Water-cooled power controller offers extended lifespan

6th July 2016

REO UK

Daisy Stapley-Bunten

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The REOTRON MDW 700WK offers reliable regulation of current, power and voltage as well as integrated current and voltage monitoring from absolute zero to 10V. The module can be easily switched between two modes; three phase-angle, ideal for controlling ripple sensitive electrical loads, and burst-fire up to 3x450A, better suited to applications that require low radio frequency interference (RFI).

In order to extend the lifespan of the controller itself, the REOTRON MDW 700WK is available with water cooling. In using a liquid coolant in place of air cooling fans, the device is more compact and reduces the risk of corrosive or harmful particles entering the housing and damaging internal components.

“There has historically been a sense of apprehension towards using water-cooled electrical power controllers,” explained Steve Hughes, Managing Director of REO UK. “However, these coolants offer a range of advantages over traditional air-cooling designs, both in terms of device longevity and convenience. Not only does the more compact design make the controller suitable for a wider variety of applications, the water-cooling eliminates the need for frequent maintenance of fan filters.

“Without the need for vents on the enclosure itself, there is a greatly reduced risk of debris and dust from production lines infiltrating the unit. This is especially important for sites that work with corrosive elements as these can cause serious damage. For example, electroplating plants often create copper sulphate particulates as a by-product of operation. With an air-cooled controller, these corrosive particulates can be drawn into the vent and damage the device, a risk we've eliminated by using liquid cooling.”

Engineers can also use the water from the REOTRON cooling system in other processes. This allows businesses to make the most of resources and take a more sustainable approach to plant management.

“Rather than waste the water that is used to regulate the power controller temperature, it makes sense to also use this water in other applications,” continued Hughes. “The water itself is heated due to the operating temperatures of the REOTRON, so this could be used in factory heating. Measures such as this can lead to an industrial circular economy, resulting in cost-saving benefits to businesses.”

The device is also available in an air-cooled model, the REOTRON MDW700, for companies that prefer fan usage. Both models offer a number of fieldbus connectivity options, including DeviceNet, EtherCAT, Profinet and Profibus-DP.