HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
EcoQuip Confirmed as Suitable for Explosive Atmospheres Stephan Rindfleish stephan.rindfleish@graco.com
© Graco
Graco Distribution BV - Maasmechelen, Belgium
Opening photo – The ignition tests were performed in a 50 cubic metre testing vessel. It had to be relatively large due to the air coming into the system from the blasting equipment diluting the gas mixture. Its large size would also permit a longer duration of the tests.
A
brasive blasting often has to take place in hazardous or explosive
safety and risk management and advanced dispersion, explosion and
environments. For example, in the power generation, construction,
fire modelling, was asked to perform tests to determine whether sparks
oil & gas, shipping, petrochemicals and chemicals industries, working in a
generated by the EcoQuip system would be potential sources of ignition.
potentially explosive atmosphere – where flammable liquids, vapours or
The experiments were performed at Gexcon’s test site at Børnesskogen,
combustible dusts exist – can be the norm rather than the exception. In
Norway, in May 2019.
such environments, it’s vital to use abrasive blasting equipment that has
EcoQuip is intended – and is ATEX approved – for use in atmospheres of
been fully tested to determine whether the blasting process might lead to
flammable materials in the Equipment Protection Level (EPL) Subgroup
an ignition.
IIA. This subgroup of explosive gases includes diesel fuels, petrol fuels,
EcoQuip is Graco’s vapour abrasive blasting equipment. It’s been proven
hexane, methanol, propane, ethane, acetone, toluene, benzene and
to be suitable in different industries for a range of applications such
methane.
as the removal of paint, rust, corrosion, industrial coatings and linings;
For the purposes of this test, hexane was selected. At a concentration
for cleaning metal, stone and woodwork; and for building and site
of only around 4% in air, hexane is not only extremely sensitive to
maintenance. In all these applications, EcoQuip has been demonstrated
electrical sparks, but is easy to ignite with a spark. It has an auto ignition
to reduce project costs and increase the speed, efficiency and productivity
temperature of 230 °C. Tests were therefore performed in explosive
of blasting.
atmospheres with a rich concentration of n-hexane. The tests were performed in a 50 cubic metre testing vessel. It had to be
Putting EcoQuip to the test
relatively large due to the air coming into the system from the blasting
Gexcon AS of Bergen, Norway, a world-leading company in the field of
equipment diluting the gas mixture. Its large size would also permit a
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N.31 - 2019 OCTOBER - ipcm® Protective Coatings