Atex applications
from pi safety

• ATEX stands for the French term Atmosphères Explosibles and aims to protect people, the environment and machinery from explosion hazards. The ATEX directives apply to all devices, machines and protective systems that are used in areas with a potential explosion hazard.

• The main difference between ATEX and IECEx is that ATEX certification is only valid in the countries of the European Union, whereas IECEx certification is recognised internationally.

An actuator is a mechanical or electromechanical device that is used to execute movements or hold certain positions. It converts electrical energy into mechanical movement and is used to control machines or systems.

Typical tasks of an actuator:

• Regulating or controlling processes: For example, opening or closing valves, dampers or slides.
• Electric actuators work with electric motors, are precise and are often used in automated systems.
• Actuators are used in various areas such as the process industry, building technology and automation technology.

Explosion protection is a specialised field of technology that deals with the prevention of explosions. As part of safety engineering, it aims to prevent damage to people and property. Areas of application in which explosion protection is often required are: Oil & gas, renewable energy (H2), medical technology, laboratories & clean rooms, industrial bakeries and shipbuilding.)

The various IP enclosure protection classes describe the protection of objects against dust and water, with the first digit describing the degree of protection against dust and the second digit against water.
Our products are all IP66 certified. The first 6 stands for ‘totally protected against dust ingress’ and the second 6 for ‘high pressure water jets‘.

Our products are made from a plastic composite material developed in-house.
Stainless steel fibres are incorporated into this material. This allows the protective conductor to be connected directly to the housing.
The material also has a number of advantages. All products are not only resistant to salt water and chemicals, but are also lighter and therefore easier to handle compared to other competitors.

A spring return actuator is a special type of actuator in our product range. A mechanical spring is used here, which ensures that the actuator assumes and maintains the desired emergency position in the event of a malfunction or emergency (power failure, fire, etc.). Without any battery packs or similar.

All our products have an integrated connection box to supply and wire the devices electrically. NO additional connection unit is required.

• Actuator series:
  Our actuators can be mounted and operated both clockwise and counter-clockwise. The integrated patented connection box can be easily removed using two screws and can be reattached at an angle of 180°. This ensures barrier-free access to the connection box at all times.
  EASY - SAFE - SMART
  
  
• Sensors:
  Both our measuring transducer (TR.Ex/Nc) and the switching amplifier (SW.Ex/Nc) are identical in design. The power supply unit can be removed using a simple plug-in connection, mounted separately and reassembled after wiring.
  EASY - SAFE – SMART

• ZONE 0: A hazardous, explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture of air, flammable substances in the form of gas, vapour or mist is present continuously, for long periods or frequently.

• ZONE 1: A potentially explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of flammable substances in the form of gas, vapour or mist is present occasionally during normal operation.

• ZONE  2: A hazardous, explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture of air, flammable gases, vapours or mists is not normally present or is present only briefly.

• ZONE  20: A hazardous, explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust is present continuously, for long periods or frequently.

• ZONE 21: A hazardous, explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust is present occasionally during normal operation.

• ZONE 22: A hazardous, explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust is not normally present or is present only briefly.

• A measuring transducer is a device that converts physical measured variables such as temperature, pressure, flow or humidity into a standardised electrical signal. This signal can then be further processed by control and monitoring systems.

• The main task of our measuring transducer is signal conversion: converting a measured value (e.g. pressure) into an electrical signal (e.g. 4-20 mA, 0-10 V).

• A sensor records the physical variable and the transmitter processes the sensor signal, adapts it and converts it into an electrical output signal.

• Examples of sensors:
  Temperature measurement, pressure monitoring, humidity measurement and combinations of these.

  Transmitters are an indispensable part of industrial automation and process monitoring.

A switching amplifier is an electronic circuit that amplifies signals while simultaneously acting as a switch. This means that it is used in certain applications to switch between two states (on/off), converting a weak control signal into a stronger output signal.

Main functions of a switching amplifier:

1. amplification:
   The switching amplifier increases the strength of an input signal so that it can be used for further processing or applications.
2. switching function:
   It operates either in the on state (saturation) or in the off state (blocking), similar to a digital switch. This is particularly important in digital electronics applications.