Switch cabinet Condition monitoring via live access

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The new Airtemp Controller and Airtemp Monitor solutions now also enable users of the Airstream wiring system to monitor the condition of the control cabinet with live access.

Monitoring the enclosure temperature via live access offers plant and production line operators an innovative way of monitoring and optimizing operating processes and significantly increasing operating efficiency. The Airstream system, which has been continuously developed over the years and consists of an Airstream wiring frame with Airblower fans integrated at the rear, which ensure targeted airflow around the wiring frame in the enclosure, is made intelligent by the new IoT solutions from Friedrich Lütze GmbH. The specialists have also implemented the requirement that the system operator is not only guaranteed greater operational reliability, but can also keep an eye on energy costs and CO₂ values at the same time. Initial pilot projects, which have been tested at customers in various processes, have met customer expectations and have now enabled the solution to be released for series production.

Monitor the acquired data live

Recording temperatures via a control unit and using them to control the Airblower fans is not a new idea. But now the data obtained can also be used sustainably, evaluated and monitored live. This makes the overall system smarter and can help to increase efficiency in day-to-day work. The new Airtemp Controller is an IoT-capable control unit. It has a relay output for switching air conditioning units and an additional output for physical fault reporting.

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Of course, the functionality to control the Airblower fans for temperature homogenization in one or more control cabinets via an output is retained. Six PT-100 temperature sensors are available for temperature monitoring. Due to the number of sensors selected, it is also possible to use them in series combinations of control cabinets. The recorded data is stored in a memory over a defined period of time and transferred to the Lütze Cloud via the MQTT protocol. The Airtemp controller is operated with 24 V and can also be easily integrated into existing enclosure systems at a later date.

A cloud-based dashboard

A cloud-based dashboard called Airtemp Monitor was developed for condition monitoring, which is hosted in Lütze's own cloud. The data is visualized via diagrams in which the temperature curves as well as the cycle behaviour of the fan banks and any alarm signals are displayed. Via the Airtemp Monitor, the user can access the individual Airtemp controllers remotely and view and change their parameters live. Limit values for temperatures and alarms can be set specifically and the active cooling technology can be switched on if required.

In addition, reports can be requested by email at regular intervals, which document the status of the control cabinets retrospectively over a reporting period. Predictive maintenance is ensured by the alarm function and was a key development requirement. Alarms can also be sent via various communication protocols and enable early intervention in the event of fault conditions. This significantly reduces the risk of temperature-related failure and makes a lasting contribution to the operational safety of control cabinets.

Cooling on demand

In order to further optimize demand-based cooling, additional active cooling power can be requested by a targeted signal via the relay output if a further set limit value is exceeded. Over the years, Lütze has specialized in the thermal behavior of the Airstream wiring system. The aim has always been to move the air in the enclosure in a targeted manner and with low energy consumption in order to protect the components from overheating. If active cooling technology is also required, there are many intelligent solutions from market competitors. The aim is to ensure a sustainable solution, even in combination with active cooling units. The resulting cycle behavior is more efficient, as less energy is required compared to operating cooling appliances in continuous operation. The aim here is to first exploit the possibilities for cooling the electrical components, which are more favorable from an energy point of view. These efforts can be summarized under the keyword "demand-based cooling".

New solutions for the future

The IoT solutions described not only enable continuous monitoring and maintenance of operational safety during operation. They also offer new solutions for the future: if new generations of machines or systems are planned, the data obtained from identical objects can be used for planning. Lütze is also working on a new digital solution for the project planning of Air-Stream wiring frames: a new product configurator for generating 2D and 3D data, which can be used for simple project planning and the generated data can then be embedded in the respective CAD planning tool. This represents a further optimization step in the field of enclosure planning. This is because time is short in everyday life and the need for efficiency-enhancing solutions is correspondingly high. Lütze is always interested in working in partnership to develop new, innovative solutions in the field of sustainable enclosure planning and operation.