Energy Efficient
The Heat pipe itself uses no power: the energy for its operation is taken from the hot air in the enclosure, which is used to evaporate the refrigerant. In order to improve overall efficiency, a small air circulation fan draws warm air from the electrical enclosure, passes it over the finned tube and returns cooled air back to the enclosure. An external fan blows ambient air over the hot end of the heat pipe to increase the rate of heat removal. Total power requirements are less than 60 watts, yet an air to air heat exchanger operating with a temperature differential of 10 °F can remove 400 watts of heat from an enclosure.
Reliability
Besides the air circulation fans, an air to air heat exchanger is entirely static with no moving parts to fail. With the exception of the small circulation fans, operation is noiseless, which makes an air to air heat exchanger with heat pipe technology an excellent choice for noise sensitive areas. Fans may be AC or DC powered.
No Filters
The design of the external air circuit is such that no air filters are needed. The only maintenance required is to occasionally clean the ambient air fins and the blades of the fan. The lack of filters means that one of the major causes of enclosure cooling maintenance problems is removed, and these units are ideal for operation in areas where frequent access for maintenance is problematic.
Permits Use of Sealed Enclosures
Perhaps the most important benefit of an air to air heat exchanger using heat pipe technology is that it is designed for closed loop cooling. This means that it's suitable for use in locations where there are high levels of dust and dirt, inclement weather and pollution. The units can be supplied with a powder coated finish for an indoor NEMA Type 12 enclosure or as a sealed outdoor unit with a NEMA Type 4 rating. Models are available with a stainless steel exterior finish and a NEMA Type 4X rating designed for the toughest environmental conditions. If required, the unit can be outfitted for hazardous-area operation.