Feature

Protection is paramount for industrial automation cabinets and enclosures

Fans are primary components to many thermal management systems. Proper thermal management to maintain temperature and cool equipment in both indoor and outdoor applications is necessary for optimising system performance, increasing machine or system uptime, extending operating life and reducing field maintenance time and costs.

29/11/2019 14:59:55

Used for direct cooling and airflow to dissipate heat from a heatsink, power supply or PC board, fans must be able to efficiently operate in a wide variety of applications. This ranges from traditional applications like control cabinets and electronic enclosures, building automation and telecom systems, and outdoor kiosks to emerging applications including alternative energy and electric vehicles. Many of these applications require fans with filtering capability to protect electronics and offer low pressure drop, water resistance, even fire protection, and the ability to capture large amounts of airborne dust. Louvered filter fan kits, louvered fan guards, and filters deliver superior protection compared to regular grills or guards often used with fans, because they provide ingress protection for the fan blades.

Louvered fan guards are a safety mechanism that provide protection against accidental contact with the fan blades, by fingers or other unwanted objects. Louvered filter fan kits are specifically designed to filter and prevent foreign objects such as dust, dirt, and moisture from entering cabinets and enclosures. For example, cooling and protecting a typical industrial cabinet or enclosure installation may require a fan and an additional filter guard or even two fans.

Read the full article in the December issue of DPA.

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.