Demonstrating a cost savings method to increase the life of your filter fan, reduce energy costs and decrease maintenance for filter replacement by utilizing a thermostat.
Thermostat with Filter Fans
When an enclosure uses a filter fan to cool electronics, it is important to use a thermostat to power the fan when cooling is required. Without the thermostat the fan runs continuously whenever the enclosure is powered regardless of temperature. The addition of a thermostat in the system will reduce the overall cost of ownership and in most cases have a return on investment of less than a year.
To Reduce Costs
Adding a normally open Thermostat to the fan circuit and setting the temperature to the desired cabinet temperature, would cut power to the fan until the enclosure temperature reaches the set point. This reduces fan operation when the facility is cooler or when the machine is idle.
- This reduces energy cost since fan only runs when required.
- The maintenance cost is reduced by increasing the time between filter changes. (The filters do not get dirty when fan is not running.)
- Extend the life of the filter fan. All fans have an L10 life based on temperature and operating hours.
Protect Electronics
Adding a normally open Thermostat to an enclosure with filterfans and setting the temperature to the maximum desired cabinet temperature, will close the switch indicating a clogged filter. The airflow through the enclosure is reduced to a point it can no longer maintain temperature. The output of the thermostat can be wired to an LED or a PLC to indicate the overtemperature and a required filter change.
- This protects the cabinet from high temperatures which reduce electronic life.
- It allows for filter replacement only when required. The maintenance cycle for filter replacement differs depending on location in plant, particulate in the air, varying production hours or seasonal temperatures in the facility. Not all filters need replacing at the same intervals.
- Depending on safety factor built into the thermal calculations for enclosure, if an enclosure has a higher safety factor the filter can tolerate more dirt before needing to be replaced.
Solution
The FLZ 530 is designed for use with a fan and can handle multiple voltages from 100-250 VAC or 30W DC. The thermostat can be used for either application.
The FLZ 543 is a dual Thermostat option with independent temperature settings for both applications in a single unit.
Did You Know?
Did you know that the Pfannenberg thermostats mounts on the back of our exhaust filters so that you can measure the enclosure temperature at the exhaust where the air should be the warmest? This saves cabinet space and makes it easier to add a thermostat in the field.