Top 4 Thermal Management Tips for Floor-Standing Enclosures in High-Dust Environments
Everybody knows that heat is an invisible enemy to sensitive LV switchgear. But what most of us forget is that dust is its accomplice. In places with a lot of dust, such as woodworking shops, cement plants, or grain processing units, typical cooling systems often don't work. This might cause parts to wear out or lead to thermal runways.
We, at A&T Enclosures, are aware that safeguarding your internal electronics necessitates striking a careful balance between efficient heat dissipation and airtight sealing. We've put up some crucial pointers based on our decades of experience in the British manufacturing industry to assist you in maintaining optimal performance under the most trying circumstances.
1. Prioritise Sealing with the Correct IP Rating
In high-dust environments, ingress protection is the first line of defense for your enclosure. While many off-the-shelf units offer basic protection, floor standing electrical enclosures in the UK must often meet IP54 or IP55 standards to ensure that fine particulates do not infiltrate the cabinet.
However, a higher IP rating makes natural convection nearly impossible. At A&T, we recommend high-quality gasket seals and seamless welding on all joints. If the dust is abrasive or conductive (such as metal shavings), even a tiny amount of ingress can cause short-circuiting.
You can create a controlled internal environment by making sure a strong seal from the very start. This ensures the efficient working of the thermal management tools without being choked by external debris.
2. Use Air-to-Air Heat Exchangers for Closed-Loop Cooling
In very dusty areas, pulling fresh air from the outside is often a losing battle, even if you use a filter. This is because filters clog quickly, and end up reducing airflow and causing internal temperatures to spike.
The solution we, at A&T Enclosures, often implement is a closed-loop system making use of an air-to-air heat exchanger. Thanks to this technology, the internal air circulates through a series of tubes or plates that are cooled by external air on the other side. The two airflows never mix.
This keeps the internal components dust-free while effectively dumping heat to the outside. It is the gold standard for maintaining the integrity of your sensitive controls in dirty industries.
3. Strategic Placement of Internal Circulation Fans
It is a common misconception that simply having a cooling unit is enough. If the air inside the enclosure is stagnant, you will develop hot spots around your drives or PLCs. We suggest using internal circulation fans to move air across the surface area of the enclosure walls.
Because we specialise in bespoke builds, we can design the internal layout to optimise this airflow. For example, we can turn the metal structure into a giant heat sink by moving hot air towards the cabinet’s cooler sides.
For environments that are not quite as harsh, powder coated electrical enclosures offer a durable finish and allow for efficient thermal transfer through the skin of the unit.
4. Implement Smart Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance
The final tip is to stop guessing!
Modern thermal management involves more than just hardware; it requires data. Our team recommends installing digital thermostats and hygrometers that are linked to your central management system so you can identify when a cooling unit starts to struggle.
This way, you can perform maintenance, such as cleaning external cooling fans, before a thermal trip leads to an expensive production shutdown.
Engineering Your Solution With A&T
Thermal management is not a one-size-fits-all discipline and it requires a deep understanding of the equipment’s heat load and the specific environmental hazards of your site.
Explore our range of custom floor-standing enclosures built to the latest safety and thermal standards. To see how we can protect your next project, head over to our products section or contact our engineering team today.