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During the manufacture of computer motherboards, a soldering reflow oven is used to secure components in place on  the PCBs. Following assembly, boards are conveyed into a reflow oven, where the temperature increases progressively to achieve a predetermined thermal profile, melting the solder paste on the boards.

As each PCB leaves the oven, a sensor must trigger the customer’s control system and activate a transfer mechanism, moving the board automatically to the next process stage.

The ambient temperature immediately adjacent to the oven may reach 80°C (176°F), which has caused unacceptable rates of failure with other sensors in the past. The sensors must operate continuously in this environment with ultra-high reliability to ensure efficient production.

Extended sensing distances are highly desirable for this application as several types of motherboard, each with different component heights, pass through the oven. Long-distance sensing also allows the sensor to be positioned further from the heat of the hot PCBs.

Contrinex 500 Series Extended Sensing Distance Inductive sensors are ideal for this demanding application.  Condist technology delivers best-in-class operating distances and sensors have a continuous rating to 70°C (158°F). Trials confirmed highly stable performance even in the elevated ambient temperatures around the reflow oven. Vacuum-encapsulated electronics ensure excellent resistance to thermal shock and vibration.

Extra Distance sensors are mounted vertically on steel brackets attached to the exterior of the reflow ovens, and sense the presence of each motherboard as it passes beneath the sensing face. The operating distance is set at 10mm, eliminating the risk of collision with components on the board, and an M12-threaded metal housing allows easy positional adjustment when necessary.

As typically for Contrinex sensors, IO-Link connectivity is included as well as the choice of an industry-standard PNP or NPN interface to the customer’s control system. No additional electrical or mechanical protection is required in spite of the adverse operating conditions.

Previously, sensors from other manufacturers did not detect boards reliably and had unacceptably short service lives, causing frequent interruptions to production. Sensor replacement costs were excessive. Contrinex inductive sensors have been reliable and long-lived, providing a professional sensing solution with an attractive total cost of ownership.

Read more at 500.PLUSAx.co.uk

The Schaeffler OPTIME condition monitoring system was only presented to the market just a few months ago and now has won the Industry 4.0 Innovation-Award. This confirms the automotive and industrial supplier’s ambition to shape progress that moves the world. VDE Verlag is presenting the award for the fifth time and in collaboration with the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI) as well as the Standardization Council Industry 4.0. Products and innovations that make a valuable or substantial contribution in connection with Industry 4.0 are eligible for participation in the award.

Rauli Hantikainen, Head of the Industry 4.0 strategic business field, says: “Schaeffler’s teams and development partners showed a high level of commitment in orienting the OPTIME concept towards the requirements and specific working environment of our customers. We are now very proud to receive the Industry 4.0 Innovation Award for OPTIME. This award serves as recognition and motivation to continue developing solutions with a pioneering spirit and the power of innovation for our customers.“

Simple, cost-effective, and scalable

OPTIME was developed for the condition monitoring of entire plants and production facilities. The focus is on the monitoring of electric motors, pumps, units and fans, i.e. drives and units, which are used in very large numbers and whose condition was hardly monitored or only monitored manually until now due to a lack of cost-effective and technical solutions.

Operators frequently criticise the high costs for condition monitoring systems caused by complex installations and configurations, additional costs for manual analyses that are difficult to calculate, and the quality and informative value of the analyses. Schaeffler’s OPTIME condition monitoring system overcomes these specific obstacles and enables simple, cost-effective and highly scalable condition monitoring for the first time. Operators or maintenance personnel of production facilities can easily install and put into operation several hundred measurement points in a single day. Schaeffler’s expertise in the field of vibration analysis and power transmission enables a high level of automation that eliminates the need for the costly contracting of external experts during initial operation and data analysis. Condition monitoring using Schaeffler OPTIME costs just a few pence per day for every measuring point.

“We pioneer motion”

With this new development, Schaeffler is also building on its history, which has been shaped by a pioneering spirit and the power of innovation. The world and Schaeffler as a company have been continuously changing and re-inventing themselves since the invention of the cage-guided needle roller bearing 70 years ago. But motion has always remained a central theme as expressed in the new “We pioneer motion” claim. For many years, Schaeffler has also been using the expertise gained in this way to develop digital services and solutions for industrial customers and thus open up new markets.

Schaeffler OPTIME is now available in Europe and selected countries in Asia Pacific and will be rolled out shortly in other regions. More information on the product is available online: www.schaeffler.de/optime

To mark the 36th America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) Race in Auckland, New Zealand, December 17-19, 2020, Stuart Doe, head of Active Solutions at Fischer Connectors, explains how top competitors take Big Data and the Internet of (Boating) Things to the high seas in their quest for the America’s Cup.

High-end racing, whether on land or water, is notorious for its secrecy. With the Prada Cup and America’s Cup races in 2021, no one working with any of the hyper-competitive teams would dare give away those secrets.

Spoiler alert: This isn’t about secrets. Even though Fischer Connectors is the exclusive connectivity sponsor of American Magic – a challenger for the 36th America’s Cup – and has provided connectors and solutions for many racing yachts over the past five decades, we can’t give away any of our trusted partners’ competitive secrets. This article is about the lessons learned working on various racing yachts over time, and how some of the latest connector technology and strategies used in racing can be applied to other real-world applications.

Racing into 2021

From the moment the America’s Cup AC75 class rule was first published on March 29, 2018 by the current America’s Cup Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, challenger teams have been designing and engineering their boats within the set rules to give them every possible edge in a temperamental racing environment. In fact, American Magic spent over 76,000 man hours producing its first AC75, DEFIANT.

So, what are the stats for an AC75?

• Length: 22.76 m
• Width: 5 m
• Weight 6.4 tons
• Crew: 11
• Crew weight: 990 kilos
• Construction: carbon fiber and double-skinned soft wingsail
• Construction hours: 76,000+
• Design hours: 90,000+
• CNC machine and/or 3D printing hours: 45,000
• Individual parts: 25,000
• Sensors: 300+

All of this development comes at a significant cost to the teams entering the America’s Cup. To put this into context, the last event in 2017, held in Bermuda and won by Emirates Team New Zealand, is believed to have cost upwards of USD 100 million, with some teams reporting that they had to pay twice this figure to actually become competitive for the Cup.

Races can be won or lost in the design, construction, and/or operational phases. Even fractions of seconds are of critical importance in a race for the America’s Cup and for the pride of a nation. Despite huge R&D budgets, it’s ultimately the team of 11 sailors working as one in precise harmony that determines who’ll be the winners on race day. So, the engineering teams do everything they can to give their sailors the advantage.

Lesson One: Sensors Create Real-Time Data for Immediate Decision Making

Sailors and their support teams operating in high-pressure situations have to deal with many more variables than, say, the driver of a “simple” NASCAR vehicle. Wind speed and direction, water movement, water temperature, hull angle and foil position are all variables in yacht racing that can not only affect each vessel differently, but also change constantly during the race. Sensors are everywhere on the boat, from the foils to the wingsail, gathering data that enable sailors to calculate and use them to their advantage. Additionally, sensors help to adjust strategies or tactics in a fraction of a second if they get the right information at the opportune moment.

Given the strict weight criteria for such a “flying machine”, designers and engineers are constantly deliberating over each component used on the vessel: Will it deliver during practice, during the race, once or over time? Is it rugged enough? Is it too heavy? Is it really needed?

The Importance of Interconnect Solutions

Reliability in both the sensors and connector solutions is essential. Maintainability is critical, as is IP (Ingress Protection) sealing and the ability to withstand saltwater ingress and spray.

Elevated temperatures are also a challenge to connector solutions, as most electronics are stored (and operated) in sealed airless compartments and may be exposed to extreme solar heating. Indeed, a black carbon panel can easily reach above 70°C in the UK sunshine – let alone in New Zealand! This places significant duress on the reliability and functionality of the electronics enclosed within.

Fiber Optic Plays an Important Role

One area of great interest beyond the use of conventional copper wired interconnect solutions is the use of fibre optics for data transmission. In the America’s Cup in 2017, which introduced foiling for the first time, fibre optic sensors were embedded in the race boat foils. This allowed the team to measure, analyse, predict and optimise the foil blade rake  i.e., the angle of the foils to the water, along with foil stress. If set correctly, the foil offers both lift and drag, similar to an aircraft wing in flight.

“The electronics and data acquisition on an America’s Cup yacht such as American Magic’s Defiant are absolutely crucial to our success,” says Antoine Sigg, Fibre Optic Manager at NYYC American Magic. “Loads of data streams are processed constantly, feed models, trigger alarms and help the sailor to make adjustments for wind, attitude and stresses on the boat. It’s essential that the connectivity solution delivers accurate data. The fibre optic solutions from Fischer Connectors help us in many key zones on the boat.”

In a racing yacht, the foil rake and angle of attack are adjusted for different points of sailing (upwind and downwind) and different wind strengths. Getting real-time information from the sensors through fibre optic connections allows optimisation of the foil angle and load, providing the appropriate lift for any given displacement and wind condition.

This was demonstrated to greatest effect in the 2019 Sail GP event in Cowes on the UK’s Isle of Wight. There Tom Slingsby’s Australian Team utilised the foils in a completely different mode than any competitor, sailing three races with the bow firmly down, reducing the rudder loads, and maintaining control in winds of over 25 knots. The result was three straight wins over the remaining international competitors.

Fibre optic devices tend to be smaller and lighter than conventional copper. The cable is essentially a glass tube less than 2 mm in diameter that propagates data using light energy, which is converted into an electrical signal at the destination source. In essence, data speeds move in near perfect conditions within the tube, resulting in the highest data transfer rates, without loss or low delay.

Another advantage of fibre optics is the ability to physically embed these miniature single-strand sensors into the laminated carbon structures of the boat, without affecting the structural integrity of the foil or mast/wing section or the functionality of the hardware. These embedded sensors also ensure you can monitor potential breakages of such highly stressed parts of the boat at all times and avoid them if at all possible. Clearly, these items are very asset-sensitive due to cost, material and build time; hence only the most appropriate cabling and connector systems can help ensure longevity and avoid delays in this challenging environment.

A final significant benefit for the AC75 is the weight advantage offered by this type of fibre optic. When considering electronics control systems on board boats, it’s fair to assume most yachts carry in excess of 60 kg of wire for their control and instrumentation circuits. This weight can be greatly reduced if traditional copper is replaced with state-of-the-art, high-capability fibre.

Data as a Commodity

As reported by Martin Whitmarsh, CEO of Land Rover BAR, with all this live real-time data from in excess of 400 sensors per boat, it’s a veritable treasure trove of data. It’s essential that adequate data connection, onward transmission, storage and subsequent analysis be performed for all modes of sailing and conditions. As a dinghy sailor myself, I consider my surroundings and speed while sailing, just two variables that affect my performance. For these high-performance racing yachts, however, sailors consider up to an estimated 300 variables simultaneously to evaluate and adjust performance, including water time, flight time, speed, boat position, angle, loads, foils and rudder angle. To do this perfectly in a race requires gathering, transmitting, analysing and acting on reliable data. In 2017, it was estimated that Team Oracle’s boat accumulated between 200 GB and 500 GB of data every day. It’s no wonder that so much data crunching is needed to ensure you can optimise the performance of every element for live sailing conditions. This explains the involvement of companies like database giants Oracle and Dell EMC in the last America’s Cup and, more recently, Hewlett Packard for this 2021 campaign. Clearly, reliable data management ensures the boat performs as competitively as possible and defines a clear configuration setup for each and every condition that the boat is raced in. Recent reports from the teams out in New Zealand suggest that the typical data now being collected by this year’s Cup teams are in excess of 1 billion data entry points. This makes the data collation and sifting activity a significant contribution to the teams’ performance and understanding of the data variables, with significant implications for performance.

Lesson Two: Connected Technology and the Internet of (Boating) Things

To help them race today, every single competitive racing yacht utilises world-leading engineering and design, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, data analytics and data modelling.

Modern racing boats take full advantage of the IoT, integrating hundreds of sensors taking various measurements – including state-of-the-art sensors for wind measurement, speed and angle, accelerometers, and a significant number of load sensors buried deep within the mast/rig and foil construction. These load meters are also supported by numerous water-based sensors calculating GPS, depth, turbulence and temperature and, most importantly, speed. This was shown on the SAIL GP event in 2019, when two methods of boat speed were needed to validate the over 50 Knots (57.5 mph!) achieved by both the Australian and UK teams during this race series.

Ease of accessibility and interconnectivity between these sensors and any instrumentation are critical and, of course, the performance of any marine-based connector must be resistant to water ingress (IP rated) and harsh saltwater corrosion. As previously mentioned, weight is also a critical performance criterion for any foiling craft, so the provision and support of this technology is often a balance against weight, performance, functionality and cost.

The use of real-time data from these sensors is pivotal to both design measurement simulation and actual optimal performance, thereby allowing both prediction and practice of the fastest method of sailing in pursuit of the Cup. This is also true of weather measurement, and wind and wave prediction. If one side of the course is favourable for optimal performance, it’s key to identify tactically how and where patterns of wind will be emerging. This is especially the case in New Zealand, with its interesting harbour course and sheltered racing areas.

It isn’t just the racing yachts that are outfitted with a myriad of sensors. Chase boats and support vessels are deployed prior to the event to survey, mark out and ensure sailing areas are clear of underwater obstructions. All these vessels use 3D sonar scans and data overlaid on conventional chart plotters, which are updated live via 4G networks. Teams are increasingly utilising the higher bandwidth and live-streaming capabilities of 5G that became available with significant infrastructure updates during the end of last year.

The reduced latency and higher bandwidth of 5G means Emirates Team New Zealand is now able to live stream data and video back to engineers and designers at the base straight off the new AC75 boat. Dan Bernasconi, Head of Design for Emirates Team New Zealand, said in a 2019 Yachts and Yachting interview that the 5G service is a game changer for the team. “There’s a huge amount of innovation in the design and build of the AC75. The boat is a completely new concept, so we need to be able to push the potential of this boat to its extreme in testing,” Bernasconi commented. Prompt onward data transmission in all areas is critical for the teams to support live monitoring and performance enhancement.

Broadcast-Quality Communications on Every Boat
Transmitting information to the base team for their use is a given, but racing organizations also make technical information available worldwide, broadcasting on multiple platforms and applications, even to devices carried in a spectator’s hand.

The sailing world first saw the production of stadium-style racing introduced in the late 1990s. These boats, like those competing for the 2021 America’s Cup, were live-streaming on-board video and telemetry data, along with audio, directly to audiences. With ever more information and data from the boats now being displayed live to audiences through traditional broadcasts, interactive apps and across the Web, etc., the races come even closer to those on spectator boats or on shore. All cases require robust and secure connectivity boat-to-boat and boat-to-shore to facilitate this.

Lesson Three: Innovation and the Connected Team

With enormous budgets on these boats, even for high-end racing, it’s clear that every team is pushing the frontiers of technology, science, innovation and performance of the boat and the crew. That’s only what we know about now, not what’s being kept secret!

In years gone by, the crew was there to provide power to drive the winches for sail movement and trim. While this is still the case to some degree, there’s also a small amount of battery support topped up by the crew grinders.

Crew role, weight and performance output have now become critical. This means, in addition to data gathered from the boat itself, there’s now far more interest in the biographical data from the crew itself, along with individual communication and data sharing on board the boats. Years ago, wind noise was not an issue for the sailors, who now travel at speeds in excess of 60 mph. Specialist headsets and microphones had to be generated to allow interconnected radios among the team members. Buoyancy aids now hold radios, batteries and multiple interconnects between buoyancy aid and headsets.

Each sailor is effectively a network-connected worker and, with today’s technology, it’s possible to monitor individual heart rates, biometrics, temperature and performance of the entire team. Such monitoring manages the physical elements of the sailing team and adjusts and optimises for peak performance during the critical race season.

Applying the Lessons

The key to applying the lessons of high-end racing to other, less dynamic, industrial or instrumentation applications is to understand the impact of the data you need. Not everyone needs 400 sensors, but when you do, it’s important to have a connectivity strategy that delivers the data in meaningful, actionable ways.

Consider how much data you need to be able to move and how fast it needs to travel. Use the Internet and analytical tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to make faster decisions that push you forward. Remove unnecessary weight while increasing data transmission with fibre optic solutions. If IoT strategies and technology are available to racing yachts, then they can be available to any application, anywhere.

Ultimately, engineers looking for a solution may be seen to be competing, whether it’s against their actual competition, or simply because the application being designed is a challenging puzzle that needs to be solved with the best, most efficient design. My advice as a sailor: When you need to stay competitive, strive for excellence and aim to be the first across the finish line. However that finish line is defined, always remember the fun of the race.

STMicroelectronics has selected Schneider Electric as a strategic partner to support its goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2027. Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, will support ST in this next stage of its ongoing efforts to reduce its global environmental footprint.

The companies will collaborate on the overall reduction of energy consumption on ST’s manufacturing and design sites, the renewable energy sourcing strategy across all of ST’s locations, and the identification and implementation of credible and relevant carbon avoidance and sequestration programs.

The partnership builds on a longstanding relationship between the two companies. Today, ST supplies a variety of energy-efficient components to Schneider Electric for use in its variable speed drives, power monitoring systems, building management systems, and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems.

Under the new agreement, ST and Schneider Electric will increase their cooperation to develop additional joint products, technologies, and solutions focused on energy efficiency improvement, supporting digital transformation in buildings, datacenters, industrial applications, and infrastructure. The partners will specifically look at the possibilities enabled by wide-bandgap semiconductors (SiC and GaN), AI-enabled sensors, and connectivity.

“ST is stepping up its ambition and plans for the sustainability of its operations to become carbon neutral by 2027. To do so, we have built a comprehensive program that covers extensive actions in our fabs – key assets that will strengthen our design sites, our global energy procurement of 100% renewable energy, and our overall footprint throughout our operations globally,” said Jean-Marc Chery, STMicroelectronics’ President & CEO. “These are very ambitious targets for a global company such as ST. To reach them we will collaborate with one of the leaders in this field, Schneider Electric. Schneider’s support will be instrumental in reaching our own sustainability targets and in the joint development of technology, products, and solutions that can benefit the industries we work with and, ultimately, society as a whole.”

“Schneider Electric is supporting the transition to an all-digital, all-electric world that will meet the challenges of the climate crisis without leaving anyone behind. But we’re not doing it alone; our ecosystem—including our customers and our suppliers—plays a crucial role in this transition,” said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman & CEO of Schneider Electric. “Both a customer and a supplier, STMicroelectronics is one of our key partners in this endeavor. By using ST solutions in our products, we can accelerate our performance and efficiency. In turn, by working with ST to set and achieve its carbon reduction targets, we create a virtuous cycle that contributes to the fight against climate change while reaching our respective sustainability goals.”

Sony’s PlayStation 5 features the DualSense controller, making it the latest innovation in gaming. Offering a more immersive experience, the controller’s adaptive triggers allow players to feel the game. This technology, known as haptic feedback, communicates a sense of feeling to its users, which can be useful in many applications. Here, Dave Walsha, commercial development officer at precision drive system supplier Electro Mechanical Systems (EMS) explores haptic technology and the motors behind it.

Haptic technology is any technology that allows users to experience touch. It does this by triggering the body’s somatosensory system. The somatosensory system is the part of the nervous system that responds to change on the surface of, or just inside, the body. It includes the sense of touch, sense of position and movement and haptic perception, which is the ability to recognise an object through touch.

There are different ways to use technology to deliver this sense of feeling. The most appropriate technique depends on the product’s application. Applications of haptic technology include uses in the automotive and medical industries, which use motors to haptically communicate with the user.

Eyes on the road

Haptics are increasingly used in the automotive industry to improve passenger safety by minimising the need for the driver to take their eyes off the road. Haptic feedback can be integrated into the car’s touchscreen interface to confirm touch commands such as adjustments to the heating system or music playback to the driver.

The gentle vibration that the system generates is detected by the driver’s somatosensory system, to give them a non-visual confirmation that their command has been actioned. This prevents the driver from having to take their eyes off the road to check the interface.

On a more complex level, haptic technology is increasingly being incorporated into other contact surfaces, including the steering wheel and the seat. In conjunction with other devices, such as sensors, motors can provide haptic feedback to the driver by catching their attention through a warning vibration.

If the sensors detect a possible safety threat, for example, if the driver gets too close to the vehicle in front or they are approaching the edge of their lane, a motor located within the steering wheel can vibrate to warn the driver. This non-visual communication alerts the driver without further compromising their safety.

Precision in incisions

Minimally invasive robotic surgery (MIRS) can deliver many advantages over traditional surgical procedures, but the loss of force feedback can result in tissue damage. As robotic surgery gains popularity, it’s imperative that haptic feedback systems become a standard feature of MIRS.

In these intricate procedures, doctors can perform with more precision, flexibility and control than is possible with conventional techniques. During the procedure, a robot is connected to a 3D monitor to allow the surgeon to view the procedure, who then controls the robot using a surgical console and joystick. Haptics are incredibly useful for MIRS because they simulate the feeling to the surgeon, making them feel more like they’re the one clutching the surgery tools.

To provide haptic feedback, a force feedback system uses an electric motor to provide resistance. As the surgeon moves the robot, this resistive force gives them information about the environment by resisting commands. This helps them to determine if they are applying too much or too little pressure.

The goal of haptic feedback systems is to restore the sense of touch available when performing tasks with human hands, while still offering the control and reliability benefits that uses robotics can bring to minimally invasive procedures. Achieving this precision requires a motor that can deliver accurate movements to the robot.

The FAULHABER SR series of DC micromotors with precious metal commutation has a low mechanical time constant and low weight, which makes the motors highly reactive. They can also have integrated incremental magnetic encoders, adding just 1.8 millimetres to the motor’s length, which can help control dynamic changes to the direction and velocity of the motor’s rotation and the positioning of the motor. This closed loop feedback can give the robots better precision in their incisions than an unaided surgeon could achieve alone.

Whether it’s getting a feel for the virtual world through the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller, improving driver safety through vibratory motors or making robotic surgery more realistic, haptic feedback’s ability to immerse the user in an alternate reality is amplifying user experience across several sectors.

In the way that cameras provide sight and speakers provide audio, haptics offer its users an additional sense, leaving just the development of smell and taste technology before users can experience a full AR sensory explosion.

element14, an Avnet community, has seen its global membership of engineers and makers rise to the challenge to stay safe and support their friends, family and local first responders during the pandemic. The element14 Community’s focus has been on encouraging innovation to create germ-fighting solutions, providing 3D printers to produce face shields and masks, and sharing open source instructions to help deliver additional lifesaving machines as COVID-19 cases continue impact people’s lives around the world.

“Engineers develop solutions to fix problems, and our community of innovators is no different,” said Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of the element14 Community and Social Media for Farnell. “We’re so proud of the way our community has banded together in the face of this pandemic to support each other and provide needed supplies and solutions to help people stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

When the pandemic first reached members of the element14 Community, they requested a new design challenge to help drive them to come up with new ways to stay safe. The Fighting Germs Design Challenge, launched in March 2020, saw a range of projects created by participants to fight COVID-19 and protect vulnerable populations. The winning designs ranged from contact-less virtual buttons, to a face mask detector system, to a contact-free temperature checker. All of the participants blogged about their designs on the element14 Community site to encourage other members to find unique ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

To help hospitals facing ventilator shortages, element14 shared an open source ventilator that could be locally produced to fill the gap quickly. The goal for this design was to inspire engineers and medical companies with new ways to design a ventilator and to offer something that could be mass produced quickly to offer high quality ventilation. In this innovative design, a Raspberry Pi 4 controls a Trinamic Motion control and motor driver ICs that regulate a blower fan corresponding to constantly monitored data.

element14 is part of Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, and aim to help design engineers, maintenance and test engineers, makers, parents, and teachers develop the future generation of coders and products that apply technology to change our world for the better.

All of these projects and designs highlight the incredible work being done by the more than 750,000-member strong element14 Community to help keep their communities safe in these unprecedented times. To learn more about how element14 is supporting its members working to fight the pandemic, visit https://www.element14.com/.

Almost without exception, industrial environments are hostile spaces for electrical equipment; their components don’t react well to high levels of moisture, dust, and heat in the atmosphere. This sensitivity, in turn, affects plant efficiency and will ultimately lower output and profitability. Karl Lycett – Rittal UK’s Product Manager for Climate Control investigates

But moisture, dust and heat don’t need to be a concern provided you implement an effective climate control solution for your equipment.

The first step is to consider what constitutes suitable cooling to meet your needs, bearing in mind that your cooling needs may alter with any future changes to applications within your facility.It’s common for managers, when choosing a cooling solution, to default to air cooling using fans and filters because it’s familiar.

While air cooling can be a viable solution, it also has its limitations which must be understood before it’s installed, otherwise you risk creating further problems further down the line.

Air Cooling

Air cooling is relatively self-explanatory. The cooling is achieved by passing cooler, outside air across the enclosure’s warmer internal components. However, this simplicity has its shortcomings which should be kept in mind.

If at any point the temperature within the facility exceeds the maximum allowable temperature (setpoint) inside of the enclosure, then no cooling will be possible. A good example of this is during the height of summer when the combination of lots of machinery and high ambient temperatures can cause severe temperature spikes within the factory. These will quickly lead to overheating componentry and unexpected tripping of critical equipment. But this is only an issue if your factory is prone to surges in temperature. For many organisations, there is an acceptable level of general HVAC installed to ‘take the edge’ off the temperature, allowing air cooling to create a protective environment for the equipment within the enclosures.

Dust is a constant irritant within a factory and realistically it can never be fully removed. Even ‘cleanest’ industrial space will have a base level of detritus within the air which will then be drawn into enclosures if fans are employed. Unfortunately, this dust can get into wire connections or internal component fans and cause havoc over time, either preventing thermal exchange or blocking up and shorting wiring connections.

The best way to prevent dust issues arising is to add a suitable filter medium to your air cooling. Filter mediums (or mats) ‘catch’ particulates before they enter the enclosure. The mats should be replaced on a regular basis to prevent a build-up of dirt which can then ‘choke’ the fan, preventing it from pulling sufficient cooling air into the enclosure.

Liquid Cooling

As mentioned earlier, it’s common to find traditional air-cooling methods are unviable or simply not especially effective in industrial spaces. This can be due to factors such as the location or amount of the equipment involved, or it can be down to physical space restrictions.

Liquid cooling, however, is an option open to all, and one that is much more effective than air at removing waste heat and reducing the temperature within the enclosure.

Liquid cooling, as the name suggests, uses chilled water to perform the cooling of the enclosure. An ‘Air to Air Heat Exchanger’ is mounted on the enclosure and connected to an industrial chiller. The chiller cools down heated water from the enclosure to a reasonable temperature before delivering it back to the heat exchanger.

The beauty of liquid cooling is that it is ‘active’ which means that you can make the internal temperature lower than that of the local environment. So even in the height of summer, with the factory in full swing, your electrical equipment will be protected. Many industrial sites already have an operational chilled water supply to service other procedures and equipment. Where this is the case, it can be tapped off and used for enclosure cooling.

Liquid cooling requires hydraulic hoses (cold water in, hot water out) to be connected between the heat exchanger and the chiller. It’s therefore worth giving prior thought to both the enclosure placement and where to run the hoses to ensure the smooth commissioning and operation of the whole system.

Much like the air cooling, regular maintenance of the system is strongly recommended to ensure the cooling equipment can provide years of uninterrupted service.

In summary, both solutions are valid in the right scenario. However, choosing a cooling solution without first considering its operating environment is setting yourself up for less than perfect result. This in turn will have an impact on the overall effectiveness of your chosen cooling solution and the ongoing protection of your critical electrical equipment.

Further information at www.rittal.co.uk\Climate Control

To give students and their parents/guardians the opportunity to find out more about careers in engineering, global engineering technologies company, Renishaw, is hosting a #Girls4Engineering virtual event on December 16th.

The one hour webinar, aimed at students in secondary school and above, will include an introduction to Renishaw and potential careers in engineering. Participants will then have the opportunity to listen to three female engineers at Renishaw speak about their personal career journeys and ask any questions in a Q&A session.

“We want to show students that working in engineering can be both exciting and rewarding,” explained Siobhan Denniff, Education Outreach Executive at Renishaw. “This virtual event gives students the opportunity to find out more about why engineering is a fulfilling career choice for girls, women, transgender and non-binary people.”

Denniff continues, “Having a more diverse workforce in the engineering sector will mean stronger, better teams that are more effective at solving all kinds of complex problems and will help to reach the best solutions faster.”

According to the EngineeringUK 2020 report, in the nine years leading up to the academic year 2018 to 2019, the proportion of engineering and technology entrants in higher education who were female increased by five per cent. However, there is still gender disparity — only one in five of all engineering and technology entrants in 2018 to 2019 were women. Renishaw regularly hosts sessions to change perceptions about the sector and encourage more girls to study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects in higher education.

Renishaw’s education outreach programme supports STEM curriculums in schools and colleges across Bristol, Gloucestershire and South Wales. Before the pandemic Renishaw hosted talks, hands-on workshops and events to encourage students to pursue engineering as a career. To maintain its engagement levels it now hosts virtual assemblies as well as 3D printing and coding workshops to teach students new engineering skills.

 Sign up to the #Girls4Engineering webinar here. For further information about events run by Renishaw’s education outreach programme, visit https://www.renishaw.com/education-outreach/

Electrocomponents has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Synovos, a leading player in integrated supply solutions in the Americas, for a total consideration of $145 million on a debt-free, cash-free basis. The Synovos acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including US anti-trust, and is expected to complete in Q1 calendar year 2021.

Electrocomponents has the building blocks in place and is accelerating the execution of its growth strategy from strong foundations. There is continued momentum across the business as customer and industry trends fast track towards the Group’s proposition.

Synovos will accelerate delivery of a global integrated supply proposition and significantly strengthen the Americas business:

• Synovos and IESA create a global integrated supply proposition in the growing market for value-added solutions
• Synovos is a leading player in integrated supply solutions: managing procurement spend, inventory, strategic sourcing
• Strong position in North America with blue-chip customers in resilient sectors e.g. pharmaceuticals, consumer health
• Targeting revenue synergies from enhanced Americas customer proposition of RS PRO, Allied and Synovos

Lindsley Ruth, Electrocomponents’ Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Synovos is a very good business, aligned to our strategy of selectively adding high-quality, value-creating bolt-on acquisitions to the Group. Synovos enables us to expand our value-added solutions offer in the Americas, significantly enhancing our proposition for corporate customers. It is an excellent fit with our existing IESA business and will increase our ability to support clients in managing their procurement, inventory and maintenance needs globally.

“In the past five years we have transformed Electrocomponents into a strong, focused, customer-centric organisation on a clear growth trajectory. We are now taking the business to the next level. Whilst driving organic growth will always be our primary focus, Synovos demonstrates how our disciplined approach to acquisitions can bring valuable capabilities and products into the Group.”

Almost without exception, industrial environments are hostile spaces for electrical equipment; their components don’t react well to high levels of moisture, dust, and heat in the atmosphere. This sensitivity, in turn, affects plant efficiency and will ultimately lower output and profitability.

But moisture, dust and heat don’t need to be a concern provided you implement an effective climate control solution for your equipment.

The first step is to consider what constitutes suitable cooling to meet your needs, bearing in mind that your cooling needs may alter with any future changes to applications within your facility.

It’s common for managers, when choosing a cooling solution, to default to air cooling using fans and filters because it’s familiar.

While air cooling can be a viable solution, it also has its limitations which must be understood before it’s installed, otherwise you risk creating further problems further down the line. Karl Lycett, Rittal UK’s Product Manager for Climate Control, investigates…

Air Cooling

Air cooling is relatively self-explanatory.  The cooling is achieved by passing cooler, outside air across the enclosure’s warmer internal components. However, this simplicity has its shortcomings which should be kept in mind.

If at any point the temperature within the facility exceeds the maximum allowable temperature (setpoint) inside of the enclosure, then no cooling will be possible. A good example of this is during the height of summer when the combination of lots of machinery and high ambient temperatures can cause severe temperature spikes within the factory.  These will quickly lead to overheating componentry and unexpected tripping of critical equipment. But this is only an issue if your factory is prone to surges in temperature. For many organisations, there is an acceptable level of general HVAC installed to ‘take the edge’ off the temperature, allowing air cooling to create a protective environment for the equipment within the enclosures.

Dust is a constant irritant within a factory and realistically it can never be fully removed. Even ‘cleanest’ industrial space will have a base level of detritus within the air which will then be drawn into enclosures if fans are employed. Unfortunately, this dust can get into wire connections or internal component fans and cause havoc over time, either preventing thermal exchange or blocking up and shorting wiring connections.

The best way to prevent dust issues arising is to add a suitable filter medium to your air cooling.  Filter mediums (or mats) ‘catch’ particulates before they enter the enclosure. The mats should be replaced on a regular basis to prevent a build-up of dirt which can then ‘choke’ the fan, preventing it from pulling sufficient cooling air into the enclosure.

Liquid Cooling

As mentioned earlier, it’s common to find traditional air-cooling methods are unviable or simply not especially effective in industrial spaces.  This can be due to factors such as the location or amount of the equipment involved, or it can be down to physical space restrictions,

Liquid cooling, however, is an option open to all, and one that is much more effective than air at removing waste heat and reducing the temperature within the enclosure.

Liquid cooling, as the name suggests, uses chilled water to perform the cooling of the enclosure. An ‘Air to Air Heat Exchanger’ is mounted on the enclosure and connected to an industrial chiller. The chiller cools down heated water from the enclosure to a reasonable temperature before delivering it back to the heat exchanger.

The beauty of liquid cooling is that it is ‘active’ which means that you can make the internal temperature lower than that of the local environment. So even in the height of summer, with the factory in full swing, your electrical equipment will be protected. Many industrial sites already have an operational chilled water supply to service other procedures and equipment. Where this is the case, it can be tapped off and used for enclosure cooling.

Liquid cooling requires hydraulic hoses (cold water in, hot water out) to be connected between the heat exchanger and the chiller. It’s therefore worth giving prior thought to both the enclosure placement and where to run the hoses to ensure the smooth commissioning and operation of the whole system.

Much like the air cooling, regular maintenance of the system is strongly recommended to ensure the cooling equipment can provide years of uninterrupted service.

In summary, both solutions are valid in the right scenario.  However, choosing a cooling solution without first considering its operating environment is setting yourself up for less than perfect result. This in turn will have an impact on the overall effectiveness of your chosen cooling solution and the ongoing protection of your critical electrical equipment.

Further information at www.rittal.co.uk.