Overheating or malfunctioning of the components inside the enclosure are problems the installer faces most during the maintenance phase, and often bad ventilation is the primary cause.
To ensure proper ventilation of the electrical cabinet, some important measures are necessary to ensure the components correct functioning and to minimize unexpected breakdown risks, containing the related costs.
Temperature control in electrical panels
The heat accumulated in the enclosure, if not properly controlled, increases the risk of work interruptions and production delays. Often, the ventilation of a panel is entrusted to a fan filter that uses an axial fan, whose life is greatly reduced when the internal temperature increases. A problem with this fan filter unit could easily lead to a stop for the production. The use of a thermostat could be useful for stabilizing the temperature and for optimizing energy consumption, switching the fan only when pre-set values are exceeded.
Type of fan filter for enclosures
Again with regard to fan filter units, it is not unusual to find an inadequate fan with respect to its application. This is why it’s important to choose a model suitable for the installation goal and the type of equipment installed. In order to correctly size the fan, it’s necessary to know the power to be dissipated, the difference between internal and external temperature and then obtain the value of the minimum air flow. We have thoroughly talked about in the article “Thermal Dissipation of electrical enclosures”.
Download the enclosure sizing PDF here.
Pollution and adverse conditions that affect the ventilation of electrical panels
To ensure proper ventilation in an electrical panel, it’s essential to inspect the enclosure installation area to determine the environmental parameters. The performance of a fan filter, or of a fan in general, depends strongly on the external environmental conditions and on the cleaning of the air. In many cases, in fact, in addition to the normal operating conditions, the fan filters should tolerate dusty environments, washing and cleaning cycles that require the use of aggressive chemicals or strong jets of water.
It follows the need to choose fan filter units with an appropriate degree of protection depending on the application (IP55, Type 3R, etc.) or suitable water jets protections (stainless steel cover).
Filtration of the air surrounding the enclosure
The type of mat used in the fan filter unit determines the different degree of air filtration. Fandis uses filter mats made of non-woven fabric with high efficiency with a high capacity for detain dust and other impurities (G3, G4). The G3 filtering class guarantees a IP54 degree of protection, while the G4 level is also resistant to chemicals and water, thanks to IP55 degree of protection. Furthermore, it’s always advisable to check and replace the filter cloth periodically.
To learn more, visit our website fandis.it and discover all the products for electrical panels, or leave a comment to this article. One of our technicians will answer you as soon as possible.
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