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Literature > White Papers > Hazardous Location Enclosure Cooling Solutions

Hazardous Location Enclosure Cooling Solutions

Combustible vapors, liquids, gases, or flammable dusts are often present in many industrial applications. These materials are safe in small amounts, but when they exist in abundance, they become a hazard. These hazards wreak havoc, causing damage to equipment and property, harming employees, and hurt profits.

With the implementation of the correct equipment, these costly hazards can be contained and controlled, making an explosion or large fire avoidable.

For electrical enclosures that are in these potentially hazardous locations, Vortec’s line of Hazardous Location Vortex A/C units are an excellent addition to keep expensive equipment cool and safe while keeping stray sparks away from hazardous materials.

Let's Talk About Explosions:

Technically speaking, an explosion is defined as a violent expansion in which energy is transmitted outwards as a shock wave. When this happens in real life, explosions are dangerous. Accidents occur most frequently where hazards are present: in chemical plants, refineries, paint shops, cleaning facilities, mills, flour silos, tanks, and loading facilities for flammable gases, liquids, and solids. 
Factors that cause explosion:
Explosions are caused by three main parts that all must be present: fuel, air, and heat.
  1. Flammable Substance (Fuel) 
    • There must be enough flammable gas, liquid, vapor, or flammable solid to produce an ignitable mixture that could cause an explosion or fire. Without fuel, a fire cannot burn.
  2. Oxidizer (Air)
    • An oxidizer is a type of chemical which a fuel requires to burn. There must be enough of an oxidizer present to cause an explosion.
  3. 3. Source of Ignition (Heat)
    • A spark or high heat must be present. A fire can’t start without a source to light it or heat high enough to cause the material to light on its own.
Major causes of industrial fires and explosions
Every year, industrial fire protection standards improve to ensure the best practices are followed on how to prevent accidents. Factors like combustible dust are a very well-known cause of fires. However, in most cases, fires and explosions spark from preventable reasons, such as:
  1.        Static electricity
  2.        Hazardous, dirty, or impure chemicals
  3.        Combustion engines
  4.        Hot work
  5.        Mechanical sparks
  6.        Faulty electrical wiring
  7.        Faulty equipment and improper maintenance
  8.        Careless smoking of cigarettes
  9.        Failure to properly train employees
  10.        Failure to ensure employees are complying with regulations
Controlling Explosions Caused by Electrical Equipment
Unfortunately, flammable substances are not always avoidable (ex. dust in flour silos). Therefore, it is of great importance that electrical equipment, such as enclosures and their cooling equipment, are properly fitted to the environment in which they will be installed.

When these environments are unavoidable, isolating any one of the elements that can cause an explosion (fuel, air, or heat) is critical. Removing one of the elements from the ignition triangle can provide explosion protection and preclude unwanted, uncontrolled, and often disastrous explosions. If one of the three elements of the ignition triangle is missing, ignition will not occur.

To protect against the likelihood of ignition and/or explosion by electrical equipment you should take the following steps:
  1. Confine the Explosion 
    • Often enclosures are used to contain an explosion. They are designed and tested for situations where the hazardous substance enters an enclosure and is ignited by an electrical spark or hot surface. It’s important that the enclosure, as well as its purge and cooling systems are all rated to prevent explosions and contain hazards.
  2. Limit the Energy
    • Many enclosure coolers use a solenoid valve and electric thermostat to control the cooling in an enclosure, but these devices should be avoided in Hazardous Locations due to their potential to create a spark.  A compressed air operated enclosure cooler with a mechanical thermostat is an intrinsically safe option for cooling electric enclosures in hazardous locations. Another source of ignition could be hot components:  by using an enclosure cooler, components are kept cool, and ignition is less likely. 
  3. Isolate the Hazard
    • Keeping the hazard out of the enclosure is critical to prevent explosions.  By maintaining a slight pressurization on the cabinet, unwanted dusts and gases are less likely to breach the enclosure. 

Vortec's Hazardous Location Enclosure Coolers

Vortex A/C Enclosure Coolers ensure reliable and safe operation in hazardous environments. As soon as the cooling system turns on, it begins to cool the enclosure. Once the unit’s integrated mechanical thermostat senses acceptable enclosure temperatures, the cooling system stops and the integrated check valve seals off the cold air outlet. This allows the purge system to create a positive pressure in the enclosure. The purge system will maintain the necessary pressure to block gases, vapors, dusts, fibers and contaminants from entering the enclosure. When it’s time to cool the unit again, the Vortex A/C will turn on, maintaining the positive pressure.  The mechanical thermostat makes the unit intrinsically safe. 

The HazLoc Vortex A/C is specifically designed for simple installation and flexible mounting, and provide the protection needed in hazardous environments, for most types of Hazardous Locations:
  • Vortec’s Hazloc Vortex A/C is certified to cool enclosures in Class I Div. 2 Groups A, B, C, and D, Class II Div. 2 Groups F&G, and Class III locations. It is safe for temperature class T4.
  • Vortec’s ATEX Vortex A/C is certified to cool enclosures in ATEX Zones 2 & 22 and T4 temperature class areas. (Ex II 3 GD T4).
  • Vortec’s ProtEX Vortex A/C is certified to cool enclosures in ATEX Zones 1 & 21, as well as UL Classified for Class I, Division 1, Groups A, B, C and D, Class II, Division 1, Groups F and G, Class III. These units are rated for T3 temperature class areas.
Vortec’s HazLoc, ATEX, and ProtEX Vortex A/C models require the use of an approved purge and pressurized system to maintain the hazardous location ratings.


What Makes Vortec’s Hazloc and ATEX Vortex A/C’s Unrivalled?
The Hazardous Location Vortex A/Cs are designed to cool industrial control cabinets located in hazardous locations. They use dried, filtered, compressed air to generate cold air inside the cabinets. With no moving parts, Vortex A/C units eliminate the need for extensive maintenance and make the units extremely reliable.
These units feature:
  • Sleek, modern design
  • Noise reduction of 78%, when compared to other vortex enclosure coolers
  • Requires no refrigerants
  • Energy use reduction through its integral mechanical thermostat
  • Quick and easy installation, complete in about 5 minutes
  • Flexible installation: top, side, or front (door) mount
  • Incorporated check valve to prevent loss of enclosure pressure when cooling is not required
Hazardous location units come in three different hazardous location ratings with different cooling capacities to fit any application’s specific needs. Vortec 70 scfm models feature Vortec’s unique patented two-stage cooling system designed to conserve compressed air. During regular usage, the coolers utilize only the first cooling stage. However, when there is increased demand for cooling, whether due to high heat load in the enclosure, high ambient manufacturing facility temperatures, or hot weather conditions, the second cooling stage is activated. This allows us to save you energy, while providing the right cooling capacity to an enclosure.

How do Vortec Enclosure Coolers Work?

All of the hazardous location Vortex A/C’s operate by using the patented vortex tube technology, which has been optimized for use in hazardous locations. A cylindrical generator uses compressed air to spin the compressed air, also known as a vortex, which separates air into hot and cold air streams. 
The compressed air rotates at speeds up to 1,000,000,000 revolutions per minute, as it is forced down the inner walls of the hot end of the vortex tube. At the end of the hot tube, a small amount of air exits through a valve as hot air exhaust.
The remaining air is forced back through the center of the incoming air stream at a slower speed. This super-cooled air flows through the center part of the generator and exits through the cold air port which then cools the enclosure.

Certifications

The National Electrical Code (NEC) is a regionally adoptable standard for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment in the United States. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association defines the standards that are used in North American electrical enclosures and Underwriters Laboratories ensures that these standards are being followed.

ATEX is the name commonly given to the two European Union directives for controlling explosive atmospheres.

ATEX and NEMA are very similar certifications, both ensuring that equipment and protective systems are fit for their intended purpose. They also guarantee that adequate information is supplied with electrical equipment to certify that it can be used safely.

Special equipment must be used in these locations to prevent hazardous materials from becoming explosive or ignited. Buyers must understand the ratings that safety organizations have defined as safe equipment in these locations.

Using the correct electrical cabinet components will help to ensure the safety of employees, the prevention of property damage, and the loss of profits associated with explosions and fires in industrial locations.

Both the UL and ATEX have made a set of standards for equipment that separates different environments into classes hazardous conditions and risks. Zones and Group Zones are specific to ATEX ratings, while Divisions are specific to UL in North America.

Conclusion

Vortec Hazardous Location enclosure coolers provide an intrinsically safe alternative to conventional enclosure cooling methods, such as air conditioners, fans, or conventional vortex coolers. By keeping the enclosure slightly pressurized, Vortec Hazardous Location air conditioners keep hazardous components out of the cabinet; the use of a mechanical thermostat limits the energy, preventing sparks caused by electric thermostats; and the efficient and effective cooling minimizes hot surfaces that could cause ignition.

With models available for most location ratings, the Vortex A/C enclosure cooler family is an efficient and effective tool for maintaining electronics in most industrial facilities.





Shop Hazardous Location Enclosure Cooling Solutions

Literature > White Papers > Hazardous Location Enclosure Cooling Solutions

Hazardous Location Enclosure Cooling Solutions

Combustible vapors, liquids, gases, or flammable dusts are often present in many industrial applications. These materials are safe in small amounts, but when they exist in abundance, they become a hazard. These hazards wreak havoc, causing damage to equipment and property, harming employees, and hurt profits.

With the implementation of the correct equipment, these costly hazards can be contained and controlled, making an explosion or large fire avoidable.

For electrical enclosures that are in these potentially hazardous locations, Vortec’s line of Hazardous Location Vortex A/C units are an excellent addition to keep expensive equipment cool and safe while keeping stray sparks away from hazardous materials.

Let's Talk About Explosions:

Technically speaking, an explosion is defined as a violent expansion in which energy is transmitted outwards as a shock wave. When this happens in real life, explosions are dangerous. Accidents occur most frequently where hazards are present: in chemical plants, refineries, paint shops, cleaning facilities, mills, flour silos, tanks, and loading facilities for flammable gases, liquids, and solids. 
Factors that cause explosion:
Explosions are caused by three main parts that all must be present: fuel, air, and heat.
  1. Flammable Substance (Fuel) 
    • There must be enough flammable gas, liquid, vapor, or flammable solid to produce an ignitable mixture that could cause an explosion or fire. Without fuel, a fire cannot burn.
  2. Oxidizer (Air)
    • An oxidizer is a type of chemical which a fuel requires to burn. There must be enough of an oxidizer present to cause an explosion.
  3. 3. Source of Ignition (Heat)
    • A spark or high heat must be present. A fire can’t start without a source to light it or heat high enough to cause the material to light on its own.
Major causes of industrial fires and explosions
Every year, industrial fire protection standards improve to ensure the best practices are followed on how to prevent accidents. Factors like combustible dust are a very well-known cause of fires. However, in most cases, fires and explosions spark from preventable reasons, such as:
  1.        Static electricity
  2.        Hazardous, dirty, or impure chemicals
  3.        Combustion engines
  4.        Hot work
  5.        Mechanical sparks
  6.        Faulty electrical wiring
  7.        Faulty equipment and improper maintenance
  8.        Careless smoking of cigarettes
  9.        Failure to properly train employees
  10.        Failure to ensure employees are complying with regulations
Controlling Explosions Caused by Electrical Equipment
Unfortunately, flammable substances are not always avoidable (ex. dust in flour silos). Therefore, it is of great importance that electrical equipment, such as enclosures and their cooling equipment, are properly fitted to the environment in which they will be installed.

When these environments are unavoidable, isolating any one of the elements that can cause an explosion (fuel, air, or heat) is critical. Removing one of the elements from the ignition triangle can provide explosion protection and preclude unwanted, uncontrolled, and often disastrous explosions. If one of the three elements of the ignition triangle is missing, ignition will not occur.

To protect against the likelihood of ignition and/or explosion by electrical equipment you should take the following steps:
  1. Confine the Explosion 
    • Often enclosures are used to contain an explosion. They are designed and tested for situations where the hazardous substance enters an enclosure and is ignited by an electrical spark or hot surface. It’s important that the enclosure, as well as its purge and cooling systems are all rated to prevent explosions and contain hazards.
  2. Limit the Energy
    • Many enclosure coolers use a solenoid valve and electric thermostat to control the cooling in an enclosure, but these devices should be avoided in Hazardous Locations due to their potential to create a spark.  A compressed air operated enclosure cooler with a mechanical thermostat is an intrinsically safe option for cooling electric enclosures in hazardous locations. Another source of ignition could be hot components:  by using an enclosure cooler, components are kept cool, and ignition is less likely. 
  3. Isolate the Hazard
    • Keeping the hazard out of the enclosure is critical to prevent explosions.  By maintaining a slight pressurization on the cabinet, unwanted dusts and gases are less likely to breach the enclosure. 

Vortec's Hazardous Location Enclosure Coolers

Vortex A/C Enclosure Coolers ensure reliable and safe operation in hazardous environments. As soon as the cooling system turns on, it begins to cool the enclosure. Once the unit’s integrated mechanical thermostat senses acceptable enclosure temperatures, the cooling system stops and the integrated check valve seals off the cold air outlet. This allows the purge system to create a positive pressure in the enclosure. The purge system will maintain the necessary pressure to block gases, vapors, dusts, fibers and contaminants from entering the enclosure. When it’s time to cool the unit again, the Vortex A/C will turn on, maintaining the positive pressure.  The mechanical thermostat makes the unit intrinsically safe. 

The HazLoc Vortex A/C is specifically designed for simple installation and flexible mounting, and provide the protection needed in hazardous environments, for most types of Hazardous Locations:
  • Vortec’s Hazloc Vortex A/C is certified to cool enclosures in Class I Div. 2 Groups A, B, C, and D, Class II Div. 2 Groups F&G, and Class III locations. It is safe for temperature class T4.
  • Vortec’s ATEX Vortex A/C is certified to cool enclosures in ATEX Zones 2 & 22 and T4 temperature class areas. (Ex II 3 GD T4).
  • Vortec’s ProtEX Vortex A/C is certified to cool enclosures in ATEX Zones 1 & 21, as well as UL Classified for Class I, Division 1, Groups A, B, C and D, Class II, Division 1, Groups F and G, Class III. These units are rated for T3 temperature class areas.
Vortec’s HazLoc, ATEX, and ProtEX Vortex A/C models require the use of an approved purge and pressurized system to maintain the hazardous location ratings.


What Makes Vortec’s Hazloc and ATEX Vortex A/C’s Unrivalled?
The Hazardous Location Vortex A/Cs are designed to cool industrial control cabinets located in hazardous locations. They use dried, filtered, compressed air to generate cold air inside the cabinets. With no moving parts, Vortex A/C units eliminate the need for extensive maintenance and make the units extremely reliable.
These units feature:
  • Sleek, modern design
  • Noise reduction of 78%, when compared to other vortex enclosure coolers
  • Requires no refrigerants
  • Energy use reduction through its integral mechanical thermostat
  • Quick and easy installation, complete in about 5 minutes
  • Flexible installation: top, side, or front (door) mount
  • Incorporated check valve to prevent loss of enclosure pressure when cooling is not required
Hazardous location units come in three different hazardous location ratings with different cooling capacities to fit any application’s specific needs. Vortec 70 scfm models feature Vortec’s unique patented two-stage cooling system designed to conserve compressed air. During regular usage, the coolers utilize only the first cooling stage. However, when there is increased demand for cooling, whether due to high heat load in the enclosure, high ambient manufacturing facility temperatures, or hot weather conditions, the second cooling stage is activated. This allows us to save you energy, while providing the right cooling capacity to an enclosure.

How do Vortec Enclosure Coolers Work?

All of the hazardous location Vortex A/C’s operate by using the patented vortex tube technology, which has been optimized for use in hazardous locations. A cylindrical generator uses compressed air to spin the compressed air, also known as a vortex, which separates air into hot and cold air streams. 
The compressed air rotates at speeds up to 1,000,000,000 revolutions per minute, as it is forced down the inner walls of the hot end of the vortex tube. At the end of the hot tube, a small amount of air exits through a valve as hot air exhaust.
The remaining air is forced back through the center of the incoming air stream at a slower speed. This super-cooled air flows through the center part of the generator and exits through the cold air port which then cools the enclosure.

Certifications

The National Electrical Code (NEC) is a regionally adoptable standard for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment in the United States. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association defines the standards that are used in North American electrical enclosures and Underwriters Laboratories ensures that these standards are being followed.

ATEX is the name commonly given to the two European Union directives for controlling explosive atmospheres.

ATEX and NEMA are very similar certifications, both ensuring that equipment and protective systems are fit for their intended purpose. They also guarantee that adequate information is supplied with electrical equipment to certify that it can be used safely.

Special equipment must be used in these locations to prevent hazardous materials from becoming explosive or ignited. Buyers must understand the ratings that safety organizations have defined as safe equipment in these locations.

Using the correct electrical cabinet components will help to ensure the safety of employees, the prevention of property damage, and the loss of profits associated with explosions and fires in industrial locations.

Both the UL and ATEX have made a set of standards for equipment that separates different environments into classes hazardous conditions and risks. Zones and Group Zones are specific to ATEX ratings, while Divisions are specific to UL in North America.

Conclusion

Vortec Hazardous Location enclosure coolers provide an intrinsically safe alternative to conventional enclosure cooling methods, such as air conditioners, fans, or conventional vortex coolers. By keeping the enclosure slightly pressurized, Vortec Hazardous Location air conditioners keep hazardous components out of the cabinet; the use of a mechanical thermostat limits the energy, preventing sparks caused by electric thermostats; and the efficient and effective cooling minimizes hot surfaces that could cause ignition.

With models available for most location ratings, the Vortex A/C enclosure cooler family is an efficient and effective tool for maintaining electronics in most industrial facilities.





Shop Hazardous Location Enclosure Cooling Solutions