Now Available: DTS 34X1C and 36X1C Series Cooling Units – Highest Capacity For Industrial Enclosures
Are you interested in discovering the latest in high powered, durable, and efficient enclosure cooling technology? We are pleased to announce the launch of the New DTS 34X1C and DTS 36X1C Series Cooling Units which offer many benefits: higher capacity, more efficient design, and an even more robust build for long service life.
The new DTS 34X1C and DTS 36X1C Cooling Units (in replacement of our DTS 34X1 and 36X1 models) feature the highest cooling capacity in the smallest possible footprint.
The DTS 34X1C delivers 1.5ton of cooling capacity at normal operation, and the DTS 36X1C up to 2ton capacity. Both units are designed with the same dimensions and mounting cutout so that they can be easily interchanged depending on cooling demand. They are also backwards compatible with Pfannenberg’s older designs, making them a versatile option for enclosure cooling. The refrigeration system has been totally redesigned, however, to ensure a longer and more robust service life.
The DTS units’ electrical system has been updated to include a smaller and simpler power connecter, which reduces the protrusion of the connecter into the cabinet and in turn frees up valuable real estate. Other features include an easy panel access and a front status LED display, which help to simplify maintenance and lengthen your service intervals. What’s more, these cooling units were built with an “open design” so critical components can be accessed easily during maintenance. These design updates helping end users to focus on uptime and prevent disruptions to operation.
Other features, like active condensate management, coated corrosion resistance condenser coils, and high flow evaporator fans, are designed for success in critical applications.
These units are ideal for high heat loads, especially in high horsepower drive enclosures. They are available in a range of different NEMA or UL Type ratings – 12/3R/4/4X – and different voltages. Soon, options for low ambient, integrated heater, and Modbus connectivity will be available as well.
The new DTS 34X1C and 36X1C will replace the old DTS 34X1 and 36X1 models. Please contact your local Pfannenberg Sales representative for availability of the older design or reach out to sales@pfannenbergusa.com for more information.
For more information about the updated DTS cooling units, click here!.
NEMA® Type Rating- How Thermal Management Products Play the Role
NEMA® ratings define in which environment an electrical enclosure can be used; the enclosures are rated in the NEMA® Type Rating System according to their use and corresponding necessary environmental protections. Components installed on the enclosure, such as the Thermal Management system, have to pass the stringent requirements of the NEMA® rating in order to be suitable for that enclosure. This blog will speak about the different environments for thermal management technology, and necessary considerations for thermal management solutions to be included into different NEMA rated enclosures.
Open vs Closed Loop
First, separate from NEMA® Type ratings is the determination of whether to use an open or closed loop thermal management system.
Open loop systems use, for example, a Filterfan® to move the hot air from inside the enclosure to the outside environment. The Filterfan® draws in cool ambient air and pushes out warm enclosure air. The filtering capability of the thermal management system is important in open loop environments because the air goes directly into the enclosure, so dust and other particulates must be filtered out.
Closed loop systems, in contrast, have two different air circulation loops: one inside the enclosure and one outside, using a condenser coil to cool. The closed loop design protects inside air from outside air, making filtration unnecessary, but the seal between the unit and the enclosure is important for closed loop systems.
Application setting
Indoor Environment
Regardless of application settings, closed or open loop systems may be used. Indoor settings, usually rated to NEMA/UL Type 12, can use Filterfans® with pleated filters as their open loop thermal management systems. The filter itself could be coated with a hydrophobic material to repel water, and would have an IP 54 or 55 rating depending on the presence of that coating. The whole filterfan® system, though, would be NEMA Type rated to 12. Closed loop cooling units in such an application setting would rely on a gasketed seal between the unit and the enclosure.
Outdoor Environment
Outdoor settings, usually NEMA/UL rated Type 3R or 4, also can use either closed or open loop systems. In an open loop, the filter blocks dust, while the outer grate, sometimes paired with a rainhood, can block water, wind, and vandalism. The rainhood provides additional protection in these and in closed loop systems; closed loop systems might also use a compressor sump heater forprotection against cold. 
Washdown Environment
Washdown settings, NEMA Type 4/4X rated, require a Filterfans® and rainhood or air conditioning unit and rainhood. What’s more, the rainhood should be designed with a direct spray barrier on the bottom of the rainhood. An air conditioning unit in this type of environment should have a stainless steel cover and rainhood for protection against both corrosion and water ingress. Condenser coils should be corrosion resistant in 4/4X air conditioning applications to reduce corrosion risk.
Hygienic applications
Finally, though not directly related to any particular NEMA Type rating, hygienic applications will have their own specific requirements for thermal management systems on electrical enclosures. These requirements are usually at least as stringent as the washdown environments described above.
Pfannenberg’s DTS Cooling Units to Cool a City of Los Angeles Water Treatment Plant
Recent work done at a City of Los Angeles Water Treatment Plant required the improvement of a large odor control system. For the odor control system to work properly, 200HP fans are needed and to meet the cooling needs of the system, the City of Los Angeles considered a variety of Thermal Management options.
Pfannenberg’s DTS 3681 (NEMA Type 4/4x) Side Mounting Cooling Units were selected for the job. The stainless-steel cooling units have a large capacity, at almost two tons. They are specially designed for long term use in high temperature, high ambient environments, such as the odor control system.
The DTS 3681 cooling units are self-protecting from harsh environments due to a number of features, including the location of the control electronics within a dry, cool interior circuit. All the constituent components comply with the highest standards which makes these cooling units, the best option for protecting critical electronics.
Pfannenberg DTS Cooling Units closed loop design isolates the external ambient air from the internally conditioned air eliminating the risk of contaminants entering the cabinet. The hermetically sealed compressor guarantees 100% cooling capacity efficiency. The absence of any refrigerant fill valves eliminates leak paths.
Pfannenberg’s DTS 3681 Cooling Units are sure to last long in serving the odor control system. Reasons for this include the high airflow backward curve impeller fan, which provides high airflow in a long lasting, single bearing design. This is in contrast to the typical two-bearing blowers, with the DTS 3681 Cooling units boasting nearly twice the lifespan!
Enclosure Cooling for Commercial Bakeries? Easy As Pie!
In today’s modern lifestyle, frozen foods have played a major role in providing convenience to customers. Pies – a family fall favorite, often take time that many families do not have. This is the time of the year where kids are back to school, parents are running all over doing drop-offs and pick-ups, rushing to work; taking the time to bake or make a full meal is often difficult. Large industrial bakeries can manufacture roughly 200,000 frozen pies a day. There is a high demand in this modern age for this aspect of convenience.
The two most important characteristics of creating a great tasting pie are the filling and the crust. For the filling, fruit is mixed with sugar, cinnamon, honey and other spices (depending on the type of filling) in a large sauce pan. Ingredients are heated and mixed to combine the flavors for the filling.
This process requires automation components such as VFDs in large electrical control panels to operate the system. Heat is a by-product of this process and Pfannenberg’s PWS Air to Water Heat Exchangers are ideal for cooling electrical components.
Pfannenberg’s Air Water Heat Exchangers utilize chilled water, that is readily available, and an internal fan to provide cooled air preventing critical electronics from overheating. These units are particularly adapted for harsh environments like bakeries when there’s flour everywhere.
These pies are then moved to the depositing machine, where the filling is then dropped into the pie sheets. The lid of crust is then placed on the filled fruit pie. These lids are mass produced and “forked” or sealed to give that touch as if it was just like our mothers or grandmothers homemade pie. These top crust lids help seal in the filling when the pie is being baked at home. Once sealed, the pies are moved to a blast freezer for rapid chilling.
Once chilled the pie is then moved to be packed and shipped off to local grocery stores.To make that flakey-buttery crust, shortening, flour, and other ingredients are mixed together in a large industrial mixer. When the dough is done being mixed, the dough is compressed into equal sized squares and dropped into baking pie sheets. Here, they move along the process and the dough squares are pressed down on the pie sheets to form the bottom crust layer.
The manufacturing processes of frozen pies are a delicate procedure. Temperature control of the equipment and the product is important to producing a flavorful, flakey, and scrumptious pie crust.
So what will it be? One slice or the entire pie? Ice cream or whipped cream? Next time you are enjoying a piece of pie, be sure to appreciate the process it takes to produce such a delicate indulgence!
Click Here to download the Bakery Air to Water PWS Case Study.
Preventing Condensation in Electrical Enclosures
Condensation is the act of a substance transitioning from its gas form to its liquid form. Condensation is a common phenomenon in nature, and we have all seen condensation of water on a bathroom mirror or on the surface of a glass holding a cold drink. Condensation occurs when the temperature of a surface drops below the dewpoint temperature – a dynamic, not static, temperature point that depends upon the interplay between humidity and ambient temperature.
While condensation may look beautiful in the form of the morning dew, it can wreak havoc with valuable electronic equipment. This moisture can cause rust, corrosion, short circuiting and electric shock – proving at the least to be expensive and at the most to be dangerous.
How to prevent condensation in Electrical Cabinets?
Pfannenberg, which specializes in providing solutions for thermal management systems, has its finger on the pulse of how to prevent condensation in enclosures – such as electrical cabinets – that need to be kept free of moisture.
The first tip has to do with controlling the enclosure temperature. “Traditionally, in an enclosure, we are going to recommend keeping the temperature somewhere between the 85-degree and 95-degree Fahrenheit mark,” says Pfannenberg sales representative Adam Wells. “That generally represents a comfortable place for the electronics as well as for keeping it warm enough to avoid that dew point temperature.”
Pfannenberg experts also recommend using dehumidifiers in enclosures with high humidity or that are not completely sealed to prevent condensation. Typical dehumidifiers use a desiccant or some type of silica gel to wick moisture out of the air. Air conditioning units can also act to collect any condensate that may build up on the internal side of an enclosure and be dispersed into the environment with the help of a condensate evaporator.
Air conditioning units can also act to collect any condensate that may build up on the internal side of an enclosure and be dispersed into the environment with the help of a condensate evaporator.
An unusual device known as a hygrostat can also be used to monitor the humidity levels in an enclosure. Originally made of horsehair, hygrostats are now made with synthetic hairs that expand and contract depending on the amount of water in the air. The same can be seen happening in human hair – for example when hair gets curlier on a humid day.
Another way to open the door to condensation is, literally, by opening a door. Pfannenberg sales representative Chris Marlow explains, “If you have an enclosure, and you have a cooling device in there, and you don’t turn off the device when you open the doors, you can get condensation build up inside that enclosure just from exposing air to that decrease in temperature.”
For more information on how to protect valuable electric equipment from condensation, visit Pfannenberg’s lively webinar discussion on this topic at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6751272280717546255.
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
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.
Protect Sensitive Electronics from Damaging Condensation
PROTECT SENSITIVE ELECTRONICS from damaging condensation caused by changes in temperature or humidity.
Pfannenberg’s PFH-T Compact Fan Heater is perfect for maintaining the precise temperatures and condensation management required for the proper function of electronics.
Our PFH-T Compact Fan Heater is perfect for the following industries and applications.
- Self Service Kiosks
- Irrigation and Outdoor Pump Control Systems
- Surveillance and CCTV Systems
- Telecommunication Systems
- Traffic Control Systems
- ATMs
- Rooftop Control Systems
- Parking Control Enclosures
Pfannenberg’s PFH-T Compact Fan Heater is available with heating capactities ranging from 200 W to 1200 W. Check out our additional enclosure heaters and enclosure thermostats. Helping customers for over 60 years with their thermal management solutions.
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