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Manufacturers and system integrators will face increasingly technical and more complicated challenges in designing electronic control systems. The critical problem of protecting these sensitive systems from by-products of an industrial environment, such as dust, residues, liquids and heat are a major concern to the plant engineer. Often, these sensitive systems are placed in metal enclosures or other enclosed locations to provide a safe operating environment from harsh ambient conditions.

By placing electronic systems into these enclosed spaces, a secondary problem is created by the accumulation of heat produced by the electronics. Often, filtered ventilating fan systems attached to the enclosure can dissapate the heat generated inside the enclosure. However, conduction of excessive plant generated heat through the metal sides of the enclosure, in addition to the heat from the electronics can create extreme temperatures inside the enclosure which will require vapor compression type cooling devices to reduce heat accumulation and maintain a safe operating temperature. Studies conducted on the life expectancy of electronic components have indicated that for every 20 degrees F rise above normal room temperature of 72 degrees F, their life expectancy is cut in half.

WHAT IS CLOSED-LOOP COOLING?

Closed-loop air conditioners are specifically designed to mount on to electronic enclosures and remove heat without letting outside air into the sealed enclosure. This type of cooling is typically used to cool electronic equipment housed inside a NEMA rated enclosure which protects sensitive electronics from dust, splashing liquids and production residues. In the closed-loop system, the heated enclosure air is drawn into the air conditioner by a powerful blower where heat and moisture are removed as it passes through an evaporator coil and forced back into the enclosure, maintaining the NEMA integrity of the enclosure.

IS STANDARD CLOSED-LOOP COOLING ENOUGH?

Currently, there are no industry standards set for closed-loop cooling devices. Air conditioner manufacturers, for the most part, have developed their own standards based mainly on cooling capacity of their units. While some manufacturers have added LED temperature displays into their air conditioners to help warn the operator of a potentially adverse condition, they fall short of providing an effective Thermal Management System.

Ice Qube, Inc. has taken a new approach to closed-loop cooling. By listening to the comments and suggestions of the computer/electronics and telecommunications industries, they have developed an air conditioner that is user friendly. Standard features such as a microprocessor digital controller, a built in condensate evaporator, remote control readout capability and central computer control monitoring provide for a more effective Thermal Management System for monitoring electronic enclosure thermal conditions even in those situations when visual readouts and audible alarms are not convenient to the operator.

Ice Qube Inc. pledges to continue to listen to the industry demands and design enclosure cooling systems to compliment today's highly engineered workstations.