Thermal Challenges facing OEM, Panel Builders & SI

As equipment manufacturers continue to increase their span across the globe, inevitably the challenges they face increase also. One factor often overlooked in this is the impact of different climate conditions on an install base. How can manufacturers ensure that machines and so control panels destined for varying climates perform to their best capability? How we house equipment and manage their thermal environment requires careful consideration?

Inefficient sizing of enclosures and their subsequent thermal management can lead to malfunctions across continuous processes and reduced performance of components. Imagine, an outdoor enclosure for a machine in the middle east exposed to temperatures of 40C +, where components are cooled by a single fan running far beyond its own capacity. The same component set up could then be destined for Scandinavia, with winter lows well beyond freezing. Neither enclosure has been accurately sized for their destined environment and, inevitably, the performance of the components will begin to fail.

Breakdowns can incur costly shutdown for End Users before considering repair cost of installations. An optimal thermal solution can not only pre-empt costly downtime but ensure the efficiency of the control panel.

To best fit of the thermal solution needs an insight into a number of parameters, including:

• • Whether the installation is indoors or outdoors
  • The type of environment which will result in choosing the right IP
  • Ambient temperature and humidity (T, RH)
  • Knowledge of power dissipation in the installation (W)

 All inputs can then be processed by Proclima FREE software to ensure sizing accurately thermal solutions. Manufacturers can then house components in Enclosures with the optimal Thermal solution for the destined environment.

Despite often overlooked, when it comes to thermal solutions assuming a ‘one size fits all’ approach misses a crucial opportunity for equipment manufacturers to add value to their customer base, operating across every type of environment. Robust tools to design an accurate thermal management solution is more accessible than ever before, offering a simple yet effective answer to reducing downtime and increasing components efficiency.

Discover more about  Climasys Range of products & Proclima FREE Software 

Steps to Follow when it comes to Sizing a Thermal Management Solution for a control Panel using Proclima Software

1. Set up the type of the installation; Indoor or Outdoor
2. Include the information about the Enclosures, Materials and sizes
3.  Set up the Ambient Temperature and Humidity; for outdoor Installation, Proclima Software provides a Weathering Database with 3 years worth of Humidity, temperature and Sun Radiation Data that can be used as input for your thermal calculation.
4. Set up the Power dissipation values, Proclima Soft provides information about the Power dissipation of a large list of Electrical components, so you would be able to build up the Power dissipation based on the Bill of Materials.
5. Process the data with Proclima Software and get an optimal thermal Management Solution for your Control Panel.

Download Proclima FREE Software here