FEATURE HAZARDOUS AREAS
GEARBOX CONSIDERATIONS FOR HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS
Few industries have stricter regulations than mining, quarrying and oil and gas. When operating in hazardous environments, meeting regulation is critical — and the parts and components used inside these industries is no exception. Here, Marek Lukaszczyk, marketing manager for WEG, explains the requirements of ATEX-certified geared motors.
I
f you are planning to use a geared motor in a hazardous environment — that includes any
explosive atmospheres caused by flammable gases, mists, vapours or combustible dust — it is vital that ATEX directives are adhered to. ATEX is the name given to two European
Directives for controlling explosive atmosphere. Directive 99/92/EC, sometimes referred to as ATEX 137 or the ATEX Workplace Directive, focuses on the protection of workers. Directive 94/9/EC was developed to improve the safety of equipment used in explosive atmospheres. This is referred to as the ATEX Equipment Directive. Plant operators working in hazardous
atmospheres must comply with these directives at all times — not only when operating on site, but also when selecting machinery, parts and components, such as gearboxes and motors. Hazardous atmospheres are classified in
zones. These zones distinguish between places that have a high chance of an explosive atmosphere developing and those places where an explosive atmosphere may only occur occasionally or in abnormal circumstances. This classification not only affects the health and safety guidance for workers in these areas, but also the equipment that can be used and how it should be mounted and installed. Consider a gearbox as an example. In
accordance with Directive 2014/34/EU, the WEG WG20 range of ATEX-certified geared motors has been specifically designed to use in explosion-protected areas — category two in zone 1/21 and category three in zone 2/22. However, there are installation differences for different hazardous atmosphere zones. For geared motors in zones 2/22, the motors
12 SPRING 2021 | INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANCE
can be mounted directly but for zones 1/ 21, an adapter is required. Mounting geared motors can reap technical benefits and is also a straightforward process. Market standards have dictated certain fitting dimensions for geared motors, so it is advantageous to select a geared motor that is fully compatible with these standards. For WEG, designing motors to this standard
ensures plant managers do not have to modify their systems and allows machine manufacturers to retrofit their existing equipment without any major modifications. Should an adaptor be required — as is needed
for applications in hazardous zones one and 21 — machine manufacturers can use the adaptor to combine the gearbox with other equipment. For instance, the entire range of WG20 gear units can be combined with explosion proof WEG IEC energy efficient motors using this method.
Overlooking these requirements can result in
dire consequences for machine manufacturers serving the oil and gas, quarrying and mining industries. Not only does adhering to ATEX regulations protect the manufacturer from non-compliance, but incorrect equipment used in these sectors can be incredibly dangerous — hence the stringent regulations associated with the markets. WEG designs, manufactures, and supplies
equipment for hazardous areas and explosive environments. More information on the WEG WG20 ATEX-certified gearbox range can be found online. In fact, the company has recently published a series of whitepapers to advise and inform plant managers on the requirements of purchasing a geared motor.
WEG
www.weg.net
/ INDUSTRIALCOMPLIANCE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
