Name 3 types of instrument related protections against explosions in Hazardous area?
In hazardous areas, where there is a risk of explosions, it’s crucial to have proper protection methods in place for instruments and equipment. Here are three types of protection techniques commonly used:
- Containment: This method allows an explosion to occur but confines it to a well-defined area, preventing the spread to the surrounding atmosphere. Explosion-proof enclosures are a typical example of containment1.
- Segregation: This technique involves physically separating or isolating electrical parts or hot surfaces from the explosive mixture. Methods like pressurization and encapsulation fall under segregation2.
- Prevention: By limiting the energy, both electrical and thermal, to safe levels during normal operation and fault conditions, this method prevents the ignition sources from causing an explosion. Intrinsic safety is a key technique associated with prevention2.
These methods are designed to eliminate at least one element of the fire triangle (heat, fuel, oxygen) or explosion hexagon, thereby reducing the risk of ignition and explosion in hazardous areas. here are three types of instrument-related protections against explosions in hazardous areas:
- Intrinsic Safety (IS): Intrinsic safety is a protection technique for safe operation of electronic equipment in explosive atmospheres by limiting the energy available for ignition. Intrinsically safe instruments are designed to prevent the release of sufficient electrical or thermal energy to cause ignition of a hazardous atmosphere.
- Explosion-proof (Ex d): Explosion-proof instruments are designed to contain any explosion within the device and prevent it from igniting the surrounding atmosphere. These instruments are built to withstand high-pressure environments and are constructed with robust enclosures that can withstand and contain explosions.
- Flameproof (Ex e): Flameproof protection involves containing any potential explosion within an enclosure that can withstand the pressure and prevent flames from escaping. These enclosures are designed to withstand the pressure generated by an internal explosion and prevent it from propagating into the surrounding hazardous area.