Page 16 - Industrial_Technology_EXTRA_14th Septembert_2020_Classical

ENCLOSURES...

Important considerations for

designing electrical enclosures

Electrical equipment requires robust protection and a durable enclosure is vital to its

safety. Andrew Keith, product development director at power resistor manufacturer
Cressall Resistors, explores the considerations when designing an effective enclosure
hen designing a complex
network of electrical
components, an enclosure
Wmay be something of an
afterthought. After all, it is simply a box
that houses electrical components and
connections, wiring, machinery controls
and related equipment – all the important
stuff.
However, it is this misconception that
leads to failure – especially if important
design consider-ations are forgotten or
unfulfilled. Although enclosures can seem
like a non-critical element in electrical
system design, a failure to secure electrical
equipment can result in a build up of
moisture or dirt, a drastic change in
temperature and poor ventilation.

Keep your cool adversely affect its contents. One remedy is passive
When designing a heat management system for an cooling. This technique uses the simple principal of
enclosure, manufacturers must account for external convection to distribute heat from a higher
temperature fluctuations such as solar gain – heat temperature area to a lower one. To do this,
from the sun. In addition, electrical equipment can enclosures must be designed with strategically
generate significant heat as a by-product of their placed vents that replace hot air inside the
operation, known as losses, inside the cabinet. enclosure with cooler, external air.
Failing to safely remove these losses will increase However, the feasibility of passive cooling
the temperature inside the enclosure and could depends on its environment and the ambient

September 2020 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA • p16