3 Explosion Proof Solutions for Hazardous Zones

Smart Innovations 3 Explosion Proof Solutions for Hazardous Zones

2023-10-24 From Ahlam Rais 4 min Reading Time

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Industrial plants have to be monitored closely as they are extremely dangerous since it deals with highly flammable liquids and gases. This is why there is always a pressing need for more advanced and developed explosion-proof solutions which can help plant operators to carry out numerous tasks such as monitoring and collecting data safely all in real-time without being a source of ignition in hazardous zones. PROCESS Worldwide offers an insight into three such explosion proof solutions—mobile robots, drones and mixed reality glasses—for industrial units.

Industrial units are extremely dangerous as it contains flammable liquids and gases as well as combustible dust which can quickly escalate into a massive fire or explosion at the site. (Source: luca piccini basile - stock.adobe.com) — Industrial units are extremely dangerous as it contains flammable liquids and gases as well as combustible dust which can quickly escalate into a massive fire or explosion at the site.
(Source: luca piccini basile - stock.adobe.com)

‘Huge explosion or blast at an industrial plant leaves many people dead and injured’ – almost all of us have read this kind of a headline at some point. Industrial units such as petrochemical and chemical facilities are extremely dangerous as it contains flammable liquids and gases as well as combustible dust which can quickly escalate into a massive fire or explosion at the site thus claiming lives, damaging property and polluting the environment. To prevent this from happening, various international and regional safety standards have been drawn up which also applies to explosion-proof solutions which are used to keep the facilities and its workers safe.

What are explosion proof solutions?

Used across industrial plants, explosion proof (ex-proof) solutions basically mean that it can be placed in hazardous spaces, withstand high levels of combustible substances and not cause any explosion and in case, an explosion occurs, it will be confined and controlled within the solution without impacting the surroundings. These solutions also have to be Ex-certified; this certification assures that the solution cannot be a source of ignition.

Traditional solutions such as ex-proof junction boxes & control equipment, sockets, cables, lighting fixtures and many more are already being adopted by industrial plants but now with changing times, the ‘kind of’ explosion-proof solutions available in the world today has also upgraded and evolved.

Smart, innovative and highly efficient explosion proof solutions

Mobile Robots – The demand for mobile robots is increasing in the industrial sector as it has the capacity to collect data while inspecting different assets of the plant in critical spaces. Comprising of embedded cameras and sensors, these robots can carry out boring and repetitive inspections with high accuracy. The collected data helps plant operators to take informed and timely decisions to avoid major accidents and unscheduled shutdowns. This also helps to save precious time.

Now, these robots are also certified as ex-proof. For instance, Anybotics’ Anymal X is the world's first explosion-proof legged robot. With an Atex and Iecex certification, this autonomous robot has the ability to carry out flexible and mobile inspection close to the ex-areas in oil & gas and chemical plants.

Anybotics’ Anymal X is the world's first explosion-proof legged robot. (Source: Anybotics) — Anybotics’ Anymal X is the world's first explosion-proof legged robot.
(Source: Anybotics)

Apart from this, another intelligent explosion-proof inspection robot was introduced by Chongqing Sevnce Technology. Specially designed for the oil & gas industry, the Chinese company’s robot collects data accurately in order to evaluate various meters, liquids, and gases. Equipped with numerous intelligent sensing devices, the robot has also secured an Ex d IIB T4 Gb China explosion-proof certification along with an IP65 waterproof and dustproof certification.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) – Unmanned aerial vehicles are also popularly known as drones. These smart devices are used across various industrial plants especially for chemical and oil & gas units owing to their multiple benefits such as routine outdoor inspection, internal inspection, emergency response and security, surveying and mapping. With the help of these drones, plant operators can keep their personnel safe from harm, monitor critical infrastructure and also undertake informed decisions which lead to accurate and efficient results.

An ex-proof example of this: Larson Electronics has introduced an explosion-proof drone for industrial facilities which can monitor, survey, and also deploy objects in hazardous environments. With explosion proof ratings of Class I, Divisions 1 & 2 Groups A, B, C, D and Class II, Divisions 1 & 2 Groups E, F, G, the drone is listed for the USA, Canada and Europe. The drone features eight rotors, three GPS sensors for optimized tracking and a vibration absorber. Capable of reaching maximum speeds of 18 m/s with no wind, the UAV can travel a maximum distance of 3.2 miles and 22 minutes of flight time. An infrared camera can also be mounted on the drone to monitor thermal gas leaks on large structures.

Mixed Reality (MR) glasses – While ex-proof mobile robots and drones are currently being explored across diverse industrial facilities, there’s a new technology in the market called mixed reality which has the potential to become a game-changing solution for hazardous sectors. But what is mixed reality? In simple words, it can be defined as a combination of augmented reality and virtual reality. It is the merging of a real and virtual world to produce new environments in which physical and digital objects interact with each other in real time.

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In this space, Rokid, a Chinese manufacturer of Augmented Reality (AR) glasses has developed what it claims to be the world’s first and only 5G, explosion proof mixed reality glasses. Named ‘X-Craft’, the device is Atex and Iecex Zone 1/2 and Zone 21/22 certified, as well as IP66 rated which makes it a safe equipment to use in hazardous and high-risk industries such as oil and gas, chemical, energy, manufacturing, and mining. Capable of carrying out numerous tasks including automatic smart inspections, visual IOT data, remote collaboration, 2D/3D digital workflows, and voice-activation technology, all in real-time, the solution has the ability to significantly increase efficiency and reduce downtime.

In summary: Safety is crucial

These are just some of the explosion-proof solutions available in today’s current market. The safety of plant employees and the overall condition of industrial plants has always been vital and of utmost priority in these hazardous zones and hence, with the passage of time and the introduction of new as well as upcoming technologies, one will only witness an increase in the number of these innovations as there is a significant and growing demand for it across the globe.

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