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Featured video: Iconocaloric Cooilng

video thumb 350x200 Iconocaloric Cooling Video

Scientists at Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory have patented a new method of heat exchange. According to the sources below, “An electrical current to a phase changing material in a system. This causes the material to change from a solid to a liquid, so that the material absorbs heat from the surroundings. Since the material is now a liquid, it can be pumped out of the space needing to be cooled, such as an enclosure. Once out of the space, the current is removed from the material and it reverts back to a solid and releases heat.

The authors of a paper on this subject suggest that calcium carbonate is a good choice for a material to use in this type of cooling system compared to other available choices.2

Sources:

1. https://phys.org/news/2023-01-scientists-cool-method-refrigeration.html

2. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ade1696

How to choose a heat exchanger

Heat exchangers come in two types: air to water and air to air.

When the electronic and other components in your enclosure could operate within their operating temperature ranges in an open air environment, an air to air heat exchanger may suit your application.

When you need to cool the components in your enclosure below ambient temperature, have a water supply available and are seeking an alternative to air conditioners, air to water heat exchangers could meet your applications needs. A typical application is the dissipation of high power losses from control cabinets.

Every application is unique, so check with a cooling equipment specialist or manufacturer if there is any uncertainty as to what will work best for your application.

The correct way to use heat exchangers


Air / air heat exchangers are used when cool ambient air is available but should not enter the control enclosure because of contamination. Air/air heat exchangers are mainly used in outdoor applications.

 

 

 



Air / water heat exchangers are mainly used when water cooling systems are available or if high power losses in small areas need to be handled.

In both cases the enclosure temperature is higher than the ambient air or cooling water.

 

 

 

 

Marine applications like cruise ships expose machines and systems used to extreme environmental conditions. These applications require enclosure air conditioners that have high IP protection against incursion of water and dust as well as using corrosion-resistant materials. Seifert’s Progressive air conditioners are designed to meet these requirements.