rittal’s solutions
for centralised or
de-centralised
automation
We live in a world of rapid change, driven by the growth of ‘smart technology’. Automation
components are becoming more compact, both for centralised and decentralised applications,
while still delivering considerable computing power. Sensors and actuators are also getting
more ‘intelligent’. Packing components into an enclosure is a science and an art. The engineer
must plan the interior configuration to reduce wasted space and optimise the size of the
enclosure, yet avoid issues such as over-heating or problems of future access to any of the
components. Rittal offers customers a range of solutions for the safe packing of sophisticated
electronics systems, both centralised and decentralised.
s well as a huge range of
enclosures in different sizes,
materials and paint specs,
employing the company’s
sophisticated Eplan
software allows engineers to populate the
panel in a CAD format, optimising the use
of space while enabling changes to be
made quickly and easily before applying
them in a workshop.
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R ITTAL “T HERM ” S PEEDS - UP C LIMATE
C ALCULATIONS
Component size is typically determined
by the space needed for terminals,
connectors, and clamps, as well as their
accessibility for commissioning, servicing,
and maintenance. As components
get smaller, enclosure pack ing density
is increasing. Furthermore, new
functionality such as power management,
networking etc, means that additional
components are being put in all the time.
Paul Metcalfe, Rittal’s Industrial &
Outdoor Enclosures Product Manager
comments: “Reducing the size of
individual components has not had a
noticeable effect on the available space
within enclosures, mainly because this is
largely determined by the arrangement
of the DIN rails, cable ducts and other
components. Components are frequently
installed in groups and space can only
be marginally optimised by individual
components.
“We would caution that where space is
taken up by smaller components, users
should review climate control because
higher packing densities increases the
overall risk of hotspots. The good news
is this doesn’t have to be a laborious
task because Rittal’s “Therm” application
performs the calculation of climate
control in its entirety, providing users with
appropriate and correctly dimensioned
solutions.”
Photo:
fri110281200-
Rittal-Centralised-
or-Decentralised-
Automation
Source:
Rittal Limited
C OMPONENTS IN D ISTRIBUTED S YSTEMS
Major distributed systems are commonly
found in the petro-chemical industry
and conveyor systems. They employ less
technically advanced enclosures to house
control equipment in a separate room,
however, the cost of cabling to connect to
the machinery can be high.
Rittal’s range of enclosures includes
models with high IP ratings in sheet
steel, stainless steel or plastic, designed
to protect the equipment housed in it.
This means that, rather than putting the
control gear in a separate room, all the
control gear can be next to the machine
itself.
This offers cost savings around the
amount of cabling needed and this type
of locally-employed enclosure distribution
is often more efficient because of the
specialist protection it provides the
equipment against dust and oil.
In other, highly-sensitised environments
such as the food industry where hygiene
standards must be met, users now have
a choice of both the materials used and
the enclosure design, in order to prevent
contaminants being deposited and
simplify cleaning.
Are you COOL about
the internal temperature
of your enclosures?
ENCLOSURES
POWER DISTRIBUTION
CLIMATE CONTROL