I took the following questions off of the Pepperl+Fuchs/Bebco Purge Tutorial:

1. What is purging? Purging is the process of supplying enclosures with compressed air or inert gas at the proper flow and pressure in order to reduce the hazardous gas inside the enclosure to a safe level.

2. What is pressurization? Pressurization is the process of bringing compressed air or inert gas inside an enclosure to a pressure where there is no ingress of hazardous gasses or combustible gas. Purging and pressurization are required in a Class I, gas atmosphere. Only pressurization is required in a Class II dust atmosphere.

3. What is used to purge/pressurize? The most common and practical protective gas is compressed instrument quality air that contains no more than trace amounts of combustible vapor. Inert gases, such as nitrogen or argon are also acceptable.

4. What is the pressure requirement? Most purging applications require a minimum enclosure pressure of 0.10 inches (2.5 mm) of water. In some circumstances, a minimum enclosure pressure of 0.50 inches (12.7 mm) of water is required to protect against ignitable dust. In all cases, a higher enclosure pressure should be maintained to create a reasonable safety factor. In rare circumstances, enclosure pressures as high as 2.5 inches (63.5 mm) of water may be required to offset sudden atmospheric pressure fluctuations, such as those created near missile launching or off-shore oil drilling platforms.

5. How much purging gas is used? Average protective gas consumption during pressurization at a 0.10 inch (2.5 mm) enclosure pressure should fall somewhere between 0.1 to 3.5 scfh per cubic foot (2.83 to 99.11 l/hr) of enclosure volume. Use depends on the protected enclosure's integrity and normal pressure setting. Use is also dependent on the quantity and size of covers and doors as well as devices which penetrate the surface. Advanced forms of protection such as cooling or dilution may require continuous flow rates of 30 to 100 scfm (849.38 to 2831.26 l/m). Purging requires a much higher flow rate than pressurization, but only for a short period of time.

6. What kinds of enclosures can be purged? Any enclosure can be purged, but enclosures featuring gasketing and multiple door fasteners are best for purging. Pepperl+Fuchs BebcoEPS recommends enclosures which meet or exceed the National Electrical Manufacturer's Association rating of Type 4 or Type 12.

7. What kinds of devices can be purged? Any basic electrical device can be purged, as long as all "live" or energized components can be isolated from the surrounding environment. Devices such as push-buttons, relays, timers and programmable controllers need to be installed in a sealed enclosure. Motors require a totally enclosed housing.

8. How do I access equipment in an enclosure? Equipment mounted in the protected enclosure can be accessed if the area is known to be non-hazardous, or if all power to the protected equipment has been de-energized. However, a cooling period may be required before accessing hot components, such as transformers or variable speed drives, which would otherwise be unacceptable for use in the hazardous location.

9. Equipment mounted through the surface of a protected enclosure may require a sealed access door if the equipment is not suitable for exposure to the surrounding atmosphere. Advanced pressurization systems, like Pepperl+Fuchs Bebco Rapid Exchange Purging Systems can maintain a positive pressure by increasing the flow of protective gas while the access door is open.

Marshall Wolf Automation is your authorized Pepperl+Fuchs distributor and we can help you with your purging applications!

You should take a look at purging systems:

• If explosion proof enclosures or intrinsic safety barriers do not provide enough protection
• If explosion proof enclosures or IS barriers are too expensive to use on your project

Intrinsic Safety Barriers are often used in intrinsically safe applications. Intrinsic Safety Barriers limit the current and voltage conducted through a device's power or signal wiring. This limitation prevents shorting and arcing of the wires or device, thus preventing ignition of the surrounding atmosphere. Intrinsic Safety Barriers are commonly used for protection of instrumentation that operates at extremely low power levels, and are suitable for exposure to the environment.

Advantages of intrinsic safety barriers:

• The Only Protection Allowed for Zone 0
• Eliminates Possibility of Explosion
• No Hot Permits
• Low Maintenance
• No Special Cables
• Ideal for Low-Power Devices
• Limits Energy to the Device

Disadvantages of intrinsic safety barriers:

• Requires Documentation of I.S. Circuits and Installation
• Can be Used Only With Low-Power Devices

 

Pepperl+Fuchs BebcoEPS Purge/ Pressurization units are designed to supply one or more protected enclosures with a clean instrument air or inert gas. This process removes flammable gases or prevents the accumulation of ignitable dusts within the protected enclosure(s).

This method of protection is not limited by the quantity, configuration, power requirements, or location of the protected equipment.

These systems are commonly used for all applications involving basic electronics, electrical equipment, motors and switchgear. BebcoEPS products meet the demands of rack-mounted instrumentation, video displays, programmable controllers, computers, printers, recorders, measurement, gas analyzers and calibration equipment.

One of the best benefits is the continuous flow of protective gas, which can be specifically used to eliminate problems like heat increase, moisture buildup, dust and corrosion.

Advantages of purge/pressurization units:

• Reduces Heat Build up
• Inhibits Metal Corrosion
• Low Maintenance
• Increases Equipment Longevity
• No Special Enclosures Required
• Allows Fast Access to Equipment
• Reduces Moisture & Dust Build up
• Reduces Classification Within the Enclosure
• Continuous System Status Indication
• Protects Enclosures up to 450 ft³
• Allows use of any Enclosure Shape
• Cost of Protection per ft3 Decreases With Enclosure Size
• No immediate danger if system failure occurs

Disadvantages of purge/pressurization units:

• Contains Moving Parts
• Requires Instrument Air Supply
• Some Systems Require Electronics
• Hot Permits Required

Need more help? Not a problem! In-house technical support is always available. Marshall Wolf Automation is your authorized industrial automation distributor for the complete line of Pepperl+Fuchs!

 

Pepperl+Fuchs has been recognized by Control Design magazine as the 2012 Reader's Choice for technology excellence in the Intrinsic Safety Components and Industrial Enclosure Purge System categories! Congratulations!

Who votes? Subscribers take a survey where they indicate the single best vendor for the products they have experience with. Pepperl+Fuchs received 22% of the reader vote in intrinsic safety and 41% in the industrial enclosure purge system category!

Intrinsic safety barriers are the core of Pepperl+Fuchs product portfolio. They offer the widest selection of intrinsic safety solutions to delivery safe, reliable and efficient transmission between field devices and the control system.

Pepperl+Fuchs Bebco EPS purge/pressurization products offer a safe approach to installing electrical equipment in hazardous locations.

Interested in learning more? Marshall Wolf Automation is your authorized Pepperl+Fuchs distributor!

Search Pepperl+Fuchs intrinsically safe solutions now!

I recently was on the Pepperl+Fuchs Bebco site and came across a very informative page. Here is the information I found:

Pepperl+Fuchs Bebco EPS Purge/ Pressurization units are designed to supply one or more protected enclosures with a clean instrument air or inert gas.

This process removes flammable gases or prevents the accumulation of ignitable dusts within the protected enclosures.

This method of protection is not limited by the quantity, configuration, power requirements, or location of the protected equipment.

These systems are commonly used for all applications involving basic electronics, electrical equipment, motors and switchgear.

Bebco EPS products meet the demands of rack-mounted instrumentation, video displays, programmable controllers, computers, printers, recorders, measurement, gas analyzers and calibration equipment.

One of the best benefits is the continuous flow of protective gas, which can be specifically used to eliminate problems like heat increase, moisture buildup, dust and corrosion.

Advantages

• Reduces Heat Build up
• Inhibits Metal Corrosion
• Low Maintenance
• Increases Equipment Longevity
• No Special Enclosures Required
• Allows Fast Access to Equipment
• Reduces Moisture & Dust Build up
• Reduces Classification Within the Enclosure
• Continuous System Status Indication
• Protects Enclosures up to 450 ft³
• Allows use of any Enclosure Shape
• Cost of Protection per ft3 Decreases With Enclosure Size
• No immediate danger if system failure occurs

Disadvantages

• Contains Moving Parts
• Requires Instrument Air Supply
• Some Systems Require Electronics
• Hot Permits Required

Marshall Wolf Automation is a large industrial automation distributor for the complete line of Pepperl+Fuchs products including the Bebco purge systems!

The Pepperl & Fuchs Bebco EPS Type Z purge system reduces the classification within the protected enclosure from Division 2 to non-hazardous.  General-purpose equipment can be operated within the protected enclosure.

Note:  Vents are required for most Type Z purge enclosures

Type Z purge systems:

• Allows general purpose equipment to be operated in a Division 2 location http://www.wolfautomation.com/
• Controls purging, pressurization and monitoring pressures
• Enclosure sizes to 450 cu.ft.
• Conforms to NFPA 496 and ISA 12.4 standards
• UL, cUL, FM, ATEX certified
• Construction with corrosion resistant stainless steel hardware

3000 Series Type Z Purge System-will purge and pressurize the protected enclosure and maintain pressure within the enclosure.  Suitable for Class I, Division 2 to non-hazardous and Zone 2 to non-hazardous.

1000 Series Type Z Purge System-is suitable or Class I, Division 2 to non-hazardous area applications and Class II, Division 2 to non-hazardous area applications.

Marshall Wolf Automation, your full-line industrial automation distributor, is  your source for Pepperl & Fuchs Bebco purge systems.

Please visit our website at www.wolfautomation.com and  view our huge product offering.

Please email your inquiries to sales@wolfautomation.com.

 

 

Bebco purge/pressurization products create a safe area inside an enclosure.

When should I use purge systems?

• When explosion proof enclosures or intrinsic safety barriers do not provide enough protection.
• If explosion proof enclosures or IS barriers are too expensive to use on your application.

Type X Bebco Purge System - protects general purpose equipment in Class I or Class II, Division 1 hazardous area. The X series reduces the classification within the protected enclosure from Division 1 to non-hazardous. General purpose equipment can be operated within the protected enclosure.

Type Y Bebco Purge System - protects division 2 rated equipment in Class I or Class II, Division 1 hazardous area

Type Z Bebco Purge System - protects general purpose equipment in Class I or Class II, Division 2 hazardous area

Non-Hazardous Area Bebco Purge System - Enviro-Line^TM environmental pressurization enclosures are designed for use in Non-Hazardous areas.

As your authorized Pepperl+Fuchs distributor we are also your authorized Bebco EPS distributor. Please contact us for assistance on Bebco purge systems!

The Pepperl+Fuchs Bebco EPS purge and pressurization units were designed to supply protected enclosures with a clean instrument air or inert gas.

That explanation confused me a bit so I looked around a little more and found that basically this process removes flammable gases or prevents ignitable dust from accumulating within the protected enclosures.

These systems are commonly used for all applications involving basic electronics, electrical equipment, motors and switchgear. 

BebcoEPS systems meet the demands of rack-mounted instrumentation, video displays, programmable controllers, computers, printers, recorders, measurement, gas analyzers and calibration equipment.

One of the best benefits is the continuous flow of protective gas, which can be specifically used to eliminate problems like heat increase, moisture buildup, dust and corrosion.

As your Pepperl + Fuchs distributor we can help you find the ideal products for all your applications. We are a full line industrial automation distributor with in-house technical support available to our customers.

Search all of our Pepperl+Fuchs products now!

 

Pepperl & Fuchs Bebco EPS Purge/Pressurization products offer a safe and economical approach to installing electrical equipment in hazardous locations.  By creating a safe area inside a standard enclosure, general-purpose equipment can be used in hazardous (classified) areas.

Pepperl & Fuchs Purging/Pressurization products are available thru Marshall Wolf Automation, your full-line industrial automation distributor.

With Bebco EPS Purging/Pressurization components and accessories flammable gas collected inside the enclosure is removed and the accumulation of gases or ignitable dust within the pressurized enclosure is prevented.

Pepperl & Fuchs offers a full range of purge and pressurization equipment to meet the needs of your application:

• Type X Bebco EPS Purge System reduces the classification within the protected enclosures from Division 1 to non-hazardous
• Ex px purge system reduces the classification within the protected enclosure from Zone1/Zone 21  to non-hazardous
• Type Y Purge System reduces the classification within the the protected enclosure from Division 1 to Division 2
• Type Z Purge System reduces the classification within the protected enclosure from Division 2 to non-hazardous
• Ex pz Purge System reduces the classification within the protected enclosure from Zone 2 to non-hazardous

Please visit our website at www.wolfautomation.com and view the large selection of Pepperl & Fuchs products we offer.