Basic understanding of explosion-proof electrical equipment and explosion-proof batteries

Explosion-proof electrical equipment: Electrical equipment designed and manufactured according to specified conditions (explosion-proof type) that will not cause an explosion of the surrounding explosive mixture (hazardous explosion location), i.e., electrical equipment used in explosive atmospheres.

Equipment for use in explosive atmospheres: Electrical explosion-proof equipment used alone or in combination in explosive atmospheres that can prevent explosions caused by its own potential ignition source.

I. Classification of Electrical Equipment for Explosive Atmospheres

1.1 Electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres is divided into Class I, Class II, and Class III.

Class I: Used in coal mine gas atmospheres.

The explosion-proof type of Class I equipment takes into account the ignition of gas and coal dust, as well as the additional physical protection measures for underground equipment.

Equipment used in coal mines, where the environment may contain other explosive gases besides coal mine methane, should be manufactured and tested according to the requirements for Class I and Class II flammable gases. Class II: For explosive gas environments other than coal mine methane. Further classification is possible based on the characteristics of the intended explosive gas environment. Reclassification of Class II equipment: —Class IIA: Representative gas is propane; —Class IIB: Representative gas is ethylene; —Class IIC: Representative gases are hydrogen and acetylene. Note: Class IIB equipment is applicable to the operating conditions of Class IIA equipment, and Class IIC equipment is applicable to the operating conditions of both Class IIA and Class IIB equipment. Class IIC equipment indicates a high explosion-proof rating, but does not necessarily mean that this type of equipment has the best performance. Class III: Used in explosive dust environments other than coal mines. Class III equipment can be further subdivided according to the characteristics of the explosive dust environment in which it is intended to be used. Subdivisions of Class III equipment: Class IIIA: Combustible dust; Class IIIB: Non-conductive dust; Class IIIC: Conductive dust. Note: Class IIIB equipment is applicable to the operating conditions of Class IIIA equipment, and Class IIIC equipment is applicable to the operating conditions of Class IIA or IIIB equipment.

 

1.2 Equipment for Specific Explosive Gas Atmospheres: When tested according to a specific explosive gas atmosphere, the relevant information should be recorded in the explosion-proof certificate and appropriately marked on the equipment.

II. Equipment Protection Level (EPL)

2.1 Definition:

Equipment Protection Level (EPL): The protection level specified for equipment used in explosive atmospheres, based on the likelihood of the equipment becoming an ignition source and the different characteristics of explosive gas atmospheres, explosive dust atmospheres, and coal mine methane explosive atmospheres.

2.2 Classification

Coal Mine Gas: Ma, Mb;

Equipment for Explosive Gas Atmospheres: Ga, Gb, Gc;

Equipment for Explosive Dust Atmospheres: Da, Db, Dc.

 

III. Zone Classification

3.1 Explosive gas environments are classified according to the frequency and duration of occurrence:

Zone 0: Explosive gases are present continuously or for extended periods; the hazard level is greater than 1000 hours/year continuously.

Zone 1: Flammable gases may occur or be present during normal instrument operation; the hazard level is intermittently present for 10~1000 hours/year.

Zone 2: Under normal circumstances, flammable gases are not present, and even if they occasionally occur, their presence time is very short; the hazard level under accident conditions is 0.1~10 hours/year.

3.2 Combustible dust environments are classified according to the frequency, duration, and thickness of the dust layer:

Zone 20 (…) Zone 20: Locations and containers where combustible dust is continuously or frequently present during normal operation, in quantities sufficient to form a combustible dust-air mixture or potentially forming an uncontrollable and extremely thick dust layer.
Zone 21: Locations where, during normal operation, sufficient dust may be present to form a combustible dust-air mixture but are not classified as Zone 20. This zone includes: locations directly adjacent to dust filling or venting points, locations where dust layers exist, and locations where combustible dust-air mixtures at concentrations potentially flammable under normal operating conditions may occur.
Zone 22: Locations where, under abnormal conditions, combustible dust is occasionally present and only for short periods, or where combustible dust occasionally accumulates or dust layers may exist, forming combustible dust-air mixtures. If the elimination of combustible dust accumulation or dust layers cannot be guaranteed, it should be classified as Zone 21.

The applicable areas for explosion-proof electrical equipment are shown in the following diagram:



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