Underground » Mining Technology and Production
A new intrinsically safe pressure sensing product line has been developed through a two-stage project, culminating in the ISP-1001, which has achieved Ex ib I Mb, [Ex Ib Mb] certification. This product represents a novel solution for automatic de-energising enclosure payloads when the pressurised enclosure has been compromised and potentially exposed to an explosive atmosphere.
The primary objective of the project was to design and manufacture a prototype protection module certified as Ex Ib that could automatically de-energise loads within when its enclosure is compromised. The design incorporated several advanced features, including programmable soft start functionality to manage inrush currents, an infrared remote interface for testing and configuration, and dual-colour LED status indicators for improved user feedback.
The final design successfully met all performance requirements while maintaining compatibility with volume manufacturing processes. The system offers a more reliable and cost-effective alternative to traditional mechanical pressure detection and switching systems, while its enhanced features provide greater flexibility in implementation. These advantages, combined with the reduced maintenance requirements compared to mechanical systems, position the system as a significant advancement in pressure protection technology for hazardous environments.