HazaLynk™ Wireless Products for Hazardous Areas

The HazaLynk™ Series incorporates a wide selection of wireless hazardous area devices to suit a variety of industrial applications. The product line includes wireless instruments for hazardous areas, hazardous area antennas, hazardous area access point enclosures, and hazardous area RF enclosures that simplify the process of installing field instrumentation, while meeting code requirements for hazardous classified and explosive environments.

https://analynk.com
(614) 755-5091

Hazardous Area Classifications

When electrical equipment is used in, around, or near an atmosphere that has flammable gases, vapors, or flammable liquids, there is always a possibility or risk that a fire or explosion might occur. Those areas where the possibility or risk of fire or explosion might occur due to an explosive atmosphere and/or mixture is often called a hazardous (or classified) location/area.

Currently there are two systems used to classify these hazardous areas; the Class/Division system and the Zone system. The Class/Division system is used predominately in the United States, whereas the rest of the world generally uses the Zone system.

Class/Division System

Hazardous locations per the Class/Division system are classified according to the Class, Division, and Group.

1. Class - The Class defines the general nature (or properties) of the hazardous material in the surrounding atmosphere which may or may not be in sufficient quantities.
• Class I - Locations in which flammable gases or vapors may or may not be in sufficient quantities to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures.
• Class II - Locations in which combustible dusts (either in suspension, intermittently, or periodically) may or may not be in sufficient quantities to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures.
• Class III - Locations in which ignitable fibers may or may not be in sufficient quantities to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures.
2. Division - The Division defines the probability of the hazardous material being able to produce an explosive or ignitable mixture based upon its presence.
• Division 1 indicates that the hazardous material has a high probability of producing an explosive or ignitable mixture due to it being present continuously, intermittently, or periodically or from the equipment itself under normal operating conditions.
• Division 2 indicates that the hazardous material has a low probability of producing an explosive or ignitable mixture and is present only during abnormal conditions for a short period of time.
3. Group - The Group defines the type of hazardous material in the surrounding atmosphere. Groups A, B, C, and Dare for gases (Class I only) while groups E, F, and G are for dusts and flyings (Class II or III).
• Group A - Atmospheres containing acetylene.
• Group B - Atmospheres containing a flammable gas, flammable liquid- produced vapor, or combustible liquid- produced vapor. Typical gases include hydrogen, butadiene, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, and acrolein.
• Group C - Atmospheres containing a flammable gas, flammable liquid- produced vapor, or combustible liquid- produced vapor. Typical gases include hydrogen sulfide, ethyl either, ethylene, and acetaldehyde.
• Group D - Atmospheres containing a flammable gas, flammable liquid- produced vapor, or combustible liquid- produced vapor. Typical gases include acetone, ammonia, benzene, butane, ethanol, gasoline, methane, natural gas, naphtha, and propane.

Zone System

Hazardous locations per the Zone system are classified according to its Zone. For gas atmospheres electrical equipment is further divided into Groups and Subgroups.

The Zone defines the probability of the hazardous material (gas), being present in sufficient quantities to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures.

• Gas
• Zone 0 - Ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors which are present continuously or for long periods of time.
• Zone 1 - Ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors which are likely to occur under normal operating conditions.
• Zone 2 - Ignitable concentrations of flammable gases or vapors which are not likely to occur under normal operating conditions and do so only for a short period of time.

• Group - Electrical equipment used in gas atmospheres is divided into two groups.
• Group I - Equipment used in mines with atmospheres containing methane or gases and vapors of equivalent hazard. (Note: Group I does not apply to offshore and is shown for information purposes only).
• Group II - All other equipment; which is further subdivided into three subgroups.
• Group IIA - Atmospheres containing propane, or gases and vapors of equivalent hazard.
• Group IIB - Atmospheres containing ethylene, or gases and vapors of equivalent hazard.
• Group IIC - Atmospheres containing acetylene or hydrogen, or gases and vapors of equivalent hazard.

Reprinted from The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

https://www.bsee.gov

The Move Toward Industrial Wireless Control

Demands for safety, reliability, efficiency, and quality put manufacturing plants under tremendous pressure. Unexpected shutdowns and outages have devastating effects on plant performance. Lost production, increased energy costs, unplanned maintenance costs, and augmented safety concerns are outcomes of equipment failure. Tomorrow's technologies must mitigate these process control realities.

Wireless technology is a serious contributor in the effort to improve plant efficiency, lower risk, and increase productivity. Wireless transmitters are available for monitoring virtual all process variables such as pressure, temperature, level, flow, and density. In harsh environments these devices provide critical performance data transmission around the clock.

Wireless instrumentation provides a compelling argument when you consider installation cost savings and convenience.  The cost savings associated with the elimination of wires and cables is estimated to be as high as 70% when compared to the cost using cables for the same application. Furthermore, wireless instruments keep personnel out of hazardous areas, providing additional safety and compliance benefits.

All industries face cost cutting realities as they strive for continuous process improvement.  The need to build a better mousetrap is always present. Before widespread adoption of wireless occurs, concerns about reliability, acclimation, and integration must be overcome. But, as deployment costs are reduced, maintenance costs are reduced, employee safety is improved, and environmental compliance is advanced, wireless instrumentation adoption with continue to accelerate in modern process control installations.

Analynk Wireless: Instrumentation for the Process Control Industry

Analynk Wireless is an innovative designer and supplier of wireless instrumentation for the process control industry. Our instruments have been successfully implemented in several applications including temperature measurements 4 to 20mA bridges, discrete inputs/outputs, pulse inputs, lighting and pump controls. These products have been used in both hazardous and non-hazardous locations. Analynk Wireless also manufactures a line of traditional wired instrumentation; see Telmar Instruments for details.

Visit Analynk at Atmosphere 2018

Analynk specializes in hazardous area enclosures for
wireless access points.

Analynk is an active sponsoring partner, participant and exhibitor at the Aruba Atmosphere 2018 conference, held in Las Vegas from March 25 through March 30. The event is organized and hosted by Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company. This event provides opportunities for technical training, as well as other resources to keep you and your organization up to date on technology related to wireless networks.

Visit Analynk Wireless at their exhibit space, booth D2F, on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday during the event. Share your wireless connectivity challenges and leverage your own knowledge and experience with Analynk's hazardous area expertise.

Analynk Participation in Aruba Atmosphere 2018 from Analynk Wireless, LLC

Prefabricated Wireless Communications Solution

Wireless transmission of process measurement and control signals has not been new technology for quite some time. In many cases, wireless connection is the installation method of choice over cabled. The benefits in speed of implementation and cost are substantial. That said, as the technology continues to permeate industrial installations of every size, there still remain facilities where it has not made any inroads yet. 

When technology is new to the industrial market, especially if it challenges the current way things are done, early adopters with larger scale, higher dollar operations are needed to put the technology into practical use and generate manufacturing volume for the technology producers. If deployment of the technology proves beneficial, the market grows on the consumer and producer sides. With greater efficiency and scale, coupled with growth in the knowledge base throughout the market with increased penetration, costs tend to decrease, while the range of feasible applications and projects grows.

Wireless communication for industrial applications is well beyond the point of early technology adoption. Protocols are in place, products for the transmitting and receiving of wireless process signals are mature. As a stakeholder at any level of a processing operation, you should confidently consider wireless connections between measurement and control or recording devices as part of any new installation or upgrading of existing facilities.

Analynk's wireless demo kit includes a model A750 receiver and A753 transmitter both housed in NEMA 4 enclosures. The kit operates at 900 MHz with full 1W power. Locate the transmitter and receiver at points where you wish to establish a wireless connection. You can provide your own input signal, or use the provided simulator to show that a wireless connection can be established and function in a manner that will give you confidence to move forward with implementation. The kit is useful for testing out possible new locations for distance and signal strength. You will use it as wireless communications expand through your facility. Test the location first, then order the needed wireless equipment. It's a solid and low risk solution.

An additional use of the prefabricated transmitter and receiver stations is as a temporary portable means of establishing a connection between measurement and control points. The units can even be solar or battery powered, if no power source is available.

Analynk is a manufacturer of both wireless and wired devices for process measurement and control. The company's offering includes a wide array of standard products, as well as integration and customization to meet specific project requirements. Contact the specialists at Analynk to discuss your industrial wireless application requirements.

Wireless Process Connections - DIY May Not Be Your Best Option

Analynk can design and fabricate complete systems for
establishing wireless process connections.

Implementing in-house projects takes time, something you may not have enough of on a good day. Establishing wireless connections between remote sensors and control or monitoring equipment can be accomplished with a minimum investment of scarce in-house human resources using Analynk's design and build services. With an extensive range of standard products, accessories and options, Analynk will assemble ready-to-run panels for the transmitting and receiving ends of your wireless link. This saves a substantial amount in resources that would otherwise be devoted to design, layout, assembly and operational testing of each panel needed. Smart outsourcing.

The Analynk application team can design and fabricate a complete package solution for your process measurement or wireless connectivity requirement. Share your ideas and challenges with the wireless and process measurement experts, leveraging your own knowledge and experience for a successful project outcome.