UK launch of Rittal’s Innovative Blue e+ Cooling System. A new generation of cooling units is being launched in the UK by Rittal, the leading global enclosure and climate control specialists. 

The Blue e+ is a major advance for the sector and represents a quantum leap forward in terms of efficiency and cost effective operation. 

As well as being far more energy efficient than existing cooling solutions, Blue e+ systems use state of the art technologies, packaged in a unique manner, to also deliver greater flexibility,
safety and ease of handling.
 
Key to the efficacy of the Blue e+ is Rittal’s innovative patented hybrid system.  “The hybrid system increases energy efficiency significantly,” says Steffen Wagner, Rittal’s Head of Climate Control Product Management. 

“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, “he adds. 

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. 

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

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

Superior process reliability 
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 6,000 watts (the maximum available from the preceding Blue e unit is 4,000 Watts) and it can be used in ambient temperatures ranging from -30°C to +60°C. 

Easy handling for faster service 
Standardised communication interfaces ensure easy integration into a production plant’s control systems.  The 4.3" TFT touch screen 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+ units are identical across all markets which means that spare parts are easier to get hold of. 

Further information at www.rittal.co.uk and www.friedhelm-loh-group.com, or on twitter @rittal_ltd.