How To Utilize Intrinsic Safety Applications To Control Industrial Hazards?

Intrinsic Safety is an important measure that needs to be taken care of by those industries who are using flammable
materials. These materials include crude oil, fibers, carbon dust, etc which can be hazardous if there
occurs a fire explosion or a spillage. So, it becomes a necessity to take effective safety measures to
control any kind of industrial hazards.

There are many associations that take care of various rules and precautions that need to be followed to
avoid any kind of industrial hazardous. And, utilizing Intrinsic safety applications is one of the most effective measures used by various industries for the same.

Now, what is an Intrinsic Safety? Well, it is a technique of design that is applied to any electrical
equipment and wiring, to prevent any kind of hazards at industrial locations. This technique limits thermal
and electrical energy to a certain level so that it doesn't cause any hazardous situation at any atmospheric
situation.

Why there is a Need for an Intrinsic Safety? Intrinsic safety measures help to reduce voltage and current
that so there is not enough energy to stimulate or spark an explosion.

There are basically two concepts that need to be understood while dealing with Intrinsic Safety
Technique: Intrinsically Safe Equipment and Intrinsically Safe Design.

Intrinsically Safe Equipment:

Those types of equipment which are not capable of releasing enough electrical or thermal energy to
cause ignition or spark at a hazardous atmosphere location under any type of conditions even when it is
in a highly-flammable form are called Intrinsically Safe Equipment.

Usage of certified Intrinsic Safety devices is mandatory for operating electronic equipment in a hazardous
area!

Intrinsically Safe Design:

There can be huge losses of property and even human lives with explosive hazard due to the spark or
excess heat in the environment or from products like flammable gases, vapors, fibers, etc. So, one
should consider a lot of factors while designing an intrinsic safe product. These products can help in
reducing the risk of explosions in a potentially unsafe work location or environment.

Here are some design considerations while planning such products:

Battery selection is important

Knowledge of Published Electrical Ratings for Semiconductors

Careful selection of protective components

Usage of Intrinsic Safety Applications:

They can be used in areas which have dangerous concentrations of flammable gases or dust found
in industries such as petrochemical refineries and mines.
High-power circuits cannot use intrinsic safety methods for protection.

Business Involvement:

These equipment are used in the most hazardous zones of explosive environments
The hardware module of this equipment is designed in such a way that it absorbs the sparks created due to electrical spikes.
Single-channel Remote Diagnostics are used for monitoring and troubleshooting.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Intrinsic Safety Applications

Advantages:

It is the only safety application technique that is allowed to be used under Zone 0 of the IEC
(International Electrotechnical Commission) Classification system for the hazardous area.
There is no possibility of an explosion in the system with the use of an Intrinsic safety application.

Disadvantages:

It can be used for only low power circuits.

To conclude, Intrinsic safety equipment increases the overall safety of the final product, which
increases the level of protection of life and property in any type of hazardous operating environment.