What is an Ex Isolation Barrier?
In any dangerous working environment intrinsically-safe protection plays a vitally important role in helping to protect personnel working in those specific areas, and of course the business and installation itself.
To safely use field devices such as sensors, solenoids, valves and transmitters, intrinsically safe isolation barriers will be required. These barriers typically don’t prevent signals or communication from getting through but are designed to stop dangerous levels of current and voltage. Barrier devices limit energy to low levels making them incapable of causing ignition, electrical shocks, fires, and explosions.
These devices are based on the galvanic separation of intrinsically safe and non-intrinsically safe circuits. This ensures a high degree of safety as there is no conductive connection between the hazardous area and the outside world.
Ex Isolation Barriers for a wide range of industries
Isolation barriers are ideal for when there is an application in a hazardous area and the cost for explosion-proof protection is too prohibitive. Typical applications where you may find isolation barriers being used include the oil and gas industries, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, chemical production and numerous others.
An isolation barrier has to provide dependable Ex isolation, accurately transmit signals and also display error messages should a problem arise. These barriers also need to have a long life in the field and be easy to install.
Rechner Sensors, a leading manufacturer of industrial process control equipment has also created a comprehensive range of Ex isolation barriers that are available to buy from Kempston Controls today
The Rechner Sensors N-132 Ex Isolation Barriers
The Rechner Sensors N-132… range of Ex Isolating Barriers (switching amplifiers) are for use in zones 0, 1, 2 (Gas) or 20, 21, 22 (dust). These field proven barriers and have been cleverly and reliably designed to transmit switching operations from an intrinsically safe control circuit to a non-intrinsically safe active current circuit.
A power pack, switching amplifier, electronic evaluation unit and output relay are all integrated in to the compact 17.6 mm sized housing and are EMC-approved according to IEC 61000-4-2 to 5. These capable isolation barriers provide everything needed to ensure dependable operation without demanding valuable control cabinet real estate.
LED displays are integrated in the front plate of the N-132 range of isolation barriers providing valuable information for the user, with green for stand-by, state of output is shown in yellow and a wire-break, short circuit of the sensor cable will produce a red warning LED. Quick mounting is possible according to NS35/15 or NS35/7,5.
The isolating switching amplifiers can be actuated by two NAMUR sensors or by using potential free mechanical contacts which are mounted in zones 0, 1, 2 (gas), or 20, 21, 22 (dust).
These capable control units are designed according to NAMUR-DIN 19234 or EN 60947-5-6 intrinsically safe and according to IEC 60079 [Ex ia] II C. The conformity is certified in Germany by DEKRA EXAM GmbH.
N-132 Ex Isolation Barrier Common Features
- Connect 2 NAMUR-Sensors or potential-free mechanical contacts in zones 0, 1, 2 (gas) or 20, 21, 22 (dust)
- Compact design – only 17.6 mm width
- Removable screw terminals
- Indication sensor wire-break or short-circuit via relay contact
- Wide operating voltage range, AC and DC (varies on chosen model)
- LED indicators – yellow/green/red
- Actuating signal – NAMUR EN 60547-5-6
- For applications up to SIL 2 according to IEC 61508 (model dependant)
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