Heating an oil platform Motor control center

[jpl5085]

I am looking for a solution on how to safely heat an offshore drilling Motor Contol Room. Any ideas?

The room is pressurized to keep out explosive gas. In the event of a powerloss or shutdown (in which the room is no longer pressurized) I need to heat the inside of the motor control center. The control switch is a humidistat being power by 115VAC (external source) which will switch on and off a strip heater 150-200 Watts.

I thought that using an intrinsically safe relay (such as a Warrick series 27) and a standard old humidistat would solve the issue but then I am concerned that the 115VAC heaters in an explosive environment is not such a good idea unless there is such a thing as an explosion proof strip heater.

 

[Vetteboy]

Check out this link.

http://www.ruffneck.com/products/heaters.html

 

[jbartos]

Suggestion: In case of shutdown, there is still need for the power supply. The explosion proof heater can be questioned in terms of dual power source for the regular strip heater. Of course, the explosion proof heater is always safer. However, the explosion proof heater will not make the room much safer, if the rest of the electrical installation is not the explosion proof type.

 

[buzzp]

Not sure of the heating requirements (BTU's) but exair.com makes heaters (I know they make coolers and fairly sure they make heaters) that use compressed air as the medium. Not sure if they have the heating required though.

 

[Shortstub]

You are better off using the "heater" money to improve the reliability of the pressurization system.