Outdoor Filterfan

Tips for Determining What Filter Fan Suits Your Application and Environment

Select a filter fan appropriate for the electrical equipment in use, cooling demands, and environmental conditions

By Chris Marlow, Solutions Engineer

Filter fans perform a critical task of moving the hot air from within electrical enclosures to the external environment while also protecting equipment from ingress of harmful dust, water, or other materials. Cooling is necessary to protect sensitive electrical components from overheating and becoming damaged. When appropriate, filter fans are a popular choice for this cooling task due to their low energy usage and ease of installation.

The fan component of a filter fan provides this critical thermal protection, while filters keep airborne particles like dust from getting into the enclosures and damaging the equipment inside. Filter fans also help to protect equipment from water, ice, snow, animal ingress, or vandalism, depending on the environment.

Selecting the correct filter fan for a given application requires consideration of that application’s heat load information and what temperatures need to be maintained, as well as the environmental conditions.

Which Filterfan for which application?

Invented in 1958 by Otto Pfannenberg, the original Filterfan® has evolved over the last 50 years to provide protection for electrical enclosures in a variety of applications, specifically, in indoor, outdoor, or extreme environments. Each environment has particular considerations, and so filter fan design is custom-made to match those concerns.

Indoor Use

In indoor environments, filter fans can be used in applications such as test stands in manufacturing facilities, IT racks in data storage applications, or drive enclosures. Indoor filter fans are designed to protect these electrical enclosures using a fan, a filter, and louvers. This design provides needed cooling, protection against airborne particulates, and enables light washdown procedures. Pfannenberg, the company founded by the original Filterfan® inventor of the same name, remains the industry leader in filter fan design. Its indoor Filterfans 4.0 TM feature louvers with wing qualities and a lip at the end help pre-collect dust. Pfannenberg has also created a pleated filter design that provides more surface area with the same filter volume used compared to mesh filters, which allows for more dust to be collected before airflow is constricted.

Outdoor Use

Outdoor filter fans have all of the same design considerations of indoor filter fans, with a focus on cooling and dust collection, but with the added considerations of weather, solar radiation, and animal ingress. Key applications for outdoor filter fans include battery storage, such as for solar panels, and pump stations with enclosed pumps. In these and other outdoor filter fan applications, enclosures protect electrical equipment from weather, animals, and other possible damage, but introduce cooling requirements in order to keep equipment close to ambient temperatures. Outdoor filter fans must therefore be designed like indoor ones, but with added protection against outdoor hazards. Pfannenberg’s 3R Filterfans® for outdoor use protect against heavy rain with water pathways and drain holes that are designed to draw water away from the fan instead of accumulating and causing flooding. This design, along with added seals, also protects against hazardous ice formation. Finally, the outdoor-specific 3R Filterfans® are designed with UV-resistant materials to avoid the degradation than can happen to unprotected plastics in the sun.

Extreme Environments

Though the outdoor filter fan design can cope with significant weather-related hazards, some environments, both indoors and outdoors, are simply too extreme for the above filter fan designs. These cases include industrial food processing or bakery applications where high pressure washdowns are necessary. It also includes outdoor applications in regions with significant snow accumulation that could block airflow, and enclosures that might be subject to vandalism, among others. In these cases, the addition of a rainhood provides the additional protection necessary to ensure uninterrupted filter fan and electrical component operation. The rainhood’s metal shell provides solid protection against breaking, hides the filter fan from vandalism, provides another barrier against the entrance of water in washdown procedures, and prevents snow from accumulating in the path of airflow. Pfannenberg’s Filterfan® + Rainhood combination is the market-leading solution for use in extreme environments.

Tips for selecting the correct filter fan

Given all of the environmental and application considerations, there are a number of tips to keep in mind when selecting a filter fan for any given environment.

Determine if a filter fan is a viable option

The first step should always be to determine whether a filter fan is the correct cooling and protection solution for a given application. Answering “yes” to all three of the following questions means that a filter fan is likely a good cooling solution:

  • Is the ambient temperature lower than the desired temperature within the enclosure?
  • Is the environment free of corrosive airborne particulates and gases?
  • Is the heat load within the range for which a filter fan can provide adequate cooling?

This third question, of course, leads into the next tip, since it might not be possible to determine whether the heat load is suitable for a filter fan right away.

Assess application needs

The next critical step is to collect as much information as is possible about the application, the enclosure size, the components inside enclosure, the temperature these components should be maintained at, any environmental hazards (sun, rain, snow, animals, etc.), and what the environment’s temperature range is. Additionally, other considerations like clearance requirements, washdown procedures, foot traffic around the filter fan, or other similar considerations should be noted. These considerations will help to determine not only the appropriate size, flow rate, and type of filter fan to use, but also helps to determine whether a metal rainhood is required and how the filter fan(s) should be configured.

Consult an expert

It is critically important to gather the information described in the last tip because cooling experts need that information to be able to specify the correct filter fan for each application. More information translates into better overall suitability for the application, and therefore the greatest assurance of balancing protection and cooling with cost efficiency and minimal maintenance. At Pfannenberg, experts analyze this information using specialized software to determine the appropriate size, flow rate, configuration, and environmental protections for the application’s ideal filter fan. Pfannenberg manufactures Filterfans® in seven different flow rates and several different sizes, and can configure these with a single exhaust, two exhausts, or with a fan in and fan out, depending on the application’s specific demands.

Consulting with experts not only ensures a right-sized solution that will ideally balance airflow, protection from the environment, and cost; doing so also helps to ensure that the filter fan will keep electrical components free from water and dust, and properly cooled, in order to extend the lifespan of those components. If a filter fan is too small, the components could overheat, leading to early failures, unplanned downtime, and additional cost. If a filter fan rated for indoor use is used outside, ice buildup or sun exposure could lead to broken seals and dangerous water incursion into the electrical enclosure.

When configured properly, the only maintenance required for filter fans is regular filter replacement to ensure that a consistent flowrate and cooling capacity can be maintained. The lifespan of a filter depends on the application –a bakery with fine dust requires more frequent filter changes than most manufacturing test stand applications – so experts should be consulted to determine the ideal maintenance schedule for each application.

Conclusion

Filter fans are critical to protecting electrical equipment from overheating, water, and airborne debris so that the equipment can continue to run safely and efficiently. Finding a filter fan suitable to each particular application and environment requires careful research and the assistance of experts. By considering heat load, environmental conditions, and other factors in consultation with an expert, it is possible to reduce maintenance needs and cost while keeping electrical equipment protected.  In applications in indoor, outdoor, and extreme environments, well-designed filter fans keep electrical equipment functional and safe.

Prevent Summer Overheating with Pfannenberg Enclosure Cooling Solutions

Preventing enclosure overheating in the summer can be a challenge for many factories, where temperatures can rise fast during hot days! The high summer temperatures are often the cause of overheating of electrical components located inside the enclosures reducing their lifespan, while also contributing to downtime and repairs.

When this happens, the user often makes the same mistake: open the door panel (and sometimes use a fan) to remove heat and cool the components. In doing so, they allow dust, oils and surrounding debris to get inside the cabinet risking the damaging of sensitive electronic components.

To ensure that sensitive electronics maintain their rated life expectancy and that they function reliably, proper regulation of the enclosure climate is necessary.

Determine the Proper Enclosure Thermal Management

Electronics are typically most efficient in an environment where the humidity is low and the temperature is approximately 95°F. As the temperature in an enclosure rises it can have a lasting effect on the electronics. Tests have shown that an increase in temperature of as little as 18°F shortens the life expectancy of electrical components by more than 50%.

Enclosure Climate control prevents critical temperature fluctuations, avoids overheating and protects against the formation of condensate. It is essentially the backbone of your entire production process, prolonging the life of your electronics and protecting your investment.

To choose the best Thermal Management Solution you first need to understand your environment. Indeed, the environment in the electrical enclosure can be affected by weather conditions, solar radiation or other external temperature sources.

As an example, An Air to Water Heat Exchanger will be adapted to an enclosure placed in a factory that faces hot weather spikes or an extremely dirt or caustic environment compared to traditional industrial air conditioners.

Electronics sensitive to electromagnetic interference may need a shielded EMC Filterfan®. An enclosure located outdoors or in a humid environment may require hygrostats or thermostats and heaters to eliminate the formation of condensate, leading to corrosion and short circuiting.

Pfannenberg Sizing Software (PSS)

To determine the proper thermal management solution, Pfannenberg Engineers developed a powerful web-based Sizing Software to help you configure Filterfans™, cooling units, air/water heat exchangers, and heaters for electrical enclosures. The easy to use interface, works for both indoor and outdoor applications and helps you calculate the heat dissipation in a cabinet, component by component.

Need more help choosing the best Enclosure Cooling Solution? Ask us you question now!

Pfannenberg Announces New Outdoor Filterfan® (TYPE 3R)

High-Airflow Fan Operates Outdoors in a Range of Conditions Without Requiring a Rainhood

Lancaster, NY – Pfannenberg, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of thermal management technologies, announces the new Outdoor Filterfan®, a rainproof filter fan with an unrivaled airflow suitable for outdoor weather conditions, which makes a rainhood unnecessary for most applications.

Pfannenberg’s Outdoor Filterfans® are certified to TYPE 3R. providing electrical enclosures with protection against ingress of falling dirt, harmful effects of rain, sleet, snow and external ice formation. Further, it features UV resistance plastic to prevent premature degradation from direct sunlight. Traditional outdoor solutions would require installation of a rainhood over the filter fan. Pfannenberg’s Outdoor Filterfan® eliminates the component cost and labor for installing such a rainhood.

Like the millions of field-installed Filterfans® 4.0, the Outdoor Filterfan® reaches a particularly high airflow with flow optimized fins and rotor blades. The fluted filter-mat provides 3x longer service life by holding more dust before airflow is impeded, extending the mean time between maintenance (MTBM) for outdoor enclosures. The new series maintains the 11 patented features, including a patented 4-corner fastening system that allows toolless installation in seconds in most enclosure wall thickness.

Pfannenberg’s new Outdoor Filterfans® are offered with eight different airflows in multiple sizes and voltage (AC & DC). It is also available in two colors – Black and Light Grey. The family includes matching exhaust filters for a complete setup for your enclosures. They are UL listed, NEMA, CE and RoHS compliant.

Click here to learn more

Liquid Cooling Solutions, the Best Choice for Complete Plant-wide Machine Cooling

When it comes to Thermal Management, cooling each machinery or electrical cabinet separately is usually the solution chosen by most of the industries. However, this leave a valuable optimization potential untapped.

Maximum efficiency cooling for a whole system can be achieved with a cooling system solution consisting of air to water heat exchangers and water-based chillers. These ‘Liquid Solutions’ cool the complete assembly and offer significant benefits compared to traditional approaches such as cooling with ambient air.

How does it work?

A closed loop cooling or semi open system is used to provide cooling to the entire plant assembly. These might be electrical enclosures, processes or individual machine parts such as spindles, motors or hydraulic equipment.

Liquid Cooling Solutions

In a closed-loop system, electrical enclosures or assemblies are cooled with cold water at a specified inlet temperature which is pumped through a pipe system. Flowing through the electrical enclosures or assemblies, the water is warmer when it returns to the chiller. This creates a temperature delta which the chiller equalizes by cooling the water from the outlet temperature down to the inlet temperature.

The process chiller system feeds cold water into the application inside the factory hall or outdoors and the constant flow temperature significantly improves machine availability and machining accuracy. There is no other cooling media being as efficient as water cooling.

The best Liquid Cooling Solution: Combined Chillers and Air to Water Heat Exchangers

The combination of application-specific process chillers with air to water heat exchangers is particularly suitable for applications in which heat must not be dissipated in the immediate environment, where the ambient air is too aggressive to allow the use of traditional enclosure cooling units, where high-level protection is required (up to IP 65) or where the cooling devices must be maintenance-free.

The air to water heat exchanges are all cut-out-compatible and fit in the housing of all available electrical enclosures. This means that machine and plant manufacturers, end users and distributors benefit from higher flexibility, and save costs on warehousing and servicing.

The advantage of an intelligent system solution with application-specific chillers and air to water heat exchangers is that the dissipated heat can be moved directly from the factory shop floor via air channels or an outside chiller system. It also offers very high reliability and problem-free operation as all the components of the system are chosen to work together perfectly. Low maintenance, cut-out-compatibility and energy efficiency optimize energy consumption and keep operating costs to a minimum. The integrated concept and numerous options allow the system to be adapted to almost any application, even with changing conditions.

Application-specific configuration

EB 2.0 Group

Pfannenberg’s experts work with their customers to develop application-specific chiller systems. To achieve exactly the right configuration, it is essential to:

  • First determine the heat load for the whole assembly.
  • The second step is to specify the type of cooling medium (ideally water), the target temperature and the flow quantity which the system must deliver in the actual application. This process should take into account how the heat is transmitted to the cooling medium and the type of refrigerant necessary to operate the refrigerant circuit. The type of cooling medium and which chiller model is used depends on whether usable process water is available at the factory and if so, whether it is warm or cold (see overview of device variants).
  • An analysis of the environmental conditions prevailing where the chiller system is to be installed is also carried out. For example, there might be high temperatures and contaminated air indoors, while outdoors the temperature might fluctuate widely. Both of these factors can have an impact on the configuration of the chiller system, making accessories such as filter fans or crankcase heating necessary. Taking the temperature of the cooling medium at the inlet and the highest likely ambient temperature as a basis, Pfannenberg determines the best chiller model with the correct characteristic curves for the job.
  • The final stage in the application-specific configuration is to think about whether the selected standard version meets the other requirements of the application, such as performance data, control and regulation options, available space, certifications and color. It is then decided whether standard options are necessary or helpful and if so, which. With numerous available options available, the EB chillers meet the requirements of practically any application in industrial environments.

Pfannenberg offers installation-ready chiller systems with performance specifications ranging from 1 to 160 kW. The modular concept of the EB series allows users to select from up to 30 standard options. These include hydraulic bypass/relief valves, flow monitors, tank level monitors, air filters, air filter monitors, check valves, solenoid valves, single alarm display and UL certification. Special solutions are also available. Click here to determine the correct chiller for your application!


With products that include filterfans, heaters, industrial air conditioners, air to water heat exchangers, packaged chillers, and signaling devices, Pfannenberg offers a full range of thermal management solutions for all types of industries. Standard options such as stainless steel materials, NEMA 4/4X enclosures, and washdown duty construction allow these time-tested products to be seamlessly incorporated into even the most demanding applications.

Have a question regarding which equipment is best for your application? Ask Us Here.

3 Solutions to Protect your Electrical Enclosures From Condensation and Humidity

What is condensation?

Formation of condensation is one of the biggest dangers for electrical enclosures. Condensation is caused by hot, humid air coming into contact with a colder surface than the air dew point.

With Spring’s typical variable weather conditions, outdoor enclosures are even more exposed to the risk of condensation. Condensation can also occur indoors if the humidity is too high.

When the humidity is high is does not take a large change in temperature to cause condensate to form inside the cabinet.

How to prevent condensation?

The most efficient solution is to combine Filterfans® and Heaters with control devices such as Hygrostats and Thermostats. Fan Heaters are typically used in outdoor applications where ambient temperature can threaten sensitive electronics. Radiant Heaters are often used to reduce humidity and control condensate within the enclosure.

1. Filterfans® + Rainhoods

Filterfans® are the ideal solution for clean, non-hazardous environments with an acceptable ambient (outside the enclosure) temperature range.

Designed for use with standard Filterfans®Pfannenberg’s new Rainhoods (Patent Pending) protect your application from harsh environments like rain, water spray, snow or fluids from being drawn into the enclosure.  This product feature a robust design rated to NEMA TYPE 3R/4/4x and IPx6 when used with Pfannenberg Filterfans®.

Adding a Heater to your Filterfan® + Rainhood solution will ensure a proper humidity control. This combination is the optimum solution for the economical and energy efficient cooling of electrical enclosure components.

2. Fan Heaters

Pfannenberg Heaters prevent condensate build up and therefore protect against corrosion.

Compact fan heater with thermostatFan HeaterMini radiant heaterThe PFH-T Fan Heaters with Thermostat are designed to protect electronics from the effects of low temperatures such as corrosion, freezing or condensation, which can damage critical components within a control enclosure.

The PRH-M Mini Radiant Heaters are ideal for small outdoor enclosures, preventing condensate formation.

The FLH Heaters are ideal for use in larger electrical enclosures.

3. Thermostats / Hygrostats

Industrial ThermostatHygrostat FLZ 600

Pfannenberg’s Hygrostats allow you to effectively control the humidity level inside the enclosure. These devices are used to start the heater or filterfan® if the predetermined humidity threshold is reached.

When combining a Pfannenberg Thermostat with a Filterfan®, the fan can be controlled to turn on and off based on the temperature inside the cabinet.

The benefits to this combined system are:
• Extended fan life.
• Reduced energy consumption.
• Reduced consumables and maintenance.

As a system; Filterfans, Heaters, Thermostats and Hygrostats will ensure that the environment within the enclosure is ideal for the performance and service life of the critical electronics.

 

Success Story: DTS Cooling Unit back for service after 15 Years of use!

At Pfannenberg, we are delighted to learn how satisfied our customers are with our products. When we received an old DTS Cooling Unit back for service after 15 years of use, we could do nothing but offer a full-service repair on the unit!

This DTS Unit was sold by Pfannenberg to an integrator back in 2004. The final customer, a manufacturer of fencing, railing and hardware has been a Pfannenberg customer since 2011 and has always been satisfied with this product. This DTS Cooling unit is used to keep the blow-molding machine cool and operational.

The reason for returning the unit to Pfannenberg was not to upgrade to a newer product, but to perform routine maintenance on the unit.  After a full evaluation, our service technician replaced all defective components to get the unit back to full running status, meeting a good refrigeration delta temperature condition. Additionally, preventative measures were taken by replacing fan motors, capacitors and relays, as well as a thorough cleaning of the condenser coil for proper heat dissipation.

 

This success story demonstrates once again the robustness and service-friendliness of Pfannenberg Thermal Management products. Pfannenberg customers can rely on reliable products and customer service to keep their application and processes up and running, even after 15 years.


Contact us for Preventative Maintenance on your units or recommended spare parts!

Filterfan 4.0 New Video

Trust in the Original

Otto Pfannenberg’s invention of the Filterfan® in 1958 was a milestone in the area of industrial thermal management. From generation to generation, our world-class engineers have been working on the continuous technological development of Pfannenberg Filterfan® products. Numerous improvements are continuously made including several breakthroughs, so valuable that they required international patents. All in all our Filterfans 4.0™ contain 11 field-proven patented features!

Discover below our New Video presenting the great features of our Filterfans 4.0™ line: quick and easy to install, to maintain or to replace and still no tools are required!

Important for the use of Filterfans®:

  • Use Filterfans® to force the surrounding air into the electrical enclosure, so that a slight overpressure builds up inside the enclosure.
  • The surrounding air enters the electrical cabinet exclusively via the Filterfans®, which ensures that it is filtered.
  • Install the Filterfans® in the lower third of the electrical enclosure and the exhaust filter as close to the top as possible. This assists the natural convection of the air and avoids hot spots within the enclosure.

Is your enclosure located in a wash-down area? Then Pfannenberg’s Rainhoods are your to-go choice! Their direct spray barrier and high air-flow baffle allow for superior protection from overspray entering the cabinet while minimizing airflow loss, more info here!

 

Reliable Enclosure Cooling for Commercial Bakeries

Customer Requirement

Pfannenberg worked with a bakery end user to develop a cooling solution for their control cabinets.  Most of the OEM equipment installed in the bakery called for air conditioners to cool the drives. PLCs and additional electronics. Most times Cooling units can be a convenient and effective method for cooling electronics, except when located in dusty, humid areas within the plant.

These AC units failed regularly and had to be replaced. This was not a sustainable solution as the customer had constant issues with clogging coils and overheating panels.

Once a panel overheated they had to either: not operate the machine, or operate the cabinets with the doors open. This would let all the contaminants that were hurting the AC units into the cabinet, damaging the drives and other components.

The Pfannenberg Solution

To use the chilled Glycol that was already present for other machine processes to provide the cooled liquid source for our PWS Air to Water Heat Exchangers.

The solution included:

  • A reliable cooling solution designed for harsh environments
  • Reduced maintenance.  Once installed the units only have just one moving part, so regular maintenance is not necessary
  • Eliminating equipment failures, means greater uptime
  • Reduced energy costs with the PWS units
  • UL Tested NEMA Type 4/4X – washdown

Customer Benefits

Pfanneneberg’s PWS Series Air To Water Heat Exchanger was the precise solution for the problems our customer experienced. Incorporating Air/Water Heat Exchangers improved performance, reduced maintenance, was energy efficient, and prevented unplanned repairs.

 

Pfannenberg concludes exclusive agreement on thermal management solutions with the BMW Group

Thermal management specialist Pfannenberg has concluded an exclusive agreement with the BMW Group on thermal management solutions for the production plants at all sites worldwide.


Picture Source: BMW AG

Pfannenberg’s energy-efficient, low-maintenance and long-lasting thermal management solutions as well as our global presence were decisive in the conclusion of this partnership. Depending on site, environment and application, we offer a wide range of thermal management solutions – from filterfans® and air/air heat exchangers to air/water heat exchangers and cooling units.

The perfect cooling solution for any requirement

Whether painting or assembly work, manufacturing in the automotive industry uses many different processes at the same time and production efficiency is a top priority. Cooling requirements vary depending on the application, and a precise analysis of the needs is necessary to define the appropriate performance. Otherwise, an oversized system can lead to higher energy consumption. In this area, Pfannenberg offers the right thermal management solution for every cooling requirement and ensures an energy-efficient and smooth production sequence. In particular, Pfannenberg’s ECool series cooling units stand out for their high performance, intelligent control and exceptionally easy-to-maintain design.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

We are very pleased about this cooperation and look forward to the coming years as a partner of the BMW Group. Thanks to the outstanding cooperation of the technical team, the customer service and our account managers, we can offer the BMW Group a convincing all-round packagesays Jan Lautenschläger, Germany Sales Director at Pfannenberg.In the production area, an energy-efficient cooling concept is becoming increasingly important and here in particular regarding the CO² emissions along the production chain. Major customers such as BMW are demanding a respective company-wide solution with a sustainable concept for the future. Here, the focus is clearly on energy efficiency and perceivable quality.

Convincing energy efficiency and ease of maintenance

BMW group’s main requirements were focused on energy efficiency and maintenance needs. Thanks to the installation of test Cooling Units, Pfannenberg convinced in particular with the εCOOL series. A realistic energy consumption analysis facilitated the simulation of the expected energy consumption in various production sites. This analysis showed that due to low ambient temperatures, the real environment will often not require the unit to run at full power. This is where the Pfannenberg’s intelligent energy-saving mode comes into play, with the “cooling mode” being triggered when the required cabinet temperature is exceeded. In addition, the standardized installation dimensions and housing cutouts allow easy replacement of cooling units and quick adaptation to changing environmental conditions and applications.

Spring Cleaning – 3 Steps you Can Take to Prepare your Cooling Units for the Stress of the Summer Heat

With hotter temperatures just around the corner we’ve put together this Preventative Maintenance Video to help you prepare your enclosure cooling units for the stress of summer heat.

To avoid any critical component failure, follow the 3 simple steps below to help ensure your enclosure cooling units stay up running all summer. Don’t Wait Until it’s Too Late!

STEP 1: Make Sure your Condenser Coils are Clean

The condenser coils are one of the most important components of your Cooling Unit, they ensure the reliable, cost efficient and long-term operation of your unit. When dirt, dust or debris builds up on your condenser coils, it can have a major effect on the performance of your cooling unit.

STEP 2: Check your Fan Motors and Inside/Outside Electrical Components

In order to prevent failure, the cooling unit’s fan motor and fan blades need to be inspected to determine wear and damage.  All the electrical components in the control box also need to be checked to make sure all connections aren’t damaged or loose.

STEP 3: Set your Unit to the Recommended Proper Temperature

Pfannenberg sets the dip-switches on the control board to 95°F/35°C in the factory, and recommends that the dip switch settings are not altered.

*Having the dip-switch temperature set to a lower point can cause damage not only to the cooling unit, but to the composure as well.  Changing the set point can cause the cooling unit to run excessively, possibly causing damage to the compressor and other components.  It can also cause the enclosure to produce condensate, possibly damaging electrical components inside the cabinet.


Contact us for recommended spare parts or getting your orders in now for new or replacement cooling units.