The heatwave currently sweeping Britain is set to continue with temperatures forecast to hit 30C again this week. For UK businesses that rely on machinery for production, this prolonged period of hot weather is having a serious impact on their electrical components.
Electrical Components
Warm temperatures can be damaging to electrical components and other manufacturing machinery. Internal heat will cause the temperature of an enclosure to rise to unacceptable levels if they are not removed or cooled. These high temperatures can affect drives, PLC's and other automation equipment in detrimental ways. Moreover, heat can cause system failure, thermal aging and reduction in the thermo-mechanical life cycle.
To prevent catastrophic equipment failure during these hot conditions, it is important to be familiar with potential issues and possible solutions. By putting these solutions in place in quickly, facilities can ensure that equipment failures and other negative effects are minimized or even eliminated entirely. Being proactive and knowing what the available options are before issues arise is critical.
Brands offering products that can support enclosure cooling efforts for manufacturing facilities include; Cosmotec, Pfannenberg, Pentair, Ice Qube and Thermal Edge. 
There are many systems and solutions available to reduce the effects of extreme heat in enclosures:
Enclosure Air Conditioners: These are designed to work directly inside an enclosure. Air conditioners for enclosures can be installed in various positions depending upon the need and the space available. They are environmentally friendly and have various features, such as digital temperature alarms. There are even enclosure air conditioners designed for hazardous environments.
Enclosure Water to Air or Air to Air Heat Exchangers: These specialised cooling systems convert hot air to cool air or utilize water to convert hot air to cooler temperatures. These unique units operate effectively when mounted vertically, horizontally, internally or externally. The units use a closed-loop system that provides cooling within sealed electronics or industrial enclosures, making them an ideal choice for use in dirty or oil-laden environments.
Ventilation Systems: There are a large variety of blowers and fans designed to help clear out or circulate air to cool down an enclosure. There are 
systems from single centrifugal simple blowers to quadruplex centrifugal systems, including high pressure varieties as well. These systems are designed to provide airflow in various applications. They are easy to install and operate with equal effectiveness in any mounting position. Blowers and fans come in a variety of sizes and can be installed in many applications making them a very versatile solution.
Condensation Reduction Systems: When condensation accumulates on the interior surface of an electrical enclosure, the chances of damage or failure become considerably higher. Condensation can result in premature aging, corrosion, and short circuiting - if not complete equipment failure. In order to offset the chances of equipment failure, engineers should implement preventative measures in their enclosure designs. Internal heating systems or light bulbs can help reduce some moisture but must be balanced so as not to damage the electronics with unnecessary heat. Moisture can be removed using a dehumidifying system which can also help with condensation. The bottom line is that moisture exists and has to be managed in some way so equipment is not damaged.
Radwell International Ltd
Radwell International Ltd is recognised as the world’s largest stockist of industrial automation products
and offers a wide range of cooling solutions to help you keep your machines running. Some of the brands
that Radwell International Ltd supply include:
- Ice Qube
- Pentair
- Thermal Edge Inc.
- Cosmotec
- Pfannenberg
- And much more!
For more information about how Radwell International Ltd can help provide solutions for heat reduction and increased equipment lifespan, visit www.radwell.co.uk or call our team on 01782 576800.
