6 Ways Active Enclosure Cooling Will Protect Your Investment
Electrical components, such as variable frequency drives, PLCs, contactors, and switches, as well as the equipment and machinery they control, represent a large upfront investment in almost any industry. Failure of these components due to excessive temperatures may even cause a chain reaction, leading to inefficient operation, damage or failure of the machinery in the factory or mill.
Here are six ways a “closed-loop” active enclosure cooling system, will protect your equipment investment:
1. Controlling enclosure temperatures with an active cooling system will contribute to equipment safety.
By maintaining temperatures inside the enclosure at or below the maximum operating temperature specified by the manufacturer, components will be protected from thermal damage, which could lead to component failure, short circuits, and even a fire.
2. An active cooling system will help maintain equipment at peak operating efficiency.
By keeping the enclosure at or below the recommended high temperature, electrical components will continue to operate at their rated efficiency. As temperatures rise inside the enclosure, efficiency is typically downgraded in proportion to the temperature increase. Equipment operating below peak efficiency will wear out more quickly than it should, and it will add costs by consuming more energy.
3. Using an active enclosure cooling system minimizes operating costs.
Regular maintenance and repairs to electrical equipment are typically included in the cost of operation. However, high temperatures in an enclosure may reduce efficiency, and possibly cause thermal damage or even early failure, resulting in unplanned downtime and increased maintenance and repairs. These additional costs will eat into profits.
4. An active enclosure cooling system will protect valuable industrial machinery and equipment.
If the VFDs, PLCs, controllers, and other electrical components in an enclosure are compromised due to excess heat, this could have a negative effect on the industrial equipment and machinery that they control. Decreased efficiency, increased downtime, or failed electrical components could easily cause additional mechanical or other operating problems for the mill, plant, or factory.
5. Using a closed-loop enclosure cooling system protects components from severe weather, excess moisture, hazardous gases, dust, and debris.
By selecting the proper NEMA type enclosure cooling system for the location, the electrical equipment inside an enclosure will be protected from chemical and thermal damage, as well as from liquid sprays, heavy particulate matter, vibrations, and bad weather.
6. An active enclosure cooling system will increase the lifespan of components and minimize replacement costs.
And at the end of life—whether planned or after a catastrophic failure—components must be replaced. Though periodic upgrades may become necessary as new technologies develop, the MTBF can be drastically reduced by maintaining temperatures within the range recommended by the manufacturer.
For help in designing an active enclosure cooling system to protect your equipment investment, contact the experts at Thermal Edge.
