How Ambient Heat Exchangers Made Such an Impact

Advancements in technology tend to make mechanical and other operations better, and sometimes, that means breaking down a certain concept and addressing it more simply. For example, in the realm of electrical thermal management, the goal was traditionally to overwhelm electrical waste heat with colder chilled air. Solutions such as air conditioners and air compressors accomplished this with reliable success, but at high energy and maintenance costs. Instead of making it more efficient to chill air, ambient heat exchangers have advanced electrical thermal management by tackling waste heat in a much simpler way – by transferring the waste heat to an area where it can do no harm.

The principles of ambient cooling

Ambient cooling means a heat exchanger keeps the temperature within an electrical enclosure at just above the ambient temperature outside of it. This is achieved when the heat exchanger’s fluid absorbs waste heat before it can raise the temperature inside of the enclosure, then carries the heat away from the electrical components to dissipate it safely. This stops waste heat from remaining still long enough to cause heat damage. Because most applications have maximum operating temperatures well above the ambient temperature, it’s more than effective for maintaining such operations indefinitely.

Applications that benefit most

Ambient heat exchangers are often most popular for applications such as cooling control panels and enclosures for industrial applications. That’s because these applications were often the most heavily burdened by the costs and inconveniences of conventional thermal management solutions. However, the more efficient thermal management solutions have quickly become equally popular for a wide variety of other applications, including food and beverage packaging equipment, smaller consumer technologies, and much more.

Solutions for below-ambient cooling

While advanced ambient cooling solutions are appropriate for many different types of applications, there are times when below-ambient cooling is the only real solution. Instead of chilling air such as air conditioners and air compressors, below-ambient heat exchangers can achieve the lower temperatures necessary through the same efficient and eco-friendly methods as their ambient versions. For more information about the impact that ambient heat exchangers have made, call Noren Thermal Solutions in Taylor, TX, at 866-936-6736.