Gore Improves Its Direct Air Cooling Filter For Electronic Enclosures

Elkton, MD -- W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., has introduced a new membrane media for its line of GORE Cooling Filters that increases thermal performance while providing strong environmental protection and reliability. The new GORE Cooling Filters improve thermal cooling while reducing both capital and operating costs in wireless base stations, MCPAs, base band units, power cabinets, switching systems, and other outdoor electronic enclosures.

The benefits of using the new GORE Cooling Filter are two-fold — improved cooling efficiency and reduced costs. Constructed with a new membrane technology, the filter improves thermal cooling approximately 20 percent by allowing higher airflow through the filter. At the same time, the membrane protects the electronic components by preventing fine contaminants such as dirt, dust, and sand from entering the enclosure. By increasing airflow while reducing potential contaminant damage, the GORE Cooling Filter improves overall reliability of telecommunications infrastructure.

GORE Cooling Filters reduce both capital and operating costs in several ways. First, a significant cost savings is achieved with a new lightweight frame designed into the filter. With these new frames, the filters are significantly lighter and less expensive to purchase and ship. Also with the new media, the filter lasts about 20 percent longer than its predecessor, yielding additional OPEX savings. Second, unlike bulky heat exchangers and energy-consuming air-conditioning systems, direct-air cooling systems have very few moving parts, which further reduce equipment maintenance costs. Finally, the new membrane technology reduces operating expenses by lowering the filter pressure drop by 60 percent, which in turn reduces the amount of energy required by fans to efficiently cool sensitive electronics.

The technology behind the new GORE Cooling Filter is based on a proprietary expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane. This microporous membrane allows cool, clean air to flow into the cabinet while filtering out harmful contaminants. Expanded PTFE membrane has a 99.0 percent particle filtration efficiency at the 0.3µm level (1cm/sec). GORE Cooling Filters can incorporate the high-performance Gore filtration media into either a lightweight frame or a rigid anodized aluminium frame, providing the most reliable protection possible for a variety of applications. Cabinets fitted with GORE Cooling Filters easily pass the most stringent requirements, including IP55 and NEMA 3R.

GORE Cooling Filters significantly improve Mean Time between Failures (MTBF) because of their ability to lower the internal cabinet temperature over HEX and to increase corrosion protection over standard filters. These filters can be customized to fit small to large base station units for mobile communications as well as wire-lined cabinets such as ADSL and power enclosure applications. According to Dr. Wilson Poon, research associate at Gore, "Using Gore's ambient-air cooling system with our new membrane technology is a cost-effective solution, whether it is being incorporated into a new product design or retrofitted into an established product. Available in either a lightweight or aluminium frame, GORE Cooling Filters allow an equipment manufacturer to increase its competitive advantage in the marketplace without compromising optimal performance."

SOURCE: W. L.Gore & Associates