A common feature of powder processing equipment operating in hazardous locations is the potential for static electricity to accumulate on multiple parts of the plant equipment. Isolated components of fluid bed dryers, hoppers, micronizers, hoses and powder conveying systems can accumulate voltages capable of discharging electrostatic sparks into potentially combustible atmospheres with minimum ignition energies well below the energy of a static spark. For users requiring ground status indicators and process interlocks, the installation of multiple grounding systems to monitor each component individually is likely to be both cost and space prohibitive.
The Earth-Rite® MULTIPOINT is a discrete static grounding system, with process interlock capability, that can monitor and ground up to eight pieces of potentially isolated equipment, all at the same time, eliminating the need to install multiple grounding systems. The ground status of each object is displayed by an array of green and red LEDs mounted in a hazloc approved enclosure. If the MULTIPOINT detects that an object is not grounded it can be configured to shut down the transfer process to stop the electrification of equipment.
To learn more about the Earth-Rite® MULTIPOINT or the dangers of static electricity in hazardous areas please contact Newson Gale.
Newson Gale Ltd
Omega House, Private Road 8, Colwick, Nottingham, NG4 2JX
Tel: 0115 940 7500, Fax: 0115 940 7501
Email: groundit@newson-gale.co.uk
Web: www.newson-gale.com
