For many years, air cooling with Fan and Filter Units has been the go-to choice for panel builders and manufacturers alike, across an array of industries and sectors.
And there is good reason for this, cooling with ambient air is a versatile solution which allows panel designers to place the inlets where space allows, whilst ensuring that all the sensitive electrical componentry within is receiving a fresh supply of cool air to prevent overheating.
This is crucial consideration, as exposing equipment to raised temperatures for long periods can do plenty of damage. Including the reduction of overall performance, shorter lifespan and unexpected breakdowns, causing line stoppages and excess production costs.
But it’s not just as simple as blindly picking a fan and filter, installing on your cabinet and moving onto the next thing, you must ensure that you employ the right product for your specific needs.
To help simplify this task, here are some top tips for choosing the right Air Cooling:
Check your temps!
Air cooling works on just that, the temperature difference between the internal air within your enclosure, and the ambient air in the location it is sited (factory floor etc..).
The ambient temperature must never be allowed to equal or exceed the desired maximum internal temperature, otherwise the heat energy cannot escape the enclosure, and you will be left with no cooling when you need it the most!
Therefore, it’s extremely important for you to understand the surroundings of which you are designing for and ensure that any temperatures used in calculations are considering the worst-case scenario, meaning the height of summer or the most intense temperature which can be reached in your location.
Survey your surroundings
As fans are drawing in fresh air from the surroundings, it’s important to understand the type of location and level of pollution that may be experienced.
Rittal Blue e+ fans come complete with our pleated filter, which has been designed to catch smaller level of particulate whilst sill allowing maximum airflow to enter the enclosure.
Without adequate filtering, dust and detritus will be drawn into the enclosure and into the small recesses and fans of your electrical equipment. If this is allowed to build up, it acts like a thermal layer around your components and reduces the effectiveness of the cool air in reducing the temperature. This in turn will lead to the issues mentioned above.
If sited in an area where washdown occurs, we want to prevent any spray entering the enclosure, so hose proof hood over the fans will still allow air to be drawn in but protect from any water ingress.
Size correctly
It’s tempting to quickly look online and choose the first fan you come across. But this will hurt you in the long run, as it may not provide adequate airflow for your design.
Instead, use a selection tool such as Rittal’s RiTherm software to make the job much easier.
Our free online calculator asks you for some simple information and with a few clicks you can have a list of products which will maintain a comfortable temperature within your enclosure with the ability to download the calculation and have a traceable record of what and why it has been chosen for the project file.
Fans need friends
Fans are very effective at what they do, but sometimes, due to ambient conditions such as colder months or machine shutdowns we don’t need our fans working at 100% output when it’s not necessary. Allowing this to happen is just wasting energy and increasing your costs.
Therefore, pairing your fans with a simple accessory, such as a Thermostat, will give you back some control and ensure the fans only operate when required.
This small change can make a big difference to you budget!
Additionally, if you are embracing Industry 4.0 and want to reap the benefits of remote real time monitoring, all of our new Blue e+ fan range works in conjunction with the IoT Interface which enables you to connect your air cooling equipment into building management systems and check the status of your equipment and be alerted of any issues before they become critical.
Selecting the right air cooling solution isn’t just a box-ticking exercise, it’s an essential step in protecting your equipment, maintaining efficiency, and avoiding costly downtime. While fan-and-filter units remain one of the most versatile and economical cooling methods available, their performance depends entirely on how accurately they’re specified, installed, and managed.
By understanding your temperature requirements, assessing the environment around your enclosure, sizing your cooling correctly, and pairing your fans with intelligent accessories, you can ensure your panels stay reliably cool all year round. And with tools like Rittal’s RiTherm software and smart options such as thermostats and the Blue e+ IoT Interface, achieving optimal cooling has never been easier or more energy-efficient.
Taking the time to get it right today means improved performance, lower running costs, and long-term peace of mind — keeping your systems working as hard as you do. Let your cooling strategy be an asset, not an afterthought.
