Special views for the "thermal design" support the plant designer in planning the most efficient climate control solution possible. These views are only displayed at part placements that are based on parts data of Rittal and were obtained via the EPLAN Data Portal:
- Airflow directions
- Optimally air-conditioned areas
- Airflow-specific reserved areas
- Power dissipation density
The "power dissipation density" view is available for all devices and terminals when the Max. power dissipation part property contains a value. By contrast the other views are only displayed at Rittal climate control components.
All the views are activated and deactivated in the menu View > Thermal design.
Note:
A validation code is required to use the views Airflow directions, Optimally air-conditioned areas and Airflow-specific reserved areas. This is available online on the website of the Rittal company. This validation code can be used to activate a special EPLAN license for these functionalities.
The activated functionalities can only be used if the extended parts data that can be obtained from the manufacturer Rittal through the EPLAN Data Portal are used.
Airflow directions
An important aspect when installing a climate control component is the observance of the course of the air currents:
- The flow of cold air may not be directed directly onto active components.
- Air currents may now flow opposed to the air current of self-ventilated components.
In order to do justice to such requirements during planning, the direction of the cold-air and hot-air flows at the affected components can be represented by means of airflow direction arrows. The airflow directions show the type and direction of flow of the incoming and outgoing air flow at the respective inlet or outlet opening:
- Cold airflow (blue)
- Warm airflow (red).
If the part macros that are provided with airflow directions are placed in the layout space during project planning, the airflow directions can be displayed.
The representation of the airflow directions reacts to the existence of accessories for the air guidance (e.g. air duct or cover bungs). If such an accessory is placed in the flow channel, the airflow direction is not displayed at the placement position of the main part, but rather at the accessories.
Optimally air-conditioned areas
The optimally air-conditioned area describes the area that an air-conditioning unit can reliably air-condition on the basis of its air circulation capacity. The optimally air-conditioned areas can be displayed at the placed part macros in the layout space. The so-called "reach" of the cold air of the climate control component is decisive for the extent of the optimal air-conditioned area. Components that produce exhaust heat should preferably be laid out in this area.
Airflow-specific reserved areas
Airflow-specific reserved areas are defined by the manufacturer of the parts data at the part. A reserved area is assigned to each airflow direction. Reserved areas describe the area that has to be kept free of obstacles in order to achieve complete efficiency of the air-conditioning effect. The representation of the reserved areas changes when accessories for the air guidance (for example air duct or cover bungs) have been placed.
Power dissipation density
Hot spots in an enclosure can arise through the unfavorable positioning of items. In order to already detect possible hot spots during the project planning stage these hot spots are to be represented by coloring of part placements in 5 different color differentiations. The power dissipation density of a component is relevant for its representation. The power dissipation density results from the Max. power dissipation part property of a component in relation to the surface of the part placement. It is automatically determined when the corresponding properties (for example device power dissipation) exists.
Note:
Carry out all the entries for the power dissipation in the following form: Value and unit in Watt, for example "10 W".
The specification of the unit is mandatory. The usage of blanks is possible, for example "10 W".