7 Cabinet Cooling Tips to Help You Meet Design Challenges

Warm ambient air, solar load, and other sources of heat can quickly increase the temperature within an electrical enclosure. As the internal operating temperature rises, so does the risk of early component failure and frequent malfunctions. Integrated thermal management should be considered during the design phase to protect against heat-related outages and lost revenue.

The following tips will help you configure your cabinet to run cool and dry from the beginning, ensuring efficient and reliable system operation for many years.

Think About Cooling Early!

Since nearly all systems require some degree of forced cooling, you should evaluate your electrical panel cooling needs early in the design process. You can save considerable time and money by performing early estimations of the location of components in the cabinet, the heat to be dissipated, and the amount of space needed for the enclosure cooling device.
Forced Ventilation vs. Closed-Loop Cooling

Keep it simple. If the ambient air surrounding your enclosure is cool and clean enough, use it – it’s free. If the ambient is too hot, dirty, or corrosive, then a closed-loop cooling system will be needed. In this scenario, a heat exchanger is usually a lower-cost choice than an enclosure air conditioner, so consider if it will do the job. You should not over-cool the enclosure or oversize the cooling equipment. If you need help with product sizing and selection, try a our free enclosure cooling calculator, or contact an application specialist.
Fan or Blower?

Propeller fans are designed to move large volumes of air at low static pressure. Blowers are used in higher static pressure applications and are at maximum efficiency when operating near their peak static pressure. The chart below shows their relative operating characteristics. To learn more about the unique advantages of these enclosure cooling devices, we invite you to watch our short video, Fans vs Blowers - How Do They Differ and Which Should You Use?.

operating characteristics of fans and blowers

Pressurize, Don’t Vacuumize!

Pressurization of the electrical cabinet is far more desirable than drawing the air out. Plan to pump filtered air INTO the enclosure. Doing so will help you gain the advantage of using cracks between panels and around doors or other small openings as part of the exhaust area rather than as sources for the intake of dust and dirt. If pressurization is impossible and a fan or blower must be used to exhaust the enclosure, then it is recommended to use a filter at the air inlet.
Keep it Clean

Nothing is more important than a CLEAN filter. Clogged filters restrict airflow and cause motors, compressors, and other components to work harder, which increases the risk of premature failure. Periodic filter maintenance or routine filter replacement ensures optimal product performance and long service life for your cooling unit. Plus, routine filter replacement offers several additional benefits.
Keep Inlet & Exhaust Air Far Apart

Be sure that the entire exhaust area is located downstream, as far as possible from the air inlet and beyond all heat-producing components. An open-base cabinet sitting only one-quarter inch off the floor can waste a substantial percentage of cooling air even if the air is directed upward initially. A properly planned air path will avoid all “short circuits” or losses by forcing the cool supply air to pass through the components that are to be cooled before reaching the exhaust area. This will allow for maximum cooling efficiency.
Let Nature Help

Cooling air should enter the enclosure from the lowest possible point and exit at a point above the highest hot component. Thus, the forced air flows upward through the heat-producing components and adds to the natural buoyancy of the heated air.

>> Read Part 2: 7 More Electrical Cabinet Cooling Tips

The application specialists at Kooltronic are available from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (EST), Monday – Friday, to provide expert guidance in helping you find the right enclosure cooling solution for your requirements. Call or click today!