Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1366075
May 2021 / 25 but hotspots can occur. A hotspot is an area within a system that has a noticeably higher temperature than its surroundings. If the thermographic visualization technology identifies a hotspot outside the defined area, or if the peak temperature exceeds the setpoint thresh- old value, it triggers a warning or alarm for operator intervention or an automated response. The setpoint threshold value is the temperature warning and alarm limit — with a safety margin included — in compari- son to the material ignition temperature. Detecting the cause of a potential ignition source before the source reaches critical dust cloud ignition energy (also known as minimum ignition energy or the lowest temperature at which a combustible dust will ignite) can save time, cost, and resources compared to either later explosion prevention methods or explosion protection systems. Sensing trouble with other methods Other fire and ignition-source prevention control strategies that you won't likely find in conventional explosion protection systems include vibration anal- ysis and thermal monitoring on rotating equipment and process upset monitoring with material flow and plugging sensors. Equipment performance monitoring can include electrical current meters, mechanical speed sensors, pneumatic flow meters, and mechanical mis- alignment systems to name a few. All of these devices add additional degrees of safety and control to prevent hazardous events, such as a friction-based hotspot or fire, overloaded material, and equipment malfunc- tion. In addition to preventing process interruption and material loss, these safety devices can prevent potentially hazardous suspended combustible dust ously evaluates the data against defined parameters such as equipment and material surface temperature, temperature differential, or rate of temperature rise. Additionally, as a true smart device, a thermographic imaging system can be configured to either target or ignore specific areas within the viewing field. These systems can also be specifically designed to detect embers, flames, and hot surfaces in harsh, demanding industrial environments. Applied thermographic visualization technology examples include monitoring belt conveyor roller bear- ings and dryer processes, as shown in Figure 3. High temperatures are expected in defined areas of a dryer FIGURE 3 Thermographic imaging systems can be configured to target specific areas within the viewing field such as an overheating conveyor roller bearing shown here. everything under control... ROTOLOK VALVES INC Industrial Ventures II, 2711 Gray Fox Road, Monroe, NC 28110, USA Tel: +1 (704) 282 4444 WWW.ROTOLOK.US sales@rotolok.com High quality valves at a competitive price for all your Pneumatic Conveying applications