Charlotte, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/25/2014 -- There are four types of cooling electronic or electrical equipment housed in enclosures and cabinets / cabinet cooler. They are thermoelectric air conditioners, compressor-based air conditioners, vortex coolers, and air-to-air heat exchangers or heat pipes.

When components are subjected to aggressive, inhospitable environments, computers and other susceptible electronic devices are used. Electronic equipment are being damaged by high temperatures, humid, corrosive atmospheres, and contaminant-laden air. For those who can afford, the costs and ease related to repairs, downtime, and data loss as a result of insufficient or lack of protection, indeed experience the investment in technology.

There are two sources of unwanted heat. They are internal heat sources and external heat sources. Both cause the internal temperature of an enclosure to surpass the recommended electronic and / or electrical ratings of manufacturers. Internal heat sources are those coming from AC drives or inverters, battery back-up systems, communication gear, PLC systems, power supplies, routers and switches, servers, and transformers. External heat sources are those coming from blast furnaces and foundries, engine rooms, food processing factories, industrial ovens, hot climates, manufacturing plants, outdoor solar heat gain, and uninsulated and / or non-air conditioned buildings.

Based on a research on cooling systems for cabinet enclosure cooling options, below are the features and comparison of the four cooling electronics:

Design. Thermoelectronic air conditioners are in solid state; compressor-based air conditioners are electro-mechanical; vortex coolers are pneumatic; while air-to-air heat exchangers are liquid vapor cycle.

Reliability. Thermoelectronic air conditioners have heat pump more than 150,000 hours MTBF; compressor-based air conditioners have compressor less than 100,000 hours MTBF with limited fan; vortex coolers relies on plant air compressor with less than 150,000 hours MTBF; while air-to-air heat exchangers have more than 300,000 hours MTBF with limited fan.

Maintenance. Thermoelectronic air conditioners virtually do not require maintenance other than the fans; compressor-based air conditioners require cleaning, changing of filters and recharging of refrigerant; vortex coolers require filters, separators need to be changed, and they must be drained on a regular basis; while air-to-air heat exchangers virtually do not require maintenance other than the fans.

Size and Weight. Thermoelectronic air conditioners are moderate in size and weight; compressor-based air conditioners are moderate to heavy size and weigh; vortex coolers are small size and lightweight, separators need to be changed, and they must be drained on a regular basis; while air-to-air heat exchangers are moderate in size and weight.

Environmentally Friendly. Of the four, thermoelectronic air conditioners and air-to-air heat exchangers are considered as environmentally friendly, while compressor-based air conditioners uses CFCs, HCFC, or other chemicals and oils, and vortex coolers require high energy.

Ability to Cool Below Ambient. Only air-to-air heat exchangers are not capable of cooling below ambient.

Temperature Control and Stability. Thermoelectronic air conditioners have precise bipolar control (<+/-0.5 C); compressor-based air conditioners have inefficient resistive control (>+/-1.0 C); vortex coolers and air-to-air heat exchangers are both used to limit temperature rise.

Heating Options. Both thermoelectronic and compressor-based air conditioners have heating options while the rest do not have.

Orientation. Thermoelectronic and vortex coolers can be used in any orientation; compressor-based air conditioners must remain in fixed orientation (horizontal or vertical; while air-to-air heat exchangers can be used horizontally or vertically.

Portability. Thermoelectronic air conditioners have standard units that operate in motion; compressor-based air conditioners have special unit required; vortex coolers require a portable air compressor of suitable capacity; while air-to-air heat exchangers have heat exchangers that use heat pipes and lose cooling ability if not oriented vertically.

Power. Thermoelectronic air conditioners and air-to-air heat exchangers have wide range of AC and DC voltages; compressor-based air conditioners are primarily AC-powered; while vortex coolers are based on plant air compressor.

Noise and Vibration. Thermoelectronic air conditioners and air-to-air heat exchangers produce light noise and vibration from fans; compressor-based air conditioners produce some noise and vibration from compressor and fans; while vortex coolers have noisy air compressor.

Initial Cost. There would be moderate costs for both thermoelectronic and compressor-based air conditioners, low costs for vortex coolers if there is an already available appropriately-sized compressor, and technically low costs for air-to-air heat exchangers.

Operating and Maintenance Costs. Air-to-air heat exchangers have the lowest costs in terms of operating and maintenance as compared to the other three, followed by thermoelectronic air conditioners (low costs), compressor-based air conditioners (moderate), and vortex coolers (very high).

Based on the comparison given above, thermoelectric air conditioners provide the most significant benefits as compared to the other alternative technologies. The use ofof it offers solutions to the intricate cooling problems where, in an unforgiving environment, a low to moderate heat must be handled. STREAMTEK™ Corp provides this kind of technology in the form of a high-performance, competitively priced Cabinet Panel Cooler that incorporates STREAMTEK's™ reliable Vortex Tube to purge as it cools electronic and electrical enclosures. The filtered air that enters your electronic control panel cabinets is up to 45°F colder than the compressed air supply.

About StreamTek
StreamTek has over 15 years of experience in compressed air-operated products. All of their products are manufactured in-house. They pride ourselves on keeping costs low and eliminating the middle man in order to pass the savings onto our customers. They offer outstanding product which are of quality, exceptional customer service, and safe/secure business transactions.

STREAMTEK Guarantees its catalogued product for 30 days. If a customer is not completely satisfied for any reason with that time, the product can be returned for a full credit with NO restocking fee!