Air conditioners of various types utilized in the USA or Canada are required to meet certain safety standards with similar requirements in most other parts of the world. This is extremely important for industrial applications where they are used as enforcement but by authorities and within companies themselves is on an increasing trend.
Legal requirements governing the use of electrical equipment may sometimes appear complex, certain compliance requirements are clear and universally apply to electrical enclosure coolers.
The most important are the following:
OSHA and NEC Standards
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) governs safety and health in the American workplace and are used as a guide in many other countries many which have similar regulations. In 1971 the National Electric Code (NEC) was incorporated within the Construction Safety and Health Standards of OSHA and therefore all electrical equipment must also conforms to both the safety requirements of OSHA and the NEC. Vortex tube operated control panel air conditioners operate with compressed air. However, they often use electrically operated solenoid valves and thermostats, either as individual pieces or packaged together and these items themselves must meet these safety standards. If a solenoid valve for example is modified, it may be breaking a code. An example of this is drilling a hole in a solenoid to allow for some compressed air flow into an enclosure to keep it purged of environment air instead of using a separate air line for a bypass.
Local Authorities Having Jurisdiction
The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) that operates locally in the USA is responsible for enforcing local building codes and ensuring compliance. Many of the codes in force by the local authorities are based on the NEC, also known as the NFPA 70. However, others may add local addendums or use their own specific codes.
In all cases, before an installation can be energized the installation must be signed off by a local inspector mandated by the AHJ.
Increasing Importance of Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories
To ensure that electrical equipment conforms to the relevant codes is to have the equipment certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). This certification will be accepted by the AHJ. There are more than a dozen NRTLs licensed in the USA but the most well-known are UL (Underwriters Laboratory) and CSA (Canadian Standards Association).
Before selecting enclosure cooling equipment, make sure that the equipment has been certified and carries the NRTL certification mark. These testing laboratories do more than just “test”. They ensure that the materials used in the products meet a certain standard of quality. One issue with vortex cooler “knockoffs” for example is not only potentially poor quality, but also the use of below standard materials and parts that require a certain level of testing and approval. Anything below “standard” is risky with anything electrical or electronic.
Specific Canadian Requirements
Enclosure cooling systems sold in Canada must conform to the Canadian Electrical Code Part 1. The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and certain other testing laboratories such as UL are accredited. There are some variations in test requirements and levels of acceptance between the USA and Canada to distinguish between American and Canadian certifications. UL for example puts a prefix C next to their mark and refers to both the USA and Canada approval. Sometimes both a C and US prefix and suffix is used to identify that the product is tested to the standards of both jurisdictions. It’s important to understand this difference so as to avoid the possibility of installing equipment with the incorrect certification for your region. CSA is based in Canada and again does the same with prefix or suffix identification to indicate approval for one or both jurisdictions. Nex Flow Panel Coolers have been tested and approved by UL to meet both Canadian and USA standards and bear the appropriate mark.
Hazardous Areas
Equipment designed for use in a hazardous area must also be certified as such. Your enclosure cooler must conform to the specific hazardous area rating applicable and must be compatible with the rating of the enclosure on which it is used. Proper wiring and connections should be particularly checked.
NEMA Type Enclosure Rating for the Enclosure and Area
The enclosure cooling system used must have the same or better NEMA Type enclosure rating than the electrical enclosure itself. These NEMA Type ratings indicate the design level of the enclosure and the cooling system. For example NEMA Type 4 enclosures are suitable for applications and environments where the panel is subject to wash down. The vortex cooler (or whatever cooking is used) needs to be same or better for that wash down environment. Europe uses IP ratings. Various sources can provide the IP rating that is equivalent to the North American NEMA Type rating. Vortex Coolers like the Nex Flow Panel Cooler have versions tested and approved for NEMA 12 (IP 54), NEMA 3R (IP 14) and NEMA 4-4X (IP 66) applications.
In the U.S. and Canada, it is mandatory for certain equipment to carry the mark of an approved testing laboratory, and an enclosure air conditioner is on the list. Verify before you buy and be safe by using properly certified parts and equipment.
Vortex tubes are ideal for spot cooling and enclosure cooling. Typically one vortex tube is used for one “spot” and for “one” enclosure. But there are some situations where one vortex tube can be split into multiple “spots” as long as one important criteria is kept in mind. Once the compressed air exits the vortex tube it needs to be directed to the area that needs the cooling. When the vortex tube is out in the open, this is achieved by adding a delivery tube, usually flexible tubing to direct the cold air to that spot. When cooling an enclosure, the cold air is sent directly into the enclosure from inside the enclosure. Once the air exits inside the enclosure it can be further distributed around the enclosure thru tubing but all the cold air is input into the enclosure.
Two factors that must be considered when using the cold air produced in a vortex tube: conduction and pressure drop. The general rule it to keep any tubing on an open space vortex tube as short as possible, preferably under 8 inches. One example where a vortex tube has been used in open space for multiple locations is on routing a plastic part. Once Nex Flow Model 50030H vortex tube had the cold air split into two directions and delivered to cool two routers. Rather than using one vortex tube for each router, one larger capacity vortex tube was utilized. If two separate units were used, they could have been smaller capacity units (Model 50015H), each which is ½ the capacity of what was used. What made this work was delivering the air with large (10 mm) tubing to offset pressure drop and keeping the distance as short as possible (under 8 inches to each router). Also, the tubing was insulated to minimize the effect of conducting heat from the surroundings into the tubing, heating up the cold air. There was consideration for using two vortex tubes but there were also space issues with the application.
But this is not a common application. If the distance they had to cool was much longer from the vortex tube, we would have recommended two of the smaller capacity vortex tubes. There is another consideration when considering the use of vortex tubes for multiple location cooling. Let’s take the example above. If the distance from the vortex tube was only a few inches more, to get the same cooling effect at the router, we would have had to use a larger capacity vortex tube, a Model 50040H. That extra 10 SCFM of compressed air use costs energy. That extra energy cost would more than pay for the extra vortex tube in a very short time, and even if used sparingly, certainly in under a year. The increased operating cost, even with minimal use, can easily be equal to or more than the capital cost of one additional unit.
Concerning enclosures, more than once we had to address an issue with cooling when a Nex Flow Panel Cooler, instead of being attached directly to the control panel. Was for some reason mounting off to one side, and a tube was attached to the bottom of the Panel Cooler and then put into the control panel. Needless to say, the unit did not cool as was expected because the cold air heated up several degrees before it reached the control panel. The Panel Cooler has a built in vent to exhaust the displaced hot air inside the cabinet and of course was not used at all when mounted outside. If you are facing any difficulties with installation – please do not hesitate to contact one of our engineers.
Another thing to remember when installing a vortex tube or a vortex tube operated device like the Panel Cooler, onto an enclosure that it must be installed at the top, or if space is lacking, near the top using a side mount. The reason is that cold air falls and hot air rises. The reason a distribution tube is used at the end of a Panel Cooler is to distribute the cold air faster to isothermalize the cabinet (even out the temperature) more quickly. If the vortex tube device is mounted too low, the hot air will tend to stratify at the top of the inside of the enclosure.
When considering any vortex tube operated device – cabinet enclosure cooler, tool cooler, spot cooler, mini cooler or the vortex tube itself, it is best to keep any attachment at the cold end as short as possible when the product is in open space. When attached to an enclosure of any type, the cold air should be directed directly into the enclosure, near or at the top.
Spot coolers are self-contained air conditioning systems that have all the components of larger air conditioning systems but are compact and easy to move. Spot cooling for industrial applications are used short term to cool a small area on a part or in an enclosure – such as a cabinet. Spot coolers are ideal for cooling electronics, computer server rooms, and humans in small confined work environments. They are often praised for their portability, ease of use, and installation.
Fans cannot cool below ambient temperature because they cool by moving air and cool a wider area. Compressed air amplifiers cool better than fans because of the higher velocity but they also do not cool below ambient temperatures. Air amplifiers also cool a wider area. This blog discusses the three most popular ways to cool below ambient temperature, namely Vortex Tubes, thermoelectric, and cryogenic gas (CO2 and Nitrogen Gas) cooling systems.
It is important that the spot cooling system chosen is reliable because sudden or frequent break downs can cause costly equipment damage, repair, or replacement. Keeping humans cool in a small work area is important as well for health and safety concerns. All Spot coolers come with accessories that allow you to direct the cooled air where it is needed most. Any condensation that results from the cooling process is drained through a hose or bucket.
Vortex Tube Cooling System
Vortex Tube Cooling systems are powered by compressed air. The vortex action separates the compressed air into extremely cold and hot streams. The cylindrical form causes the compressed air to rotate at a high speed (reaching 1 million rpm). A small portion of the air exits through a needle valve as hot exhaust. The remaining air is forced through the center of the incoming air stream at a slower speed. The action of the slower moving air dissipates any remaining heat into the faster moving air. The super-cooled air flows through the center of the generator and exits the cold air exhaust. Depending on the temperature and pressure of the incoming compressed air, it is possible to achieve cold end temperatures as low as – 40 and even – 50 degrees F. The hot air (end) can be up to 260° F (127° C). The Vortex cooling system, or cold end of the Vortex Tube, is often used for “spot cooling” of cabinets, such as control panels and industrial cameras.
Vortex Tubes normally come with the “hot end” adjustable to control the flow and temperature out the cold end. The more flow out the hot side, the lower the temperature out the cold side. The cooling effect (BTU/hour) is determined by both flow and temperature drop. Therefore, for cooling applications, the cold end should be between 60% – 80%. If the cold temperature is most important, then the flow out the cold end should be under 50%.
Choosing the best Spot Cooler
Factors in selection:
Vortex Tube cooling systems that use compressed air is considered where conventional enclosure cooling by air conditioners or heat exchangers is not possible. Ideally, Vortex Tube cooling systems are used to cool small to medium size enclosures, nonmetallic enclosures, and areas where the size of cooling devices is restricted.
For optimum cooling results when using a Vortex Tube cooling system, the following items are required when installing:
Clean, dry, oil-free compressed air
80 to 100 PSIG / 70 degrees F or below. Lower pressures and higher temperatures will reduce BTU/H ratings.
A 5-micron water and particulate removal
A 5-micron oil removal filter when oil is present
Thermostats or temperature indicator sticker
Valve (optional)
Muffler go minimize exhaust noise
Advantages:
The Vortex Tube cooling system has many advantages. The small, portable, light weight, and compact system creates extremely cold air without refrigerants, included CFCs or HCFCs. It is exceptionally reliable since there are no moving parts and virtually maintenance free. It uses minimal electricity (only for the compressor). Vortex Tube cooling systems are useful in harsh and high temperature environments. Customers can expect a long life from Vortex Tubes because Nex Flow uses only Stainless-Steel with a brass generator. Compressed air is not the only gas that can be used to produce cold air, Nitrogen and other natural gases that can be compressed can be used as well.
Applications:
Vortex Tube cooling systems can be used to cool:
electronic and electrical control instruments
machine operations/tooling
CCTV cameras
Set hot melt adhesives
soldered parts
gas samples
heat seals
environmental chambers
workers wearing protective gear
data centers
plastic machined parts and molded plastics
Electronic components
It is understood that cold and hot gas (bi-product) is generated when using a Vortex Tube cooling system.
Choosing the best Spot Cooler
Thermoelectric Coolers (Peltier Effect)
Thermoelectric cooling (TEC) became a viable option for spot cooling in the late 1950s with the development of semiconductor materials. The thermoelectric cooler (TEC), often called the Peltier module, is named after Jean Peltierwho discovered heating/cooling effect when passing electric current through the junction of two conductors in the early 1800s. It is a semiconductor-based electronic component that functions as a small heat pump.
Using a low-voltage positive DC voltage to a TEC, electrons pass from one element (p-type) to another (n-type), and the cold-side temperature decreases as the electron current absorbs heat, until equilibrium is reached. The cooling is proportional to the current and the number of thermoelectric couples. This heat is transferred to the hot side of the cooler, where it is dissipated into the heat sink and surrounding environment. The result is a quick and large temperature differential.
Factors in Selection:
To use Thermoelectric spot cooling, a DC voltage required. This type of spot cooling is ideal when refrigerants are not desired, and space is limited. It a cost effective, reliable, efficient way to spot cool. Multiple thermoelectric coolers are connected side by side and then placed between two metal plates. It is ideal for intermittent heating and cooling applications because TEC seamlessly switches between heating and cooling.
Advantages:
Thermoelectric spot cooling has come to dominate certain applications because of the following benefits:
Precise temperature control and stabilization to 0.01 degree C
reliable
noise-free operation
vibration-free operation
scalable
compact
Choosing the best Spot Cooler
Applications:
TEC is used for spot cooling for the following applications:
Telecommunication applications:
980nm and 1480nm Pump Lasers
Digital Transmission Lasers
Planar Lightwave Circuits
Optical Channel Monitors
CATV Transmission Lasers
Avalanche Photodiodes
Wavelength Lockers
Medical samples
Cold storage
Electronic cabinets
Self-powered appliances
Small scale refrigeration
Harsh environmental protection for critical components
Computer microprocessors and robotics
Cabinet cooling
Cryogenic Cooling (Carbon Dioxide or Nitrogen gas)
Cryogenics is the scientific study of materials and their behaviors at temperatures well below conventional refrigeration. The word comes from the Greek cryo “cold” and “genic”, which means “producing”. Cryogenic temperature ranges can be reported using any temperature scale, but Kelvin and Rankine scales are most commonly used because they are absolute scales that have only positive numbers. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) considers cryogenics to include temperatures below −180 °C (93.15 K; −292.00 °F), which is a temperature above which common refrigerants (e.g., hydrogen sulfide, freon) are gases and below which “permanent gases” (e.g., air, nitrogen, oxygen, neon, hydrogen, helium) are liquids. At 250 F below zero, many gases are liquid. Below is a list of temperatures where these gases boil.
Fluid
Boiling (Celsius)
Boiling (Fahrenheit)
Oxygen
-183°
-297°
Nitrogen
-196°
-320°
Neon
-246°
-411°
Hydrogen
-253°
-423°
Helium
-270°
-452°
Before the fluid’s temperature rise, all the liquid must boil away and turn into a gas. None of these gases exist naturally as a liquid. Each of the gases are cooled to put them into a liquid state. Latent heat absorption during the phase change from solid to liquid or liquid to gas causes cooling in the immediate area. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), liquid CO2 (LCO2), known as Refrigerant R-744, is the most widely used method used during vaporization of a liquid to a gas. When liquid CO2 is introduced to the system through the nozzle of a spray gun or cooling injector tube on a temperature chamber or thermal platform (cold plate), the liquid quickly turns to solid state CO2 or dry ice. As the dry ice warms up or sublimates (direct change from solid to gas), a great release of the latent heat occurs.
Liquid CO2:
Spot-cooling method uses liquid CO2 injected in controlled pulses through tiny capillary tubes inserted into hard-to-cool areas to the same level as the rest of plastic mold cores. This approach is meant to complement conventional water cooling by ensuring uniform mold temperature without hot spots.
When the cooling cycle begins, LCO2 is fed under high pressure (approximately 850 psi (58.6 bar)) through the thin, flexible stainless-steel capillary tubes with solenoid valves to time injections and to the points where cooling is required. The high sublimation energy of the CO2 from solid to gas phase, along with the resulting cold gas, provides a very high local cooling capacity. The CO2 withdraws heat from the steel of the mold and escapes out of the expansion room in gaseous form through an annular gap between the hole and capillary tube.
Liquid Nitrogen:
Under normal atmospheric pressure, Nitrogen can exist as a liquid between the temperatures of 63 K and 77.2 K (-346°F and -320.44°F). Below 63 K, nitrogen freezes and becomes a solid. Above 77.2 K, nitrogen boils and becomes a gas. Since it is obtained from the atmosphere, liquid nitrogen is inexpensive and is rarely refrigerated. It is kept in insulated containers called Dewars and can boil away.
Advantages:
Given the purity of LCO2 supplied for this application (typically >99.98%), there is little danger of residue build-up or contamination of the hole as there would be with water cooling. Meanwhile, Liquid Nitrogen is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It is an Inert element that is noncorrosive and does not support combustion, so it is safe.
Disadvantages:
There are several risks involved in cooling using cryogenic cooling systems. There is always a risk of asphyxiation, frostbite, or burns if not used and handled properly. Cryogenic gas has large expansion ratio for evaporation. For example, if one liter of liquid nitrogen can result in 700 liters of gas. If released in a small room, it can fill a room and make it an oxygen deficient atmosphere. It is also not safe to digest. It is essential that all the liquid nitrogen is evaporated before ingested otherwise it can boil and cause damage to internal organs.
Choosing the best Spot Cooler
Factors in Selection:
Cryogenic spot cooling systems are ideal for specific applications in automotive, medical, aerospace, consumer products, plumbing, and construction. CO2 is the preferred coolant for spot cooling because it is cheap to capture and compress. It is also ideal for large scale applications due to lower volume cost and longer storage times. The cooling requirements should be above -50 C. For repeated cooling, CO2 must be supplied at the right pressure and at the right temperature without gas bubbles. It stores longer than liquid nitrogen gas, which is stored at -190 C.
Liquid Nitrogen cryogenics is colder and has greater heat removing capabilities below -60˚C. Proper supply and control system design is crucial because if too much coolant sublimates to a solid state at once, blockages in the cooling system can occur.
It is highly recommended that oxygen monitoring equipment is used to test for oxygen deficient atmospheres during cryogenic spot cooling. The system must be properly maintained to prevent blockages.
Applications:
Applications of cryogenic spot cooling include:
Cooling of construction mold
Preserve experimental samples
Coolant for computers
Medicine to removed unwanted skin, warts, and pre-cancerous cells
Instantly freeze food and cocktails – creating an impressive cloud of vapor or fog when exposed to air.
Internet searches will find recipes for nitro-caramel popcorn and pumpkin-pie ice-cream
Plastic and rubber deflashing and grinding
Metal treating
Biological sample preservation
Pulverization
Summary
Vortex Tube cooling system is a low-cost choice for industrial applications. Simply adjust the hot end hot air valve to determine the temperature at the cold end. The more air escaping from the hot end reduces the temperature of the cold air flowing from the other end of the Vortex Tube.
It produces cold air instantly for enclosed environments. Since there are no moving parts, there is no spark or explosion hazard. Vortex Tube cooling system have two types of generators that are easily interchangeable. One generator has a cooling effect while the other one restricts the flow of the cold air, which creates extreme cold temperatures such as -40 or -50 F. Apart from special designs, the technology is available in the following configurations:
Packaged Frigid-X® Panel Cooler for cooling control panels
When you need require extreme cold temperatures, Nex Flow recommends using the Frigid-X® 50000C series. Nex flow vortex tub cooling system consists of a stainless-steel body with all metal parts. The cooling system is quiet and instantly creates sub-zero cold air temperatures from an ordinary compressed air supply for spot air cooling applications where precise adjustability of temperatures is important.
Like the Vortex Tube cooling system, Thermoelectric spot cooling is an ideal choice for intermittent cooling/heating applications. The disadvantage is that TEC requires a DC voltage because multiple thermoelectric coolers are connected side by side and then placed between two metal plates. Although equally effective for cooling to extreme temperatures as Vortex Tube or thermoelectric cooling systems for many industrial applications, cryogenic cooling appears to have the highest risks and the greatest need for monitoring equipment for health and safety concerns. Nex Flow specializes in research and development of cooling technology required for industrial fic applications, such as spot cooling. Nex Flow® stays ahead of the competition by finding new applications for this unique technology, and to improve the efficiency of the products which depends on many proprietary factors. Corrosion-resistant, food-grade stainless steel means that all Nex Flow equipment is dependable, and long lasting. All spot cooling equipment is precision machined, assembled, and tested. Manufactured to withstand extreme temperatures and environmental conditions, the Vortex Tube cooling system is produced under strict quality control, which ensures years of reliable maintenance free operation.
5 Ways a Tool Cooler is used to Improve Factory Efficiency
A tool cooler is a packaged vortex tube to make it more easily used. A vortex tube creates very cold, and even freezing temperatures from compressed air for spot cooling. By itself, the vortex tube is quite noisy so accessories to muffle the sound of the device is usually required. The tool cooler consists of a vortex tube with a cold end muffler, and a hot end sleeve (to protect from the heat generated at the hot end) which also incorporates some muffling. In addition, a strong magnet is added onto the unit to easily attach it to any magnet accepting surfaces like a machine or steel table to secure the unit in place. So this “packaged” vortex tube is now quiet, easy to handle and more flexible to use.
Normally a vortex tube by itself has an adjustable hot end plug to control the flow of cold air out the cold and hot ends, and to vary the temperature produced at the cold end. But there is an “optimum setting” that will give you the maximum cooling effect and at the same time keep the temperature just above zero degrees C. This is to prevent any possible freezing in the device should the dew point for your compressed air supply is not very low. For sub-zero temperature generation you should have dry air with a dew point below that of the temperature you wish to produce in the vortex tube.
The most common use for a Tool Cooler is of course for cooling the tool used for drilling, grinding, milling and routing especially for materials that are not allowed to have liquid for cooling for various reasons like the liquid being detrimental to the material or for reason such as avoiding contamination. This would be for plastics, glass, ceramics, titanium and other special materials.In fact there is an entire movement to replace coolant normally used as much as possible due to the high disposal cost of coolant and for environmental considerations. Much has and is being driven towards dry or semi-dry machining which involves significant machine design changes as well since liquid coolant not only cools, but cleans away the chips and waste produced in the machining operation.
Tool coolers or variations such as our mist cooler, which offers some lubrication are becoming more popular. But for materials that have always been dry machined such as plastics, the benefits are faster machining (shortens production time and increases output) and better quality, especially with plastics as it produces less waste in the cut (a much cleaner cut). Tool life can be extended as well in carbide tipped tools because the cold air produced helps prevent micro-carbon cracking.
Setting Hot Melt Adhesives is another common use for the tool cooler. When applying adhesives, the cold temperature helps to set the glue faster and allowing for a faster throughput. In one application (which I cannot detail due to secrecy), has a continuous line of adhesive applied and required rapid cooling which several tool coolers along the length of the process was able to provide. The customer utilized adjustable vortex tubes prior but the problem was actually personnel continually adjusting. As such, some devices were adjusted for higher flow, some for colder temperature but – what slipped the mind is – consideration for the cooling effect change. Our tool cooler is set for optimum cooling and took this issue out of the equation. Nex Flow do also offer adjustable spot coolers in cases where some temperature control is needed.
In line slitting, is a variation in tool cooling in that you are applying the cold air flow to a cutting blade in a slitting operation. The advantage here is not for increasing output, but to have the sharpness of the blade last longer. There is a very noticeable improvement when thicker material need to be slit as the blade would have to work harder and can heat up more. The vortex tube operated tool cooler keeps the temperature down, and extends the blade life. As with the adhesive application, the tool cooler is preset to give the optimum cooling effect to prevent tampering with the unit and maintaining consistency in cooling to control the quality of the adhesive application.
Laser cutting is an application where the tool cooler is very effective. For the laser processing of materials, the material changes in the heat affected zone (HAZ) is an important indicator for quality in microelectronics manufacturing. In laser cutting you focus beams to heat the surface of the material up to a high temperature to melt the material and you want to minimize the HAZ. The cooling from the tool cooler decreases potential burning in the heat affected zone area thereby improving quality. As there is no refrigerant involved, there is no effect on the environment. The low temperature cooling air diminishes the HAZ in laser cutting for glass fiber reinforced composite materials for example.
Chill roll nip cooling is where the Tool Cooler is placed on the nip roll of a plastic film web processing line. Nip rollsor pinch rolls are powered rolls that are used to press two or more sheets together to form a laminated product. The high pressure created at the nip point brings the sheets into intimate contact, and can squeeze out any bubbles or blisters that might cause a defective bond. If the material is too warm it can stick and if the material is very thick or cooling is uneven, there could be a hot spot causing defects which is easily eliminated by using a Tool Cooler.
In all these applications there is no requirement for lubrication. However, there are applications where some lubrication is absolutely necessary. One example is drilling a deep hole into a material. Without some lubrication to the cutting tool, it will bind inside the material being drilled. For this reason Nex Flow developed the patented Mist Cooler which operates not by cooling the tool directly, but by cooling the lubricant applied to the cutting tool to a very low temperature. The liquid is applied as a mist to the cutting tool to provide both the lubrication and cooling it needs. The benefit is the diminished volume of liquid needed to both cool and lubricate. Reduction in chemical use can be as much as 20%, a significant savings even over a short time frame.
Tool Coolers are available in various capacities for cooling depending on the nature of the material being cooled, the rate of throughput and the thickness of the material. There is even a small capacity unit called a Mini Cooler which is used in cutting thin material, and even in sewing operations involving heavy textiles such as jeans and burlap bags where the sowing needles heat up and deform or break thread. The mini cooler keeps them cool. While it is generally a good idea to avoid any adjustable system (as the fixed systems are preset for optimum cooling), the Adjustable Spot Cooler is another packaged vortex tube, very similar to the Tool Cooler but with an easy hand adjustable knob to vary the temperature at the outlet that is available. This is usually used in laboratory applications and for testing where temperature variation is required. Tool Coolers (and other variations) can be specially made to provide sub-zero temperatures if required. The versatility of the Tool Coolers makes it an excellent packaged option for all types of spot cooling applications.
