Marine Vienney

Pfannenberg Announces New Outdoor Filterfan® (TYPE 3R)

/in , , , /by

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

Marine Vienney

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

/in , , , , , /by

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.

Marine Vienney

3 Solutions to Protect your Electrical Enclosures From Condensation and Humidity

/in , , , , , , , /by

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.

 

Marine Vienney

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

/in , , , /by

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!

Marine Vienney

Filterfan 4.0 New Video

/in , , /by

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!

 

admin

Reliable Enclosure Cooling for Commercial Bakeries

/in , , , , , , , /by

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.

 

Marine Vienney

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

/in , , , /by

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 package” says 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.

Marine Vienney

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

/in , , , , /by

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.

Watch the Full Video Now!

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

Marine Vienney

Pfannenberg to Showcase New PKS 3000 VFD Control Panel Cooling Technology at EASA 2019

/in , , , , /by

Visit booth #561 to see more efficient, high-performing air to air heat exchanger

Pfannenberg will highlight their advanced Pfannenberg Kinetic System™ Series Air to Air Heat Exchangers for removing heat from VFD control panels at booth 561 at the 2019 EASA Convention in Las Vegas, NV, held from June 30th to July 2nd.

Additionally, Pfannenberg will be presenting their new PKS system and how this solution could improve the reliability of VFDs while reducing energy consumption and maintenance compared to other thermal management products on Monday July 1st at 2:30 PM at the New Product Theater.

Perfect Solution for VFD control panels Cooling

Pfannenberg’s PKS Series Air to Air Heat Exchangers use a revolutionary next generation cooling technology (Pfannenberg Kinetic System™) to remove heat from VFD control panels while preventing ingress of contaminants into the enclosures. These environmental parameters within the VFD cabinet, temperature and dust, could determine the service life of the VFD.

A VFD running at 18°F above its recommended ambient temperature could lose up to 50% of its expected service life. Industrial air conditioners are typically the go-to solution for cooling VFDs and other critical electronics housed in sealed enclosures. However, a cooler ambient environment could also be used to help control the temperature within the cabinet. Lightweight and easy to install, the PKS technology takes advantage of a cooler ambient environment to remove heat from within the enclosures while sealing against gas, humidity, and dust. The patented technology, unlike industrial air conditioners, does not utilize a refrigerant cycle that has a high energy consuming compressor, making it more efficient to operate from a uptime reliability and energy savings standpoint.

PKS Series Air to Air Heat Exchangers

PKS Series Air to Air Heat Exchangers are designed for indoor (NEMA Type12), outdoor (NEMA Type 3R), and washdown (NEMA Type 4X) applications that require protection from harsh ambient conditions.

They are also ideal for keeping water and dust from sensors and drives on outdoor systems, and protecting against corrosion and contamination in the food and beverage industry.

This is a perfect solution for those looking to reduce the energy, maintenance and footprint associated with traditional enclosure cooling units. This new technology offers considerable saving compared to a traditional AC unit.

In addition, with only two mechanical elements, PKS Series Air to Air Heat Exchangers require less maintenance and ensure greater uptime!

Visit booth 561 or Click Here to learn more!

About Pfannenberg

Established in 1954 by Otto Pfannenberg in Hamburg Germany, Pfannenberg is recognized as a leading global manufacturer of thermal management technologies within the Electro-technology Industry. In 1958 we invented the Filterfan®, which continues to be recognized worldwide as a leading product to help manage the temperature in electrical enclosures. Our business philosophy: Protecting Man, Machine and the Environment.

Marine Vienney

Why Pfannenberg’s Cooling Units Do Not Need A Filter

/in , , /by

Pfannenberg’s ‘service-friendly’ DTS cooling units provide effective cooling for tough industrial or outdoor applications. Their closed-loop designs ensure that ambient air, dust, and humidity are not passed to the interior of the enclosure, thereby keeping sensitive and critical electronics safe from contamination and in prime operating condition.

Pfannenberg’s DTS Cooling Units filter-less design reduces the amount of required maintenance needed for operation in dirty environments. Indeed, if a dirty filter is not cleaned or replaced, it can become clogged which severely limits its efficiency and result in poor performance.

Filter-Less Design

  • High Airflow Backward Curve Impeller Fan
    Provides high airflow in a long lasting, single bearing design. Higher airflow pushes dirt through wider fin spacing allowing for less clogging which avoids system failure.
  • Large Fin Spacing
    Large condenser fin spacing allow for longer maintenance periods, even without an additional Nano coating. They are less susceptible to clogging from dirt buildup which can cause the unit to work harder and hamper efficiency.
  • Corrosion Protection
    The DTS Outdoor and wash-down units have a special coating on pipes and coils on the ambient side of the unit to provide maximum protection from saltwater, sour gas, and other corrosive substances.
  • Self-Protected Electronics
    Our unit is uniquely designed to protect itself in NEMA 3R, 4, and 4X environments. An example of this is the location of our control electronics within our dry, cool interior circuit.

 

How to Avoid System Failure

As with any unit located in a dirty environment, the components around the external air circuit require periodic cleaning. To avoid any critical component failure, follow the 3 simple steps below to help ensure your enclosure cooling units stay up running:

  • STEP 1: Make Sure your Condenser Coils are Clean
    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
    The fan motor and fan blades need to be inspected to determine wear and damage.  Also make sure electrical components aren’t damaged or loose.
  • STEP 3: Set your Unit to the Recommended Proper Temperature
    Pfannenberg recommends the dip-switches on the control board to 95°F/35°C in the factory.

All maintenance should be performed by qualified personnel, following all safety procedures. To help you perform your preventative maintenance, Pfannenberg realized a simple video following the 3 above steps: Watch the Full Video Now!