Even in dangerous places, electrical equipment can be used and put in an electrical enclosure safely with the help of purge and pressurization. The Purged Panels or pressurized enclosures are made to keep the right pressure inside them. This means that gasses from the outside can’t get into the enclosure or panel.
These things can’t get into the enclosure even if the industrial panel has flammable gasses, corrosive gasses, or conductive dust (particles that can catch fire). Since dangerous and flammable materials can easily catch fire, keeping them out is a safe way to reduce accidents. Putting electrical parts and equipment inside the panel also makes them last longer.
What’s a Purged Panel?
Purge Panel is a way to install safe electrical and electronic equipment in dangerous areas with flammable gasses, conductive dust, corrosive gasses, or a mix of these. Positive pressure is kept inside these pressurized cabinets or enclosures to keep the gas from the outside from getting inside. This makes sure that the inside devices are safe from harmful gasses and vapors in the air.
Purge Panel Types
The Type X Purge System lowers the risks in Class 1 and Division 1 environments to a level where they are no longer classified. The X purge system is automatic, therefore it will turn off by itself if the pressure inside the cabinet drops below a certain threshold. This prevents sparks or explosions. Purge control systems designed for usage in hazardous areas, Type X, are suitable for enclosures with a volume between 1 and 70 cubic feet.
Class 1, Division 1 control rooms are no longer considered dangerous areas because of the Type Y Purge System. Instead, they are now in Division 2. Y purge systems are manual purges. They are often used with alarm boards to let operators know if the cabinet has lost purge.
An unclassified control room can be converted from a class 1 div 2 enclosure with the help of the Type Z Purge System. Harmful-area purge control systems of Type Z can be utilized in housings of up to 50 cubic feet in volume. For more convenience, you can add accessories like a conduit seal kit, an over-pressure relief valve, and more.
Getting Rid of the Risk of Fire
Any three things below can prevent a fire or stop it from starting.
- Oxygen
- The source of the fire
- Fuel source
By making a jacket or cover of neutral gas, the purged panels can keep parts from being exposed to oxygen in the air. The air used to pressurize the enclosure is of instrument quality, which will flush out all kinds of contaminants. The air pressure inside the panel is higher than the air pressure outside, air can’t get in from the outside. There is no way for oxygen to get inside. Also, if the pressure drops below a certain level, an alarm goes off, and the power is cut off automatically to fix the problem.
Conclusion
Even though explosion-proof panels can also be used in dangerous places, Purged Panels have more benefits. Panels that have been cleaned can also be used for bigger jobs. Explosion-proof panels can only stop the explosion from spreading, but purge panels may stop fires from happening at all.