Air-to-water heat exchangers , as the name suggests , transfer unwanted heat to water , transporting it away from the enclosure to centralised cooling plant , possibly outdoors , where it may be more easily dissipated .
Air-to-water heat exchangers have the fur-ther advantage that they are a more hygienic solution than cooling units . They don ’ t require a supply of ambient air and therefore have no louvres . They can have a very simple housing that has no dirt traps and is very easy to clean .
Already in 2018 we have seen unexpected jumps in average temperatures across the country , and this will only increase as we move into the summer months .
Peaks in temperature , as I ’ ve indicated , put cooling equipment under the most strain , therefore reviewing existing equipment sooner rather than later can reduce the likelihood of un-expected breakdowns .
2 ) Dusty or acidic contamination ( e . g . flour or yeast / vinegar extracts ) can interfere with switchgear and cause short circuits or a reduction in service life .
Applying filter mats to fan and filter units will help , but if the environment is extremely contaminated you might be better off installing an air-to-air heat exchanger , cooling unit or air-to water heat exchanger , which all have sealed internal air-paths and thus en-sure contaminated air isn ’ t drawn into the enclosure .
Cleaning / Maintenance Regime
Establishing a regular inspection and cleaning routine for cooling equipment is very good practice . For example , vacuum cleaning units with filter mats to remove any dust and debris , which may starve the fan and the cooling circuit of air . This will result in the unit working harder for longer and a reduced cooling capacity .
Cooling systems must also be kept clean to maintain the highest levels of hygiene . Some will be cleaned daily with pressure washers and jet steam cleaners , in which case use a solution that meets the ingress protection rating demanded by your site and install additional cowls or covers as needed .
Increasing Energy Efficiency = Reduced Costs
It ’ s important , from both an environmental and a cost saving standpoint , for the producers of foods and beverages to adopt energy efficient technologies . With a spotlight on carbon footprints and energy prices rising globally , it ’ s vital that the energy consumed by manufactur-ing processes is reduced where possible .
The Rittal Blue e + cooling unit incorporates heat pipe technology and , as such , delivers cooling in a similar manner to an air-to-air heat exchanger , using fans alone , when the ambient temperature is sufficiently low . As the ambient temperature rises and the heat pipe can ’ t satisfy demand , speedcontrolled components provide additional mechanical cooling , but only as much as is needed . If the ambient temperature exceeds the temperature required in the panel , active cooling alone is supplied , but , again , no more than is necessary .
Many food production facilities work around the clock and throughout the whole year . Heat pipe and inverter technology allow the Blue e + to uniquely capitalise on the daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations in your factory to deliver typical energy savings of 75 per cent .
The best course of action in all instances is to undertake a survey of your existing cooling equipment , taking into account the points discussed above .
Rittal is happy to offer you a free RiAssure Cooling Inspection , for which one of our trained representatives will visit your site and provide you with honest , clear advice on your existing equipment and its suitability within the chosen environment / process .
We will then provide you with a short report which includes feedback on the next best steps forward for your installation , whether it is implementing a maintenance contract to prolong the life of existing equipment or the replacement of units that are either undersized or inefficient to improve performance and increase the energy efficiency of your site .
Further information at www . rittal . co . uk and www . friedhelm-loh-group . com or on twitter @ rittal _ ltd .
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