ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • 59 www.rittal.ie For further information on the entire Rittal range visit www.rittal.ie or check out our linkedin page @rittal-ireland Rittal higher powered cooling solutions. • Environmental Conditions. The environmental conditions in which the enclosure is located can also affect the effectiveness of different cooling methods. For example, if the enclosure is located in a dusty or humid environment, air cooling methods may not be the best choice due to inviting dirt and debris to enter the enclosure. • Power Requirements. The power requirements of the equipment inside the enclosure can also affect the choice of cooling method. Higher-power applications may require more efficient cooling methods such as liquid cooling. One of the largest factors that plays a part in locating enclosures outside is the sun, also known as additional ‘Solar Gain’. The Sun’s rays beating down on an enclosure can add a large additional load of heat which will need to be considered when choosing your cooling equipment. Therefore, the final location of the enclosure when it has been built should be known from the earliest stage. That way, it ensures that all the necessary information is considered when designing the enclosure and complimentary cooling equipment. Active VS Passive Cooling In most outdoor projects, there are two main cooling styles you may select; ‘Active’ and ‘Passive’ cooling. ‘Passive’ or ‘Air’ cooling is using the ambient air in the environment to do the cooling via fans or natural convection. The relatively colder air from outside is blown over the equipment to remove heat from inside the enclosure. It's important to note that this option can only be used if the location of the enclosure will not experience high ambient temperatures (i.e. in the summer) as this would mean that no cooling would be possible. If the enclosure will be located somewhere in which the ambient temperature will be warm (i.e. exported to a hot climate) Active cooling should be used. Active cooling describes products which can maintain the temperature inside of an enclosure, regardless of the outside temperature, such as a cooling unit. It does this via an electronically controlled refrigerant circuit. Rittal have a specially designed range of outdoor cooling units to suit harsh outdoor environments. They can withstand the elements and anything that will be thrown at them, to ensure your electrical equipment can operate efficiently and reliably for many years to come. At Rittal, we provide cooling solutions of all kinds for your electrical equipment.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mzk5MjA=