UK launch of Rittal's Blue e+ cooling system

As well as being more energy efficient than existing cooling systems, Blue e+ systems use state of the art technologies, packaged in a unique manner, to also deliver flexibility, safety and ease of handling.

Key to the efficacy of the Blue e+ is Rittal's innovative patented hybrid system. Steffen Wagner, Rittal's Head of Climate Control Product Management says: "The hybrid system increases energy efficiency significantly. It uses a clever combination of a compressor cooling device and a heat pipe to take maximum advantage of passive cooling. The compressor only kicks in when passive cooling becomes insufficient to meet demand."

Blue e+ units are six times more efficient than a conventional cooling unit at a part-load of 15 per cent in heat-pipe mode. At a part-load of 65 per cent, in hybrid mode, with both the compressor cooling device and heat pipe in operation, Blue e+ is four times more efficient than a conventional unit.

The energy efficiency of the compressor cooling is also very high. DC motors power both the fans and the compressor, while inverter technology adjusts the compressor and fan speeds so the cooling output matches demand at any one time.

Mr Wagner says: "Initial tests have shown that thanks to the high energy efficiency of new cooling units, energy savings of up to 75 per cent are possible."

All Blue e+ units have multi-voltage capability and so are suitable for all standard power networks worldwide. Input voltages range from 110V (single phase) to 480V (three-phase) at grid frequencies of 50 or 60Hz.

Demand-based cooling eliminates both thermal stress and any temperature fluctuations within the enclosure. This, in turn, increases the service life of the cooling units and enclosure components and also means higher process reliability.

The Blue e+ range has cooling capacities that extend to up to 6000W (the maximum available from the preceding Blue e unit is 4000W) and it can be used in ambient temperatures ranging from -30degC to +60degC.

Standardised communication interfaces ensure easy integration into a production plant's control systems. The 4.3" TFT touchscreen display presents users with key information at a glance, while system messages are plain text and multi-lingual. Moreover, a variety of protocols permit real-time data transfer via the Ethernet interface.

What's more, all Blue e+ cooling units are identical across all markets, which means that spare parts are easier to get hold of. Further information can be found at www.rittal.co.uk.