Product category:
Electrostatics, lightning and earthing
News Release from: Newson Gale | Subject: multi-channel earth monitoring
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 23 September 2005
Ensuring bonding safety prevents static
hazards
Fires and explosions can result from electrostatic discharge in hazardous areas: a new multi-channel automatic earth bonding check system prevents hazardous operations where no bonding exists
In many branches of the process industry, fires and explosions can result from electrostatic discharge in hazardous areas Even relatively small static sparks have sufficient energy to ignite many flammable vapours, gases and airborne dusts
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 24 Mar 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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In situations where this risk exists, International Safety Standards dictate that all metallic parts of interconnected plant should have a secure electrical contact to each other and to earth.
With metal process items, it is necessary that their connection to other metal parts and to earth is of a sufficiently low resistance (typically less than 10 Ohms) to enable any static to be safely dissipated to earth before the energy available for discharge can build up to dangerous levels.
Many plant and process items commonly found in pharmaceutical, food or chemical processing industries have interconnected metallic parts, which are often regularly disassembled for cleaning etc.
Unearthed product bowls, filters, transfer pipes and ducting are all prone to static build up.
Using a multi-channel automatic earth monitoring system avoids the often time consuming requirement of manual testing of each plant item earth connection before the start of any process (eg mixing, transferring, spraying or drying).
Such systems offer the possibility of interlocking with automated pumps, mixers, sprayers, valves, or PLCs etc.
This ensures that the items are securely connected to each other and to earth in accordance with International Safety Standards before any process can begin.
For your free 'Earthing and Bonding' applications booklet offering advice on many related applications please contact Newson Gale. Request a free brochure from Newson Gale ...
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