kotelokanavat

Kotelokanavat is a Finnish technical term describing internal channels or conduits that are built into the enclosure or housing of a device, cabinet, or structure to route cables, fluids, air, or signals. The word combines kotelo (enclosure, housing) with kanavat (channels), reflecting its role in organizing and guiding services inside a protective shell.

The primary purpose of kotelokanavat is to provide orderly cable management and to facilitate controlled airflow, cooling, and separation of different systems. They help reduce electrical interference by keeping high-power and low-power lines apart, protect routed conduits from damage, and simplify installation and maintenance by offering predefined pathways and access points.

Design considerations for kotelokanavat include channel size and cross-section, bend radii, and the number of access openings. Materials vary from plastics to metals and composites, chosen for mechanical strength, fire resistance, and compatibility with thermal management and EMI shielding. Channels may be molded directly into the enclosure, created by modular duct components, or formed with mounting rails and guides. Sealing, dust and moisture ingress protection, and regulatory compliance (such as safety and electrical codes) are also important factors.

Applications span multiple fields. In consumer electronics, internal cable channels organize wiring in compact housings. In automotive and aerospace electronics, they route harnesses within enclosures. In data centers and industrial equipment, kotelokanavat support structured cable management and cooling paths within server racks and control cabinets.

See also: cable management, conduit, wire duct, enclosure design, thermal management, EMI shielding.