Electrical and pneumatic systems in hazardous areas
Working with volatile liquids and gases is an everyday occurrence in pharmaceutical and chemical industries, often involving hazardous (potentially explosive) atmospheres (ATEX rated 1/21). Historically, this has meant that control cabinets combining electrical and pneumatic devices could not be used in these areas due to the risk of corrosion of electrical parts - which could subsequently cause an explosion. Today, a new development permits the combination of electrical and pneumatic devices with Fieldbus communications, even in zone 1/21 environments. Developed by Burkert, this combines the company's AirLINE Ex 8650 system with modules from the intrinsically safe Simatic ET 200iSPTM system from Siemens. It provides users with a complete ATEX-certified unit for use in zones 1/21, achieving cost savings by delivering substantial reductions in cabinet space, wiring, documentation and validation.
