A hazardous area is defined as an area in which an explosive atmosphere is present, or may be expected to be present, in quantities such as to require special precautions for the construction, installation and use potential ignition sources.
An explosion will occur when three basic conditions are present and remove any of these basic conditions and an explosion will not occur :
- Explosive material (Gas,Liquid,Dust)
- Oxygen / Air
- Source of Ignition (Temperature Rise, Spark)
Classification of Hazardous Areas
The purpose of area classification is to provide a basis for the correct selection, installation and location of electrical and non-electrical equipment in those areas. Areas must be classified depending on the properties of the flammable vapours, liquids, gases, mists, combustible dusts or fibres that may be present and the likelihood that a flammable or combustible concentration or quantity is present.
The aim of area classification is to avoid ignition of flammable release that may be occur in the operation of facilities. The intent is to reduce to an acceptable minimum level that probability of a flammable atmosphere and an ignition source occurring at the same time.
The classification of ZONE is a complex problem but the main factors to consider are :
- The probability of the presence of gas.
- The quantity and duration of hazardous vapour.
- The amount of ventilation.
- The nature of gas : either lighter or heavier than air.
(FOR FLAMMABLE GASES AND VAPOURS):
- Zone 0 - An area in which an explosive atmosphere is constantly present, or present for long periods.
- Zone 1 - An area in which an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation.(Rough Guide : 10 hours or more per year but less than 1000 hours per year)
- Zone 2 - An area in which an explosive atmosphere is not likely to occur in normal operation and if it occur it will exist only for a short time. (Rough Guide : Less than 10 hours per year)
(FOR COMBUSTIBLE DUSTS):
- Zone 20 - An area in which combustible dust, as a cloud, is present continuously or frequently during normal operation in sufficient quantity to be capable of producing an explosive concentration of combustible dust in a mixture with air.
- Zone 21 - An area in which combustible dust, as a cloud, is occasionally present during normal operation in sufficient quantity to be capable of producing an explosive concentration of combustible dust in a mixture with air.
- Zone 22 - An area in which combustible dust, as a cloud, may occur infrequently and persist for only a short period, or in which accumulations of layers of combustible dust may give rise to an explosive concentration of combustible dust in a mixture with air.
 |
| Click to enlarge |
Group Classification
The grouping of gases and vapours are classified into Group I and Group II categories. Group I is for Mining Applications and Group II is for General Industry. Group I equipment has a representative gas of Methane and all equipment used in underground mining applications fall into this categories. Any other equipment will be Group II classified.
- I - Methane
- IIA - Propane
- IIB - Ethylene
- IIC - Hydrogen, Acetylene
Temperature Classification
The temperature classification on the electrical equipment label will be one of the following (Maximum Surface Temperature in degree Celsius) :
- T1 - 450
- T2 - 300
- T3 - 200
- T4 - 135
- T5 - 100
- T6 - 85
Therefore, those items certified as being T6, can be used in T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 gases. Whereas a T2 certification only allows a piece of equipment to be used in T1 and T2 gases.
References:
- IEC/EN 60079-0 - General Requirements
- IEC/EN 60079-10 - Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres. Classification of hazardous areas.
- IEC/EN 60079-14 - Explosive atmospheres. Electrical installations design, selection and erection.
- IEC/EN 61892-7 - Mobile and fixed offshore units. Electrical installations. Hazardous areas.
hazardous area | hazardous area classification | explosion proof | hazardous areas | hazardous classification
0 comments:
Post a Comment