If pressure sensors, pressure transmitters and other field equipment are employed near flammable gases or dust, they may be subject to marking relative to the ATEX product guideline 94/9/EC. Tense requires the type label of the sensor to add the ATEX marking, so usually this is labelled directly onto the sensor during production.
Next to the Notified Body and the approval number, the marking of pressure sensors also contains important information for an individual. For instance, an ?X? following Scandalous indicates that special conditions should be observed when using the device. They are either given in the approval document and in the corresponding manual. Above all, marking according to ATEX gives home elevators the possible regions of application and the sort of protection useful for the pressure sensor:
Explosion group:
I Mining industry, II the areas of use Device class:
Use in zone 0/20 near von flammable gases (1G), dust (1D)
Use in zone 1/21 in the vicinity of flammable gases (2G), dust (2D)
Use in zone 2/22 in the vicinity of flammable gases (3G), dust (3D)
However, additionally, there are devices where only certain parts could be installed in other zones, for example, a pressure sensor marked 1/2G could be installed in a tank with flammable content. The electronic area of the transmitter is located on the outside of the tank, and therefore in zone 1.
Examples for types of protection:
i intrinsic safety (Limitation of electrical ignition energy by limiting current and voltage)
ia for Zone 0 or Zone 20 (for Zone 20 also iaD)
ib for Zone 1 or Zone 21 (for Zone 21 also ibD)
ic for Zone 2 d
flameproof / explosion proof enclosure, suitable for zone 1/21 and 2/22 n
non-incendive, suitable for zone 2/22 m
encapsulation suitable for zone 1/21 and 2/22 Gas group and temperature class: i.e. IIC T1 for hydrogen
Note:
Further information on the subject of hydrogen are available on the WIKA website. If you have any further questions, your contact will gladly assist you to.