Electrical panels provide for safe and reliable operations and also enhance the convenience and productivity of the processes. However, the panels may also be a cause of concern when they are not looked after well. That is why following the best practices and maintaining checklists can be quite significant. Below are some essential points that you should consider to ensure efficiency, reliability, and safety of industrial operations and to make an industrial control panel more efficient.
Air-Conditioned Cabinets- In most cases, the air conditioning unit may be mounted outside the cabinet, and the resultant environment and temperature are separated from the cabinet. A thermostat may keep the temperature at an optimum level; no frequent cleaning of filters is needed, and maintenance requirements are also quite less.
Fan Cooled Cabinets- Cool air that comes inside the panel may remove the hot air by displacing it. An exhaust filter removes the hot air. When the space is limited, and the cost is to be kept low, this may be a suitable option. However, more monitoring is required for these systems, and the filters should also be cleaned regularly.
Heat Exchanger- A closed system can also include a fan and radiator. Chilled water is used for keeping the temperature within threshold limits. This system has a low cost and requires little maintenance.
All plants and facilities should have a more proactive approach to preventive maintenance. They should understand that keeping the industrial control panels in good condition is one of the essential industrial upkeep measures, as many vital types of machinery and systems are attached to them. The efforts will result in more efficient and safer processes, which will impact productivity positively.
Temperature and Heat Control
High heat may fail the components, while too low temperatures may cause condensation. Because one can go wrong with heat, either way, 55% of component failures occur due to heat mismanagement. Heated components may lose their efficiency over some time and may also undergo damage. For cooling the panels, the essential methods available are:Air-Conditioned Cabinets- In most cases, the air conditioning unit may be mounted outside the cabinet, and the resultant environment and temperature are separated from the cabinet. A thermostat may keep the temperature at an optimum level; no frequent cleaning of filters is needed, and maintenance requirements are also quite less.
Fan Cooled Cabinets- Cool air that comes inside the panel may remove the hot air by displacing it. An exhaust filter removes the hot air. When the space is limited, and the cost is to be kept low, this may be a suitable option. However, more monitoring is required for these systems, and the filters should also be cleaned regularly.
Heat Exchanger- A closed system can also include a fan and radiator. Chilled water is used for keeping the temperature within threshold limits. This system has a low cost and requires little maintenance.
Preventive Maintenance
An industrial control panel may come in many different sizes, which may vary following the requirements and facilities for which they are installed. Scheduled preventive maintenance that is regular and carried out by experts is quite essential. Qualified personnel can find out the different irregularities, and components that need replacement or repair, which contributes positively towards increasing the efficiency of the panels. The inspection also scrutinizes smaller and minute aspects like the presence of brittle wires and loose connections. The manufacturer manuals should be consulted (for the torque and other specifications). Preventive Maintenance can find out the problems early on and treat them before they exacerbate and turn to be threatening.Cleaning and Storage
The safe handling procedures may include the "lockout" and the "tag out" features. The components can be cleaned through a vacuum, and compressed air can be used for cleaning the unreachable areas. Dirt, debris, and other undesirable particles should be removed. Cleaning alone will eliminate the minor obstacles that would be impacting the efficiency of the panels adversely. No unwanted and non-relevant material should be stored in the cabinet. Centralized storage space is a safer and easy-to-access option and will save time when there is a search for particular essential machine parts.All plants and facilities should have a more proactive approach to preventive maintenance. They should understand that keeping the industrial control panels in good condition is one of the essential industrial upkeep measures, as many vital types of machinery and systems are attached to them. The efforts will result in more efficient and safer processes, which will impact productivity positively.
Posted In:
Technology