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Technical articles

The use of batteries in hazardous areas

Tuesday, 20 March 2018 PDF icon The use of batteries in hazardous areas
1. Type of batteries and technical evolution
 
The electric energy in alternating current produced by thermal systems (coal-fired or oil power stations etc.) or by hydroelectric plants, is "non-accumulable" while the energy in direct current can be stored using devices called "Battery". This system allows to dispose of the energy over time and to be able to use it even in the absence or failure of the supply of traditional energy in alternating current.
 
With the rechargeable batteries, the charge can be completely re-established through the application of adequate electrical energy, with voltage/current control.

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The barrier cable gland: moldable sealant (two-component filler) vs auto-forming sealant (two-component resin)

Friday, 23 February 2018 PDF icon The barrier cable gland: moldable sealant (two-component filler) vs auto-forming sealant (two-component resin)
1. Preface: the selection of the cable gland
 
In the plant concept it has always been of primary importance the physical separation between safe area and classified area. This concept was applied in the electric energy transport systems by means of cables buried in sand bed and then derived to the user (an electric motor or a junction box or an end user) with the use of a conduit tube suitable for the insertion of electrical cables (Freez-Moon) free from internal ridges and terminated on the end user through a physical separation made with explosion-proof sealing device (for example a sealing fitting).
 
With the advent of the IEC/EN 61241-0 and IEC/EN 60079-0 standards, as well as the IEC/EN 60079-1 standard, changed the concept of cable entry in electrical and electronic equipment suitable for areas with danger of explosion, allowing to have the cable entry with appropriate sealing cable gland.

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The importance of the anti-condensation and the pre-heating systems in electric panels for environments with risk of explosion

Tuesday, 23 January 2018 PDF icon The importance of the anti-condensation and the pre-heating systems in electric panels for environments with risk of explosion
In electrical panels for industrial environments, are usually installed systems for preventing the formation of inside condensation, a formation caused by the heat exchange deriving from variations of the ambient temperature in the transition from day to night and vice versa.

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The materials suitable for hazardous areas

Friday, 1 December 2017
In chemical, petrochemical, oil plants and, generally, in all types of industrial facilities which present a danger of explosion due to the presence of gas in the form of cloud or flammable dust, there are also harsh chemical substances that can be harmful and source of deterioration of electric and non-electric equipment.
 
Many different materials are used for producing enclosures, equipment, fittings and components designed for areas with a potentially explosive atmosphere.
 
The aluminum alloy is today one of the most widely used worldwide materials for the construction of a ex-proof enclosure.

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The flash flow time constant in LED lighting technology

Thursday, 19 October 2017 PDF icon The flash flow time constant in LED lighting technology
The significant percentage respect to the initial luminous flux emission
 
1. Preface
 
The continuous growth of LED lighting is significantly transforming the lighting industry, providing a range of millions of colours and dynamic effects that conventional lighting cannot match in terms of design. Furthermore, the miniaturization of the dimensions and the low thermal radiation allow LEDs to be incorporated almost everywhere.

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The importance of the certification of an accredited laboratory also for ‘Ex nA’ or ‘Ex nR’ equipment suitable for installation in environments with explosive atmospheres

Wednesday, 20 September 2017 PDF icon The importance of the certification by a laboratory for Ex nA and Ex nR equipment
1. Introduction
 

The choice of the specific construction design, whether ‘Ex d’, ‘Ex e’ or ‘Ex nA’ or ‘nR’, is in accordance with the hazardous areas classification normed by IEC 60079-10 and EN 60079-10 standard.

Cortem Group, for almost fifty years present on the ex-protected international market, produces various types of equipment and products that meet plant requirements in accordance with international standards such as IEC 60079-0, 60079-1, 60079-7, 60079-15, 60079-31 etc., as well as for similar European EN standards.

Also for the ‘Ex nA’ or ‘Ex nR’ restricted breathing devices, Cortem Group decided to appoint accredited certification bodies aiming to ensure full credibility to the quality of these products instead of using self-certification procedures as many companies are still following today.

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Nofake Project: new holographic authentication label for Cortem Group products

Tuesday, 13 June 2017

Since 2012 Cortem Group ensures the quality and authenticity of its products and fights the illegal distribution of imitations and falsifications on the international market with the Nofake Project.

This project consists in the application, on all products, of a tamper-evident security label with a unique product authentication code. After a first visual inspection, it is possible to check on Cortem Group web site the validity of the unique alphanumeric code printed on the label.

The technologies used for making labels make it impossible to reproduce them thanks to the use of the most modern anti-counterfeit materials and the most advanced security protocols for on-line communications.

Another safety element is that the Nofake Project provides for a periodic update of the safety label, both the material and the process technology.

From 2012 up to 2014, an adhesive sticker round shaped, with a security hologram which contained a visible text "TESTED", "ORIGINAL PRODUCT" and an alphanumeric code has been applied on all the products.

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The use of LEDs in explosive atmospheres: evolution, foundation and advantage of an ever-changing technology

Tuesday, 13 June 2017 PDF icon The use of LEDs in explosive atmospheres evolutions foundation advantages

1. The "op is" safe optical radiation protection and the photo-biological risk

As already mentioned in previous articles, the LED (Light Emitter Diode) has revolutionized the way of designing and manufacturing lighting equipment suitable for hazardous environments with presence of gas or dust. As consequence, the Ex manufacturers had to completely renew the construction range.

Cortem Group has been designing and manufacturing for several LED lighting equipment and it is constantly pursuing the search for new high performance LEDs, conforming to the new dictates in terms of security and in full respect of regulations specific to explosive atmospheres.

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Cortem Group certifies its enclosures installed in the “Hook release controller HRC" equipment for modern mooring systems

Friday, 26 May 2017
 
Cortem Group has certified the ‘Hook Release Controller HRC’ equipment, a release control device consisting of a control unit and from 1 up to 4 actuators housed in the EJB-45 series enclosures made of aluminum or stainless steel. The actuators operate from 1 to 4 push-pull controls.
 
Quick Release Hooks are the basis for modern mooring systems for FPSO ships: they enable mooring lines to be safely secured, quickly and easily released.
 
They are designed for commercial ports as an alternative to bollards whilst improving safety and efficiency of mooring operation at reduced cost.

 

 

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The use of electrical socket outlets in environments with explosive atmosphere

Tuesday, 16 May 2017 PDF icon The use of electrical sockets outlet in Ex Area
The engineering philosophy in general, and in particular the one for explosive environments, besides the normal design for the realization of the production processes, may consider the need for a proper management and maintenance of the plant as a whole: the management and maintenance of the production process and of all the "Utilities" that contribute to the functionality of the production process.
 
For these reasons, the designer, in addition to the civil, mechanical and process components, studies and analyzes that the equipment operate in continuity and as provided in the processual logic.
 
One of the many components of industrial plants or hazardous environments are the power sockets.
 
Normally, in order to ensure the ability to operate in full security and without interfering with operational areas with temporary electrical wires, the designer considers the orographic positioning of the sockets so that the operator can work with cables of lengths which not cause hindrance.
 
For this reason, more than one power outlet system type is required in the plant, such as:

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