How to avoid condensation problems in my drive installation

[AlexandreBoulet]

Hello, I need to design a drive installation for a sugar mill located in a tropical environment similar to the one pictured. There the  customer is facing quite high humidity levels and temperature differences between day / night. Has someone experience with VSD´s in such environments? Thanks

[BJacqz · Accepted solution]

The change of temperature in a cabinet can create some condensation on the components of the cabinet.

It appears generally just after power on a cabinet, all components / products are cold and get higher in temperature, this difference can create condensation...  

Different solutions will help to reduce or solve this kind of phenomena.

It is possible to let the concerned product always connected on the main, this allows to keep inside product a stable temperature and then avoid possible condensation. This will avoid possible condensation inside the product only.

Another possibility to help reducing condensation is to install a small heater inside the cabinet (preferable possible with a thermal setting), then it will allow a stable temperature in all cabinet and then avoiding this phenomena for all components of the cabinet...

the thermal setting will allow an adjustment of temperature and then avoid energy consumption when it is not necessary.

[ReinhardK]

Condensation appears when air is cooled down lower than its dew point, which depends on the relative humidity and air pressure.
Look for a h-x diagram or calculator on the web to figure out this critical temperature.

On electrical installations, it´s critical when the cubical inside temperature is lower than on outside temperature, or the cooling air temperature.
To avoid problems hold the inner temperature higher than on the outside, this can be done by installing space heaters.
When AC units are used, make sure to set the cooling temperature not lower than the dew point.
Special cautions are necessary on liquid-cooled drive installations, follow here the guides in the corresponding ATV manuals. 

[MitchS]

To add to the other comments:

For new enclosed drives being quoted, some options are available such as VW3AP0501 enclosure heating and VW3AP2101 for motor heating (motors can get condensation in them as well as the cabinets).

For existing installations, SE has the ClimaSys™ Thermal Management System to help with heating, cooling, and monitoring enclosures of all types along with the software to monitor and inform decisions on everything.