Explosion-proof lighting device

Today there are many industries where fire safety requirements are very high. And this is not at all surprising, because people in today's civilization work not only outdoors, but also underground, and at height, and at the bottom of the ocean, and even in space. In addition, in industries such as: oil refineries, paint and varnish plants, gas stations, coal mines, flour mills, chemical and medical manufacturing plants, fire protection is extremely important.

What to do if artificial light is needed even in some explosive production, if high-quality lighting of the work area is required? After all, today's lighting is all about electricity and can easily generate sparks. Here you need special lighting equipment that excludes a spontaneous explosion by one hundred percent. Explosion-proof (in particular LED) lamps, which have already become traditional as light sources in hazardous industries, come to the rescue.

It is interesting to note that in 1815British physicist Humphrey Davy developed a safety lamp for miners, the device of which prevented any prerequisites for a methane explosion in the mine. Although the lamp of that time was a liquid fuel, that is, oil, kerosene or carbide were used there, nevertheless a special network did not allow the easily flammable gas-air mixture to escape. Thus, thousands of workers' lives were saved.

Of course, the modern explosion-proof lamp has a different device than that of the early 19th century, and it is primarily electric. Despite the attempts of some scientists to use glowing bacteria for the purpose of illumination, which is still developing, electric light remains the main source today. And the lighting device in this regard must withstand: ignition of the surrounding gases due to heating, short circuit and breakage of the lamp.

Explosion-proof lighting fixtures are used as light sources: LEDs, gas discharge lamps or incandescent lamps. LEDs are the most harmless on this list, but a discharge lamp can explode and an incandescent lamp can get too hot.

To prevent these problems, the explosion-proof lighting fixture is always equipped with a durable diffuser, which must be used with LEDs, since a factory defect is not excluded anywhere, and the same LEDs are capable of causing a dangerous spark, the appearance of which in a refinery for oil is fraught with great tragedy.

To avoid a tragedy, explosion-proof lighting fixtures are equipped with a transparent but sufficiently strong diffuser, which is a type of protective housing that guarantees protection from an explosive environment in the event of a malfunction in the lighting fixture, as well as protection from overheating up to the ignition temperature. That is, all the elements of the light fixture are reliably insulated and the gas cannot penetrate through the housing in any way. Silicone seals increase tightness.

Transparent polycarbonate or borosilicate heat-resistant glass is used as the material of the diffuser. Polycarbonate is typical for floodlights used to illuminate large areas, such floodlights are often found in workshops and warehouses.

As for the case, there are also options: polyester reinforced with fiberglass, aluminum-silicon alloy or aluminum with an epoxy coating. The internal parts are made of stainless steel.

The minimum level of protection for such lighting fixtures is IP66. This is the minimum permissible value for safe operation of lighting fixtures in dusty and gas-contaminated rooms. The same level of protection is required for control device for lamps, for electronic ballasts and other current-carrying parts included in the set of lighting fixtures.

A special approach is also implemented in the production of wiring for explosion-proof lighting fixtures. The insulation in it is double, because in the event of a short circuit, the spark must in no case escape outside, so as not to cause an explosion.

Thus, a high-quality explosion-proof luminaire is distinguished by a long service life, high reliability and safety for people.LED lighting fixtures also significantly save energy, and the low-voltage power supply of LED lighting fixtures prevents the impact of magnetic fields on the environment.