HYDROCARBON ANALYZER - IS IT HAZARDOUS AREA DEVICE ?

[bobziva]

Hydrocarbon Analyzer is it a hazardous area device ? The analyzer is provided to be installed in special room for the monitoring of hydrocarbon contamination. That room is potential hazardous area, and Owner wants to discuss about that.
I used to read many prospects / catalogues about hydrocarbon analyzer and manufacturer always stops the process if something wrong, but never provides information about their product as hazardous area device.
Thank you for any info / article about that.

 

[MortenA]

do you mean if the unit can leak - or exhaust something that could cause the area to become classifiable (eg zone 0,1 or 2?)

Best regards

Morten

 

[mpoffe]

If by your phrase "hazardous area device" you mean are they considered "safe" for installation in areas where explosive and/or combustible vapors may be present, we have found that they are not. We install them in enclosures with continuously supplied purge air on our platforms.

 

[bobziva]

Dear Sirs,
Thank you for coments, but I repeat, Hydrocarbon Analyzer is provided to be installed in special room for the monitoring of hydrocarbon contamination.
We have to make order for that Hydrocarbon Analyzer, but we have a couple questions :
(1) Hydrocarbon Analyzers, available on the market,are provided for permanent operation or not ?
Owner prefers permanent testing operation. What do you know about that ? What is your suggestion about maintenance, how to minimize maintenance ? ( cleaning of the pipes etc.)
Are you suggesting Time-Relay for the control of testing operation from time to time, or maybe you have a better solution. We are trying to minimize maintenance.
Are you suggesting ventilation ? ( fans)
(2) Area provided for installation of the Hydrocarbon Analyzer is non-hazard area but as soon as analyzer
is installed there that area becomes hazardous area because of flammable gas inside a pipes ( hydrocarbons).
Did you provide Hydrocarbon Analyzer as equipment for Hazardous Classification Area. ?
Sincerely,
Bobziva

 

[MortenA]

Gas inside pipes does not make an area hazardous (only the volume INSIDE the PIPES but thats a technicality). But if you have a vent on the unit or high risk of leaks (through seal or other potential sources) then the area might become classified.

Best regards

Morten