The key to good design of an outdoor enclosure
What are the key criteria to consider when designing and installing an outdoor enclosure for a range of applications? John Wilkins of Rittal explains.
F environment
or any outdoor enclosure, the primary function is to maintain a uniform that protects the sensitive
equipment housed inside.
Performance and durability are just as important as the equipment housed, so the enclosure’s integrity cannot be taken for granted. There are a number of considerations when placing an enclosure in an outdoor environment, which without the proper degree of protection from external elements could lead to more site downtime and maintenance, resulting in reduced performance, with major cost implications for the end user.
As with any project, start with the end in mind. Have a clear understanding of the fi nal requirements and the standards that the enclosure solution is to meet, before commencing with any design. The critical points to understand are the fi nal location of the enclosures and the equipment the enclosure is to support and protect. It would be ill- conceived to think that all outdoor enclosures would provide the correct environment for any equipment, in any location.
The majority of outdoor enclosures in today’s environment are of a metallic construction due to the cost of manufacture, fl exibility of design, and the additional security to sensitive equipment from impact and vandalism without the expense of complex moulds used for enclosures manufactured from GRP or plastic.
Galvanised mild steel and aluminium are the most common metals used for the construction of outdoor enclosures each with its own benefi ts. They are generally the most cost- effective solutions, and provide suffi cient corrosion resistance for the majority of mainland locations throughout the world when coated with the relevant paint fi nish, such as a polyester powder coating. This, combined with the correct maintenance schedule for the fi nish, can provide a life expectancy in excess of 20 years.
STAND: A101
For harsher environments, such as costal, offshore or corrosive, a stainless steel material would be the more suitable option, either in its raw state or as a coated fi nish such as powder coating. The cost implications of the enclosure material compared to its life expectancy and the required maintenance during the project’s life cycle should also be considered.
One of the main prob- lems for premature equipment failure and equipment per- formance is excessive temperature change, which could be from the effects of excessive heat and also extreme low temperatures. All equipment has mini- mum and maximum operating tempera- tures, whether de- signed to operate in an indoor or outdoor environment. This is a key question to answer before the design of any enclosure can com- mence.
For any outdoor enclosure, the aim is to provide the correct
thermal environment to meet the minimum and maximum operating temperatures of the installed equipment.
This can be done in a number of ways but is very dependent on the fi nal location of the enclosure and the amount of heat generated by the installed equipment.
For instance, if the enclosure is to be
installed in a location with external ambient temperatures ranging from -5°C to 40°C and the installed equipment has a specifi ed operating temperature of 15°C to 35°C then heating and cooling would be required, such as air conditioning.
It would not be possible to maintain the internal temperature of the enclosure using forced air as the lowest internal temperature provided would be whatever the ambient is at any one time.
For less sensitive equipment with a wider operating temperature, for instance -10°C to 75°C, then based on the same ambient temperatures as before, no heating would be required and basic ventilation may provide enough air circulation to cool the installed equipment or a fan and fi lter to circulate the air.
This can be a diffi cult design decision to make, but guidance and recommendations should be supplied by the enclosure manufacturer, along with supporting documentation of the calculations.
In areas where security is paramount, Rittal has developed a range of high-security products, from fl oor-standing standalone or modular enclosures, through to mobile plug-and-play bayable containerised equipment rooms.
These units are built to very high specifi cations and provide protection against fi re, dust, unauthorised access, corrosive gases, falling debris and in some cases, explosion to a level of 200KG TNT from 40 metres.
The units can be supplied with complete climate control options and power distribution if required.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
T: 01709 704000 E:
information@rittal.co.uk W:
www.rittal.co.uk
ADVERTISING FEATURE rail technology magazine Apr/May 13 | 103
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