May 2023 - The Netherlands
On behalf of an energy-critical customer in the pharmaceutical sector We built 4 STS panels.
These panels ensure a continuous and optimal energy supply for critical end users by switching between different power sources based on voltage stability. The end user will not ’go through the dark’ when switching. The panels are equipped with a manual bypass.
The STS units were supplied by Schneider Electric, but upgraded to panels with a higher IP value at the customer’s request. In the Elektro Internationaal workshop, each STS was provided with a custom-made, ’waterproof’ (IP55) and well-ventilated jacket. The latter was certainly necessary, since this is a ’warm product’.
The STS dissipates heat at full power with an equivalent of 800 Watts. That’s like putting a heater in a box with sensitive electronics. The challenge in this project was mainly in heat management. Because the STS itself also has fans, there is a certain air flow in the IP55 housing, which is adversely affected by various obstacles in the panel. Simply creating overpressure was not enough. The route of the air flow and the capacity of the fans have therefore been carefully taken into account when designing and installing load seperators and circuit breakers.
[Image: Elektro Internationaal]