Standard Fans
Despite the infinite variety of system designs, PAPST will often be able to supply a standard product to achieve the desired cooling. There are over 250 standard product lines in the PAPST range, and the company currently ships over 2500 different models of fan to customers.Many factors need to be taken into account in establishing the most appropriate cooling solution. These include:

• The maximum permissible temperature in critical areas of your system
• The total heat generated by active components
  
• The range of ambient temperatures to which your system may be exposed
  
• The efficiency of air flow throughout your system
  
• The available space
  
• The noise levels which can be tolerated

PAPST engineers can help you evaluate the effect of these and other factors on your system’s thermal performance. They can also simulate operation of the system in order the measure the effectiveness of alternative solutions, both in terms of air flow and noise generated. It’s all part of helping you to make the right choice.

The types of standard fan available
A complete list of the standard fans available can be found in the PAPST product catalogue.

With respect to their air flow characteristics, fans fall into four main categories:

• Axial fans are used where high air flow under low pressure is needed. An intelligent version, the Variofan, varies its speed between 30 °C and 50 °C in a linear fashion to minimise noise and energy consumption.
  
  
• Radial fans produce lower air flow than axial types, but under higher pressure. They’re used where obstacles within the system can restrict air flow and variable speed versions are again available.
  
  
• Mixed-flow fans are a new technology and use new impeller and venturi designs to achieve high pressure and high air flow. Air enters the fans axially then vents diagonally in a circular cone through a venturi formed by the rotor geometry.
  
  
• Cross-flow or tangential fans provide a curtain of air over a wide area using a cylindrical blade construction with the motor at one end.

To summarise, PAPST makes fans for every conceivable application in electronic cabinet cooling. Sizes range from sub-miniature to 220mm square. Air flow can be anywhere from 6 cubic metres per hour, right up to 640 cubic metres per hour. You can choose from 5, 12, 24, 36 and 48 Vdc types, or AC versions. But even with all these standard options, a degree of customisation will often pay dividends.
When a custom solution is better

Many of today’s more demanding applications are best satisfied using a custom cooling solution, but the reasons for choosing this route vary widely. Sometimes it’s to reduce manufacturing costs through special fixings or connectors. It may to achieve lower noise levels. Or there may even be a need for comprehensive remote monitoring and control systems to facilitate planned maintenance or eliminate downtime in a critical application.

Whether you decide to use a standard or custom solution, PAPST engineers have the experience, expertise and facilities to help you achieve the highest cooling performance matched to the lowest cost of ownership.