A water-to-air heat exchanger uses a steady supply of water to dissipate heat within an electrical enclosure or equipment cabinet. In this type of cooling system, water is circulated through a finned-tube coil. As heated air from the enclosure passes through the coil, the water absorbs the heat and carries it away. This continuous process results in cooler air which is then forced back into the enclosure and through heat-producing components. Since it is a closed-loop cooling system, ambient air is sealed out and heat transfer surfaces remain clean.
The diagram below illustrates the basic operation of a water-to-air heat exchanger system when attached to an electrical enclosure or control cabinet.
Generally, water-to-air heat exchanger systems are easy to install and do not require a lot of maintenance. The incoming water supply must be reasonably clean and cold enough to ensure proper operation of the enclosure cooling system. This is particularly important for applications within high ambient temperatures and challenging environmental conditions. In some cases, a chiller can be combined with a water-to-air heat exchanger system to provide ample cold water which will increase the capacity to cool the equipment within an enclosure to below ambient temperatures. By comparison, water-to-air heat exchangers provide greater heat transfer performance than air-to-air heat exchangers.
Certain heat exchanger models are specifically designed for use in harsh environments. These special NEMA 4 and NEMA 4X rated water-to-air heat exchangers are particularly useful in highly contaminated environments that may require frequent cleaning, regular changing of ambient air filters, or frequent cleaning of the heat exchanger core.
Most standard Kooltronic Enclosure Heat Exchangers are UL/CUL Listed and feature rugged construction of precision-engineered heavy gauge steel to ensure reliable, long-lasting cooling performance in the most challenging conditions.
If you have any questions about heat exchangers, enclosure air conditioners, fans, or other cooling products, we invite you to contact the experts at Kooltronic. For over 65 years, we have been helping customers find the right enclosure cooling solution for unique and challenging applications.
