those. Since they cool the air as they recirculate it through the space, they have filters to catch any particulate. If the panel isn’t sealed tightly, this filter may very well require regular attention. They also use air from the surrounding environment to condense the hot refrigerant gas:

Evaporator: heat from inside air is transferred to a refrigerant, flashing it from liquid to gas.
Compressor: pressurizes low pressure refrigerant gas.
Condenser: transfers heat from hot, high pressure refrigerant gas to outside air.
Expansion valve: lowers pressure (and temperature) of condensed refrigerant, sending it to the evaporator to continue the heat transfer cycle.

If the condenser coils are exposed to contaminants (dust, oil, chemical vapors, etc.), they’ll be subject to fouling & corrosion, making panel air conditioners more prone to failure in more aggressive environments. Also, since they use air from the environment as a heat sink for the refrigerant, their cooling capacity is inversely affected by the ambient temperature.

Heat Pipe systems also use refrigerant, but they don’t have any moving parts to wear. Since they don’t have a compressor or expansion valve, though, they’re incapable of cooling the panel below ambient temperature. The evaporator fins or coils are also still subject to environmental contamination, so they have the same limitations as a panel a/c system…and are further limited in hot spaces.

Panel fans are easily the least expensive cooling method. They’re usually fitted with filters for the outside air that they move through the enclosure. Like heat pipes, they can’t cool the enclosure to a temperature below ambient for the area, and the filters are still subject to clogging from airborne particulate, and since those filters have to be coarse enough for the fan’s cooling air flow, smaller particulate can still make it inside the panel….along with any vapors or gases that could condense, or worse, corrode components inside the panel. If the fan on a home computer can get as dusty as the one in the photo to the left, imagine how much worse the one on a control panel on a factory floor can get.

Liquid to Air coolers use liquid – the most common being chilled water – for cold fluid flow through coils inside the panel to remove heat, which is then transferred to ambient through a refrigerant chiller, or a fan & radiator. The inside coils are subject to fouling and condensation if the panel isn’t sealed tightly, and the refrigerant chiller has the same limitations as a panel a/c unit. If it uses a fan & radiator, it (like panel fans or heat pipes) can’t cool the panel to less than ambient temperature in the area.

EXAIR Cabinet Coolers have no moving parts and use compressed air as the sole cooling medium, so they’re not affected at all by environmental conditions. When they’re properly installed on a sealed enclosure, the only thing the inside of the enclosure ever sees is clean, cold, moisture-free air. Wherever your panel is, and regardless of the environment, EXAIR has a wide selection of cooling capacities, features, and materials of construction. Consider:

  • Cooling capacities from 275 to 5,600 Btu/hr. Call me if your heat load is outside this rangeโ€ฆwe can look at customized solutions too.
  • NEMA 12 (IP54), NEMA 4, or NEMA 4X (IP66) ratings.
  • Thermostat Control โ€“ Standard, or Electronic Temperature Control.
  • Non-Hazardous Purge for contaminant exclusion on less-than-ideally sealed enclosures.
  • High Temperature models for ambient temperatures from 125ยฐF (52ยฐC) to 200ยฐF (93ยฐC).
  • Side Mount Kits where space is limited above the panel.
  • 316SS construction for particularly aggressive environments.
  • UL Classified systems for hazardous locations: Our HazLoc systems are approved for Class I Div 1, Class II Div 1 & Class III areas, and ATEX systems are approved for Zones 2 & 22.
Inside, outdoors, high temperature, dirt/dust/humidity, corrosive and classified environments are no problem for EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems

If you need heat protection for electrical/electronic panels, EXAIR has solutions. To find out more, give me a call.

Russ Bowman, CCASS

Application Engineer
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Cabinet Cooler Season

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

We are at the peak of what we here at EXAIR call Cabinet Cooler Season! Nothing can shut down an electrical cabinet and all the machinery its controlling faster than a 100ยฐ F + day and a non temperature controlled cabinet! EXAIR has a product that is controlled by the temperature in your panel so when those hot days come around it cools and protects your sensitive components. And shuts off conserving compressed air on the cooler days and months!

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

One of our specialized applications are for Cabinet Coolerยฎ Systems in areas with hotter than normal ambient temperatures. Sometimes electrical cabinets are located in environments near high heat sources such as boiler rooms, furnaces, ovens or other heat sources. If the ambient temperature is above 125ยฐ F (52ยฐ C) we offer a High Temperature Cabinet Cooler systems.

EXAIR High Temperature Cabinet Cooler systems offer relief for ambient temperatures ranging from 125ยฐ โ€“ 200ยฐ F (52ยฐC โ€“ 93ยฐC). Our Cabinet Cooler calculator found atย https://www.exair.com/knowledgebase/cabinet-cooler-sizing-guide.htmlย will automatically determine if the High Temperature cooler is required for your specific application.

Even in extremely aggressive environments, EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems provide reliable heat protection for your sensitive electronics and controls.

Heat within an electrical cabinet can be a major issue for manufacturing companies. The costs associated with downtime and repairs on sensitive electronics that fail due to heat or environmental contaminants, are an unnecessary burden. If you have any questions about how an EXAIR Cabinet Cooler can solve problems in your facility, contact an EXAIR Application Engineer.

Jordan Shouse
Application Engineer

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Vortex Based Cabinet Coolers vs. Air to Air Heat Exchangers

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

An air-to-air heat exchanger uses the temperature differential between the ambient air surrounding an enclosure and the hot air inside an enclosure to create a cooling effect.  A closed loop system exchanges the heat inside the enclosure with the outside air in an effort to maintain a set internal temperature.  The heat exchange of most air-to-air unit relies on a heat pipe, a heat-transfer device which converts an internal refrigerant liquid into vapor by placing one end of the pipe in contact with the hot environment.  The heated vapor travels to the other end of the pipe which is in contact with a cooler environment.  The vapor condenses back into a liquid (releasing latent heat) and returning to the hot end of the pipe and the cycle repeats.

But, this type of solution does give some cause for concern, especially when considering their use in an industrial environment.  Here are the key points to keep in mind when comparing an air-to-air cooler to an EXAIR Cabinet Cooler.

Cabinet Cooler Family
EXAIR Cabinet Coolers

Required temperature differential based on ambient air temp

An air-to-air heat exchange relies on the ฮ”T between the ambient air temperature and the internal enclosure air temperature to produce cooling.  If this ฮ”T is low, or the ambient temperature rises, cooling is diminished.  This means that as the temperatures in your facility begin to rise, air-to-air heat exchangers become less and less effective.  Larger air-to-air heat exchangers can be used, but these may be even larger than the enclosure itself.

EXAIR Cabinet Coolers rely on the ฮ”T between the cold air temperature from the Cabinet Cooler (normally ~20ยฐF) and the desired internal enclosure temperature (normally 95ยฐF).  The cold air temperature from the Cabinet Cooler is unaffected by increases in ambient temperatures.  The large ฮ”T and high volume cold air flow produced by a Cabinet Cooler results in more cooling capacity.  And, we can increase cooling capacity from a Cabinet Cooler without increasing its physical footprint, which is already much, much smaller than an air-to-air type of unit.

Cooling in high temperature environments

Due to their nature of operation, an air-to-air heat exchanger must have an ambient temperature which is lower than the desired internal temperature of the enclosure.  If the ambient air has a higher temperature, air-to-air units provide zero cooling.

Cabinet Coolers, on the other hand, can be used in hot, high temperature environments up to 200ยฐF (93ยฐC).

EXAIR's High Temp Cabinet Cooler Systems
High temperature Cabinet Coolers

Cooling in dirty environments

Dirt in the ambient environment will impact cooling performance with an air-to-air heat exchanger.  In order for the air-to-air unit to effectively remove heat, the heat pipe must have access to ambient air.  With any exposure to the ambient environment comes the possibility for the ambient end of the heat pipe to become covered in ambient contaminants such as dust.  This dust will create an insulation barrier between the heat pipe and the ambient air, decreasing the ability for the heat pipe to condense the vapors within.  Because of this, most air-to-air devices use filters to separate the heat pipe from the ambient environment.  But, when these filters become clogged, access to ambient temperatures are reduced, and cooling capacity of the air-to-air unit reduces as well.

Cabinet Coolers have no problem operating in dirty environments.  In fact, it is one of their strengths.  Without any moving parts to wear out or any need to contact ambient air for cooling purposes, a dirty environment poses no problems.  In fact, check out this blog post (and this one) about EXAIR Cabinet Coolers operating maintenance free for years in dirty environments.

exair-cabinet-cooler-03-2002-2008
NEMA 12 Cabinet Cooler in a Dirty Environment

Size and time required to install

Air-to-air heat exchangers vary in size, but even the smallest units can have large dimensions.  Many applications have limited space on the enclosure, and a large, bulky solution can be prohibitive.  Couple this with the time and modification required to the enclosure to install a large air-to-air unit, and the โ€œsolutionโ€ may end up bringing additional problems.

Another key aspect of the Cabinet Cooler is its size.  Small, compact, and easy to mount on the top or side of an enclosure, Cabinet Coolers install in minutes to remove overheating problems.

Heat within an electrical cabinet can be a major issue for manufacturing companies. The costs associated with downtime and repairs on sensitive electronics that fail due to heat or environmental contaminants, are an unnecessary burden. If you have any questions about how an EXAIR Cabinet Cooler can solve problems in your facility, contact an EXAIR Application Engineer.

Jordan Shouse
Application Engineer

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Find us on the Web 
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Twitter: @EXAIR_JS