Motors for Safety Applications Demanding Safety Applications in the Chemical Industry Need Special Motors

Due to the sensitive nature of the manufacturing process, the aggressive atmospheres and the extremely high safety standards in the chemical industry, drive systems have to meet very demanding requirements. Machine availability is not the only issue. Humans, the machinery and the environment also need adequate protection.

Related Vendors

DÜPERTHAL Sicherheitstechnik GmbH & Co. KG

TRM Filter d.o.o.

Donadon SDD Srl

Getriebebau Nord GmbH & Co. KG

Electrical motors are the most commonly used actuators in the chemical industry, and production would come to a halt without them. About two-thirds of these subsystems are installed in pumps and fans, while others provide drive power for conveyors, masticators, centrifuges and screw feeders. The motors have to run continuously at full load and withstand high radial and axial forces.

Special protection is needed to reduce the effects of harsh industrial environments and aggressive substances. Products with IP55 and IP65 protection are available as well as models with rust protection or a special lacquer coating. Versions with explosion protection are mandatory on numerous applications. Many motors run on 500 V power. ICE motors offer significant time and versatility advantages, making them the preferred choice in applications where fast replacement is an important consideration.

There is a large variety of products on the market to choose from. Suppliers that have the necessary consultancy, solutions and manufacturing expertise and provide support throughout the engineering and commission phase can offer customers significant piece of mind. German manufacturer Getriebebau Nord’s product portfolio includes motors for the chemical industry, which meet the most stringent safety requirements. Read on to learn more about the company’s Ex motors and Unicase helical gearboxes.

Ex motors enhance production performance

In inverter applications, „encapsulated, pressure-resistant Exde motors“ have been used in the past in explosive gaseous atmospheres. Motors with enhanced Exe ignition protection are commonly deployed in line voltage applications. Nord Exe motors now come with a certificate which eliminates the need to perform an additional acceptance on the motor and inverter at the installation site. These two products can reduce the cost of gear motors by up to 40% and cut down the weight of the motors by as much as 60% compared to pressure-resistant encapsulated motors. They also reduce lead times. However, the engineering effort is greater compared to Exde motors.

Clearly written documentation which contains practical tips (and parametric information as well when the motor and inverter are supplied from a single source) reduces project uncertainty. Exde motors can be used in combination with third-party inverters if the inverters meet stringent requirements. Typical applications include drive subsystems for pumps, conveyors and agitators which are installed in areas where explosive atmospheres pose little or no risk.

This technology has advantages on variable-speed and smooth-start applications. The drives are approved for S1 continuous operation and heat class F. These applications are commonly found in the chemical and petrochemical industry. With these approvals, Nord motors are now a genuine alternative to pressure-resistant encapsulated motors, offering engineering and cost advantages in a whole series of applications. The highly reliable Exe motors have direct temperature monitoring. When the motors run within the defined parameters of the frequency converter, they comply with European explosion protection Category 2 for zone 1 and 2.

Universal solutions

The extremely rugged Nordbloc.1 Unicase helical gearboxes are very compact. They have a very smooth finish and are suitable for nearly any industry including the chemical industry. The aluminum housing is 60% lighter than the previous cast iron version. This can be a big advantage on applications where the gearbox is part of the motion subassembly and weight can drive up the cost. Corrosion protection is another important consideration. Aluminum-diecast has a clean, smooth finish which offers natural corrosion protection, and it does not necessarily need a lacquer coating, reducing the environmental impact. The aluminum housing is sturdier as well.

The installation cover has been eliminated on the new versions, and the interior design has been simplified. To prevent overlapping and collisions, large bearings could not be used on the older versions which had installation covers. Bearings are allowed to overlap on the new interior design which features physical offset. The new design supports large ball bearings, and larger bearings last longer and have a higher load capacity. Regardless of installation orientation, optimal lubrication is guaranteed, making the bearings more reliable than roller bearings. Load capacity with standard fitting dimensions is substantially higher, and service life is significantly longer. Nord can also provide tailored solutions for high-efficiency applications. Optimized roll-off motion, particularly on the helical gearboxes, can minimize mechanical loses caused by friction.

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