Feature: Enclosures
The best way to prevent such dust
issues is to add a suitable filter to the air-cooling setup. Filter mediums (or mats) trap particulates before they enter the enclosure. The mats should be replaced on a regular basis to prevent build-up of dirt which can ‘choke’ the fan, preventing it from pulling sufficient cooling air into the enclosure.
Liquid cooling Traditional air-cooling methods can be unsuitable for certain operational environments for various reasons, say because of the location, amount of equipment involved or physical space restrictions. Liquid cooling, however, is an option
open to all, and one that is much more effective than air at removing waste- heat and reducing the temperature within the enclosure.
Liquid cooling uses chilled water
to cool the enclosure. An ‘Air to Air Heat Exchanger’ is mounted onto the enclosure and connected to an industrial chiller. The chiller cools down heated water from the enclosure to a reasonable temperature before delivering it back to the heat exchanger. The beauty of liquid cooling is that
it is ‘active’, which means you can make the internal temperature lower than that of the local environment. So even in the height of summer, with the factory in full swing, equipment will be protected. Many industrial sites already have
an operational chilled water supply to service other procedures and equipment. This can be tapped and used for enclosure cooling, too. Liquid cooling requires hydraulic hoses (cold water in, hot water out) to
be connected between heat exchanger and chiller. It’s therefore worth giving prior thought to both the enclosure placement and where to run the hoses, to ensure the smooth commissioning and operation of the whole system. Much like air cooling, regular
maintenance of the system is strongly recommended, to keep the cooling equipment fully functional for many years.
The right scenario In summary, both solutions are valid in the right scenario. However, choosing a cooling solution without first considering its operating environment is setting yourself up for a less than perfect result. This in turn will have an impact on the overall effectiveness of the chosen cooling solution and the ongoing protection of critical equipment.
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