Intrinsically Safe Products for Hazardous Locations

Figure 1

When considering a product for a hazardous location, it is important that the product is appropriately rated for that environment. UL, one of the primary bodies that certifies products for use in hazardous environments, defines a hazardous location as a “location where explosion or fire hazards exist due to the presence of flammable gases, flammable or combustible liquid-produced vapors, combustible dusts, or ignitable fibers or flyings.”[1] Figure 1 shows the conditions that are required to create fire and are often present in hazardous environments: oxygen, an ignition source, and flammable material. Continue reading “Intrinsically Safe Products for Hazardous Locations”

Benefits of Using Current Switches/Transformers

Motors are used for numerous industrial processes, be it moving air with a fan, pumping water with a pump, or driving a mechanical process. It is important to know when motors are not operating properly or require maintenance.

Many installations rely on a sensor or instrument used for the primary process, such as the use of a pressure transmitter to verify system pressure in a duct or the use of a flow transmitter to verify flow in a pipe. When errors or loss of pressure/flow are indicated, maintenance personnel may be dispatched to remedy the issue. However, this method does not indicate the root cause of an issue. Relying solely on primary process instrumentation opens the door to an unforeseen, possibly catastrophic situation. Continue reading “Benefits of Using Current Switches/Transformers”