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How Pfannenberg Thermal Management & Signaling Solutions Save the Holidays

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Pfannenberg products ensure that manufacturing operations are up and running – especially during the holidays when many manufacturing lines are always online. Read below on just a few example applications on how Pfannenberg supports these product lines and keeps them running.

Candy Canes:

The go-to holiday candy.  As a child, they are passed out and enjoyed by many, and as adults they are necessary for almost any holiday decoration.  This peppermint candy involves very delicate care when being processed.  There are many differences in temperature to heat up or cool down – just enough that it maintains flavor and will not ruin the product quality.  All throughout the manufacturing process of candy canes, temperatures are critical.  At certain stages, the temperature needs to be increased to help form the canes, then at other parts it needs to be cooled so that it can be mixed to perfect flavor and coloring.

The sugar kneading machine is very large and very powerful.  Right after the sugary mixture is heated up and completed its first round of mixing, it is dumped onto a liquid cooling table, where the candy has its flavoring added and mixed. The amber liquid when being first mixed is heated up to around 300°F.  Once being transferred to the kneading machine, this large machine will mix in the flavoring by pushing and folding the candy – slowly cooling the product from its hot temperature. Pfannenberg’s CC Chillers can play a key role in supplying the cool liquid to the table which kneads the candy.  If the table is left uncooled or heated, it will change the look, consistency, and taste of the final product.  Not only is it crucial to have Pfannenberg Compact Chillers to cool the table, it is also import to utilize Pfannenberg’s PWS Air to Water Heat Exchangers to cool the electrical panels controlling the entire process.

Wrapping Paper:

The wrapping of gifts dates back to the ancient Chinese, but here in the US  it hit its popularity in 1917 when Joyce Clyde Hall and Rollie Hall (founders of Hallmark) decided to modernize it. Wrapping paper is a staple item.  When it comes to holidays and special occasions, there are many steps that go into the manufacturing of wrapping paper.

Artists have to create such artwork which is then etched onto copper cylinders that are bathed in a liquid bath of chromium, which galvanizes the copper to protect it from wear and tear.  From here these rolls each have a various piece of the final wrapping paper artwork.  Each color has its own roller. The paper will go through a series of various printers where it encounters the artwork on the copper rolls for the different colors.  These metal rolls need to be highly controlled with temperature.  Too hot or cold could cause the paper to stick to these rolls and cause a paper jam which leads to loss revenue and downtime. As part of a complete solution  Pfannenberg’s CC Series Chillers help to control the temperature to the print rollers and Pfannenberg’s Air to Water Heat Exchangers provide proper cooling for the control equipment operating these large machines. To complelent our full product line,  Pfannenberg’s Signaling products are needed at every stage of the manufacturing process to alert employees of a problem. Pfannenberg’s Signaling Solutions help the employees to be able to hear and see exactly where the problem is occurring (which machine) and what problem is occurring (what action is need).

Wrapping paper leads to the excitement and mystery of the gift. Without the proper cooling and operation of the equipment that are used to produce the paper, it would be difficult to wrap the gifts.  Pfannenberg aids in the manufacturing process of wrapping paper.

Champagne:

The holiday season concludes with celebrating New Years.  New Years is a time to reflect on the past and perhaps try new things in the upcoming year. Celebrations are had with friends old and new, and champagne is typically the drink of choice. One crucial aspect in champagne manufacturing is the inspection and bottling stages of the process. The champagne bottle undergoes many cleanings and inspections prior, during, and after bottling.  Each stage will monitor and check various aspects.  The final inspection step will make sure that the champagne bottle is not cracked or damaged and to check the champagne to make sure that there are not fragments of cork or metal casing. A bright light will shine through the bottles where a machine will scan and take pictures for an employee to monitor/double check that the inspections are all being passed.

Pfannenberg has proven experience in working directly with food and beverage inspection OEMs to provide complete engineering solutions for the cooling of x-ray tubes and the internal cavity of their inspection machines. The Pfannenberg team has come up with a complete solution to utilize a CC Chiller in conjunction with a small PWS Air to Water Heat Exchanger to cool the x-ray tubes and internal cavity.  By combining products and eliminating a compressor based air conditioning unit, the Pfannenberg liquid cooling solution requires less maintenance and is far more cost effective by eliminating dependencies on different competing products and eliminating downtime.

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Pfannenberg – Global Solutions and Support for OEMS

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When it comes down to the final decision on whether or not to purchase new equipment for a plant, the decision tends to fall down to three major concerns:

  1. What preventative yearly/monthly/weekly/daily maintenance is required?
  2. Is it able to withstand the environment?
  3. How much time and money will it save?

For OEMS to be competitve and meet the needs of their end use customers, there are 3 main areas that are looked at when choosing the supporting components for their equipment.

Components that are Built to Last

For more than 60 years, we have been helping guarantee production safety for OEMs and end users throughout the world.  Sensitive control technology needs to be protected from many environmental conditions. With NEMA Type 4/4X, IP 56 protection, our cooling units satisfy the toughest environments.

Support and Accessibility

Pfannenberg innovation has made it one of the largest globally operating manufacturers of thermal management and process cooling equipment today.  Our wide product range includes complete system solutions for machine and enclosure cooling along with visual and audible signaling devicesfor events that require alarm, warning or indication notifications.

Support… when and where it’s needed – In addition to manufacturing facilities location on three continents, Pfannenberg has developed a worldwide network of local subsidiaries and sales/service partners eager to meet your service needs and help you select the correct solution.

If maintenance of your enclosure cooling system is required you can expect immediate assistance from Pfannenberg. Our repair service affords you the fastest possible response – nationally or internationally. We ensure that your cooling system is returned to optimal condition – even if it’s not a Pfannenberg product.  Our on-site service gets you back on-line faster, eliminating the transit time associated with factory repair programs.

Experts in Industry Group Solutions

As a leading thermal management solutions
company, we can develop products quicker than the competition while optimizing the solution for that specific industry group’s requirements. The high performance of our products comes from years of research and design experience. Trust us to be the experts in your industry to provide you  with the proper cooling solution.

Have a question regarding which equipment is best for your application? Ask Us Here.

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“We All Scream for Ice Cream” – Pfannenberg’s Thermal Management plays a key role in a favorite summer treat!

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From the Farm to the Factory

When the trucks arrive at the factory, the milk and cream are pumped into storage silos and kept cool at 36°F until they are ready to begin the process.

Making the Ice Cream Mixture

The process begins by mixing ingredients and various flavors into a 1000-gallon stainless steel blender.  Heavy cream, liquid sugar cane, and condensed skim milk are the first foundational ingredients. After that, sometimes egg yolks and cocoa powder are incorporated depending on the desired flavoring. A natural stabilizer is mixed in to prevent various ice crystal formation or heat shock.  Blended for a total of about 6-8 minutes, it is then ready to be transferred and strained into a large tank.  This tank will store the mixture until it is ready to begin the pasteurization process.

Pasteurization & the Homogenizer

Pasteurization heats up the mix to kill harmful bacteria. The mixture flows through various plates. Hot water flows on one side of the plate and cold water (cold mix) flows on the other side of the plate. The heat from the hot water is transferred to the ice cream mix, heating this mix up to 180°F.

Right from there, the mixture enters the homogenizer.  Here the mix is exposed to high amounts of pressure so that the fat particles from the cream do not separate from the rest of the mix.  Then the heat from the ice cream mix is transferred to the cold water, cooling the ice cream mix down to 36°F.

The mix is then moved to a tank room.  This room is cooled down to 36°F degrees, where the mix will be stored for 4-8 hours which allows the ingredients to really form.  Next more flavorings are mixed in (such as vanilla, peppermint, purees, and other extracts).  Once the appropriate flavors are added it is then transported into the freezer.  The temperature has to be below freezing, most plants keep it at -40°F.

Freezing & Packaging

To further the process in making hard ice cream, it travels to the packaging area of the factory.  Here the soft serve ice cream is dispensed into various packaging containers and then delivered into the storing freezer before shipment. At this point the temperature of the mixture is around 22°F. For the mixture to reach a colder state it has to enter a spiral freezer where it travels around in a -60°F maintained temperature part of the plant.  When the ice cream leaves the spiral freezer it should be around -10°F. From there the ice cream cartons are stored into various freezing warehouses until they are shipped.

So what role does Pfannenberg play in this desired product?

Automation plays a critical role in the manufacturing of ice cream. Numerous electrical enclosures contain the critical electronics (VFDs and control components) to operate the machinery ranging from mixing to the final packaging. Even though these enclosures are found within a relatively cool environment, the temperature inside the cabinets needs to be maintained. Without proper enclosure cooling these electronics may overheat, bringing operations to a halt. Pfannenberg’s PWS Air to Water Heat Exchangers are ideal for cooling electrical components found in food and beverage processing facilities. The units can utilize existing cooled liquid while saving energy costs vs, traditional compressor based AC cooling units. Our cooling solutions make this cool summer treat possible.

Be sure to visit us at IBIE 2016 in Las Vegas, NV — October 8th-11th at Booth #9247 to learn more about our closed loop liquid cooling solutions.

Be sure to follow our NEW Food and Beverage LinkedIn Showcase Page!

Topics: Air Water Heat Exchangers, Thermal Management, Food & Beverage

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Pfannenberg Products Assist in Making an American Staple Summer Treat

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Hot dogs – a staple summer treat that brings back memories of family cookouts and baseball games. It is an American favorite summertime food! Hot dogs go through a series of complex processes that combine the ingredients into their delicious final form and Pfannenberg’s PWS Air to Water Heat Exchangers are perfect to keep things running.

Meat Processing

The first step into creating one of the most loved foods is the preparation of the meat.  The meat is cut into small pieces and is placed into a large mixer.  These mixers have chopping blades to further cut the meat into smaller sizes. Here the raw ingredients and flavorings are added.  All are mixed until the mixture is a smooth paste consistency. Processes like this can require large control panels to operate the system and Pfannenberg’s PWS Air To Water Heat Exchangers are ideal for cooling your electrical components. Pfannenberg’s Air/Water Heat Exchangers utilizes chilled water, that is readily available, and an internal fan to provide cool air to prevent critical electronics from overheating.

Linking

The paste is always going through inspections throughout the entire process. After inspection from the mixer – the mix is moved into a stuffer.  This machine will push the paste into tube casings.  The casings are twisted at measured sections to make equally sized hot dogs. There are various casings – natural or artificial. The shaping of the hot dogs we all know is now complete.

Smoking

After the stuffing and linking, the hot dogs are then moved to a smokehouse to cook under controlled conditions.  Manufacturers can control the temperature and the difference flavors that the smoking has on the hot dog by using difference smoke sources.  Average time it takes in this step is an hour.

Final Processing

Once the smoking is completed, the link casings are removed by an automatic peeler.  During this time, the hot dogs are sprayed with water to help bring down their temperature.  Then the hot dogs are then transported to be packaged. Before going into the final packaging, the hot dogs are inspected to make sure there are no foreign ingredients in the product.

Pfannenberg has experience with inspection and x-ray equipment. Pfannenberg was able to combine a Chiller and PWS Air  To Water Heat Exchanger to cool the x-ray tubes as well as the electrical enclosure as one example.

The packaging machines can process thousands of hot dogs in an hour.  They are operating at very fast speeds and require proper thermal management cooling to keep their machines up-and-running. Once packaged, hot dogs are inspected again, freshness dates are added, and they are all boxed up to be transferred to the warehouse for refrigeration until they are shipped. The entire process from start to finish, only takes a few hours.

Click Here to read “Chillers for X-Ray Machines – A Food & Beverage Success Story”.

Be sure to follow our NEW Food and Beverage LinkedIn Showcase Page!

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Chillers for X-Ray Machines – A Food & Beverage Success Story

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With the next round of Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) updated regulations taking into effect September, food processing companies are scurrying to make sure their facilities are up to code. The newest set of updates will support efforts into the quick responses to food/beverage related emergencies (contamination, expired products, recalls, and foreign materials). The new amendments also require that the FDA inspect the food production facility every two years to make sure that the facility and products adhere to all regulations.

A simple first step into maintaining food processing safety is x-ray/inspection equipment for product safety and making sure the machines operate properly.  In making sure these machines operate properly, one has to make sure that they have the proper thermal management equipment; something in which Pfannenberg has extensive experience in.

Success Story

Pfannenberg worked directly with a food and beverage inspection OEM to provide complete engineering solutions for the cooling of x-ray tubes and the internal cavity of their inspection machines. These machines would end up in various food & beverage and pharmaceutical end use facilities.  Before meeting with Pfannenberg our customer used several different competing thermal management products; conventional cabinet air conditioners to cool the machine cavity, two small internal fans to move the air around and a small chiller. It was costly, cumbersome while leading to additional maintenance costs and condensate issues.

The Pfanneberg team came up with a solution to utilize a CC Chiller in conjunction with a small PWS Air to Water Heat Exchanger to cool the x-ray tubes and internal cavity.  By combining products and eliminating an air conditioning unit, the Pfannenberg option required less maintenance and was more cost effective eliminating dependencies on different competing products.

Click Here To read, “The Technology of Cooling Part 4: Closed Loop Liquid Cooling Solutions”.

Have a question regarding which equipment is best for your application? Ask Us Here.

Click here to learn more about Pfannenberg’s CC series chillers.

Topics: Air Water Heat Exchangers, Packaged Chillers, Food & Beverage, Chillers

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The Technology of Cooling Part 4: Closed Loop Liquid Cooling Solutions

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1. Air to Water Heat Exchangers

Pfannenberg Air to Water Heat Exchangers use a supplied water source to remove the heat from the electrical cabinet. The heat from the enclosure is transferred to fluid and the heated fluid is then piped away adding no heat to the ambient environment.  Because there is no heat transfer to the ambient environment, there is no need to de-rate the units performance in high ambient conditions.

 

How do I know if a Air to Water Heat Exchanger is the right product for my application?

  • If there is a chilled water supply readily available at the enclosure.
  • If the environment has extreme conditions like extremely high ambients, extremely dirty or caustic, that make other systems not applicable.

Properly sizing a Air to Water Heat Exchanger

To properly size an Air to Water Heat Exchanger you must know the required cooling capacity in Watts, available water temperature and the dimensions of the unit and enclosure.

Utilizing performance curves to properly size cooling units:

Pfannenberg utilizes the DIN standard 35/35 °C when rating our cooling units. Many other companies use 50/50 °C, which provides a higher, non-usable value. Customers should use their own application temperatures to determine the proper cooling capacity of the system.

Important information when utilizing Air to Water Heat Exchangers for enclosure cooling:

  • The performance of an Air to water Heat Exchanger is directly related to the difference in the water temperature and the air temperature inside the enclosure.
  • To manage condensation, an external condensation evaporator (KVDTX) can be used.
  • The enclosure should be sealed to prevent the inflow of ambient air.
  • Use the door contact switch to impede operation with open doors and consequent excessive accumulation of condensation.
  • Setting the temperature to the lowest setting is not the optimal solution due to the condensation issues. The value we have preset on the cooling unit is a sound compromise between cooling the inside of the enclosure and the accumulation of condensation.
  • Make sure unit is level.

2. Chillers

A chiller uses a refrigeration cycle to remove the collected heat from a circulating liquid. As the liquid moves through a system of tubes and pipes it absorbs the heat generated by equipment and processes.  This generated heat is then transferred by the liquid back to the chiller where it is dissipated. Fluid is cooled and sent back into the system.

 

How do I know if a Chiller is the right product for my application?

  • When higher heat loads that exceed traditional enclosure cooling methods need to be managed.
  • When precise temperature control is required as part of the manufacturing process.
  • Large fluctuations in heat load requirements need to be managed.
  • It allows the source of cooling to be located separately from harsh environments.

 

Selecting the correct Pfannenberg Chiller

Choosing the best packaged chiller to meet the demanding requirements of today’s industrial applications can be complicated. For that reason, Pfannenberg designed a 6 step guide to help you select the best chiller depending on your environment, process and type of application. Click on the picture to open the PDF or use this link!

 

Important information when utilizing Chillers:

  • Chillers can be installed indoors if the area around the unit is relatively clean and the air is temperate.
  • Locating the chiller outside can be a good option and can improve the efficiency of the chiller depending on temperature.
  • Extreme temperatures can cause capacity issues or the need for additional options such as a low ambient package.
  • A chiller should be sized as close to the required capacity based on the desired chilled liquid supply temperature and the highest expected ambient temperature.

3. Combined Chillers and Air to Water Heat Exchangers

liquid_cooling_3D.jpg

When a Liquid Cooling Source is not available on site, use the combination of chillers and air to water heat exchangers to simplify the cooling of your processes, machines and controllers as part of a system based solution.

Via a closed pipeline system that uses a highly economical supply of cooled liquid (e.g. water, glycol or oil) as the cooling medium, temperature can be managed within your process and as the cooling medium for the air conditioning of control cabinets. When cooling cabinets with PWS Air To Water Heat Exchangers the thermal management is 100% independent from the ambient temperatures at the installation location.

Click here for more detailed information about Closed Loop Liquid Cooling Solutions!

A properly selected Thermal Management is key to guarantee the longevity of critical electronics. Pfannenberg place the knowledge and technical expertise of its engineers at your disposal for you to find the best solutions for your requirements.

Find the 3 previous articles of this “Technology of Cooling” serie:

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Closed Loop Liquid Cooling Reduces Downtime, Maintenance & Repair Costs for Commercial Bakeries

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Pfannenberg’s Cooling Solutions Help Keep Equipment Running for One of the Fastest Growing Independent Wholesale Bakers in America.

Flour is one of the paramount enemies of electrical enclosures and enclosure air conditioners, particularly in the make-up area of a commercial bakery. Keeping the electronics cool which power the machines, is essential to the entire operation of the Schwebel Baking Company. Without the electrical enclosures staying cool, the machines fail and require replacement or downtime for repair.

Pfannenberg’s PWS Series Air To Water Heat Exchangers were an ideal solution for the Schwebel Baking Company, these Air/Water Heat Exchangers utilize glycol or a cool water source that is already available in the factory, to cool their electrical units. Pfannenberg’s Air To Water Heat Exchanger has no filters, which means there is no down time trying to change filters or having them becoming clogged.

By installing Pfannenberg’s Air To Water Heat Exchangers, Schwebel’s was able to see a significant difference in the cleanliness of their electrical cabinets as well as in the efficiency of the cooled air.

 

Pfannenberg’s PWS Series Air To Water Heat Exchangers were the precise solution for Schwebel’s manufacturing process. Incorporating closed loop cooling with Air To Water Heat Exchangers improved performance, reduced maintenance, was energy efficient, and prevented unplanned repairs.

Click Here to Download the Case Study in PDF

 

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Selecting the Proper Equipment for Food and Beverage Applications

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Proper thermal management is key for saving resources and keeping electronics (and equipment) up and running on a consistent basis. It is important to understand the various types of cooling methods available and how the ambient conditions may effect the product chosen.  Choosing the wrong method may lead to a solution that is undersized or oversized, or fails prematurely due to being specified for incompatible ambient conditions.

Selection of the preferred thermal management method, based on various environmental conditions:

Click here to view our thermal management selection guide.

With products that include fans, heaters, packaged air conditioners, air to water heat exchangers, packaged process chillers, and signaling devices, Pfannenberg offers a full range of thermal management solutions for the food and beverage industry. Standard options such as stainless steel materials, NEMA 4/4X enclosures, and washdown duty construction allow these time-tested products to be seamlessly incorporated into even the most demanding food and beverage processing applications.

Have a question regarding which equipment is best for your application? Ask Us Here.

Be sure to follow our NEW Food and Beverage LinkedIn Showcase Page!

Topics: Air Water Heat Exchangers, Filterfans, Cooling Units, Thermal Management, Heaters, Food & Beverage, Chillers, Air Air Heat Exchangers

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Pfannenberg Food & Beverage Applications: Air/Water Heat Exchangers

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The Complete Liquid-Cooled Solution for F&B Industrial Control Enclosures

For over 50 years Pfannenberg has been a leader in thermal management solutions.  From simple Fan Cooling and Packaged Air Conditioners to more complex water cooled applications, our expertise helps ensure industrial electronics operate at peak efficiency and extended service life.

Pfannenberg’s Air To Water Heat Exchangers offer a solutions to fix your thermal management problems in washdown areas of the plant or areas with high amounts of particulate . The sealed cabinet provides contaminant-free component cooling without adding heat to the local environment.  It provides an excellent economic solution where plant water is available or when used in conjunction with a process chiller.  It’s sealed design and available stainless steel, NEMA Type 4/4X construction provides a maintenance free solution with no exposed fans or maintenance of filters required.

Typical Food and Beverage Applications:

  • Ingredient Mixers
  • Product Cooling/Drying
  • Packaging Automation Equipment
  • Inspection Machines
  • Oven Controls

For applications which require local enclosure cooling using a remotely located source of refrigeration, PWS Series Air To Water Heat Exchangers provide the perfect solution.  Paired with our CC or  EB Series Chillers, the air to water heat exchanger provides a total cooling solution that manages process and/or control enclosure heat gain and effectively removes it from the processing area.  Single source responsibility for the complete system ensures properly matched components that are engineered to work together – and to provide a custom fit to the most complex food processing equipment.

Topics: Air To Water Heat Exchangers, Enclosure Cooling, Cooling Units, Thermal Management, North America, Water Cooling, Packaged Chillers, Food & Beverage

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Liquid Cooling Solutions for Commercial Bakery Electrical Enclosures

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Are the VFDs in your Commercial Bakery failing due to high amounts of flour and moisture entering your electrical enclosure?

Pfannenberg is your proven partner for complex thermal management problems in the baking industry. High security classes of equipment and corrosion-resistant construction materials resist even the most difficult ambient conditions.

Looking for another energy savings solution? Pfannenberg’s PWS Air To Water Heat Exchangers are ideal for cooling your electrical components. Designed for maintenance free operation in the most demanding areas of a plant.

Click here to download the NEW Pfannenberg Bakery Flyer!

Also, be sure to visit us at IBIE 2016 in Las Vegas, NV — October 8th-11th at Booth #9247!

Topics: Air Water Heat Exchangers, Enclosure Cooling, Cooling Units, Thermal Management, North America, Water Cooling, Food & Beverage