Effective Explosion Protection
Explosion protection is covered by the EU-ATEX Directives, which must be implemented in national law by the member states. ATEX is derived from the French ATmosphères EXplosibles. The ATEX Directives apply to equipment and protection systems used in potentially explosive atmospheres. Industrial processes in particular often involve flammable substances or dust. Flammable gases or vapors are released in several applications, either as part of the process or sometimes due to a fault. Sometimes, all it takes for an explosion to occur is a spark, a static discharge or a hot surface.
The main purpose of the ATEX Directives is to protect persons working in such an environment or who may be affected by an explosion. Since 2003, only equipment and components that are compliant with the ATEX Directives may be taken into operation in potentially explosive atmospheres. ATEX-compliant solutions ensure safe operation in potentially explosive atmospheres. The predecessor directives of the ATEX Directives only applied to electrical materials, while today’s version also applies to mechanical equipment. For KNF pumps, this means that the (electric) drive motor as well as the pump part – in other words, the mechanical component – have to comply with the ATEX Directives. The requirements laid down in the Directives are not specific, instead setting protection targets which must be implemented for each equipment group and category. This lays a great deal of responsibility on the manufacturer.
The KNF product range includes transfer pumps, vacuum pumps and compressors for industrial use (equipment group II according to ATEX) as well as pumps and compressors that fall into the 2G and 3G categories (gases, vapors and fog/mist). KNF’s explosion-proof, ATEX-compliant diaphragm pumps have been especially designed for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
When designing the ATEX pumps, KNF’s engineers use suitable materials to prevent sparking due to friction or hitting during operation. Electrostatic charging of the pump head is prevented by ensuring that all metal parts of the head are connected electrically conductive and are earthed via the compressor housing and the motor. In addition, housings and diaphragms are highly pressure-resistant, which minimizes the effects of a potential explosion. Additionally, a safety buffer is factored into the calculation of the maximum admissible pressure.
After all, KNF stands for reliability and safety. And this goes beyond our compliance with the European ATEX Directives. We support our customers around the world in their compliance with their local directives and standards for explosion protection.
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