Explosion-Proof Cameras, High-Temperature Viewing, and Other Enclosures for Extreme Environments
Unfortunately, the need for special equipment is only discovered after the first disaster. When electric power was first used in coal mines, the lethal explosions prompted the changes in the electrical engineering standards. It became apparent that sparks had to be prevented when there was coal dust or methane gas present.
How do you prevent an explosion? What camera can you use on an oil rig or in a coal mine where the gases or dust could cause an explosion? How about a camera that can view the scorching gases of a rocket launching into outer space? These are not your standard CCTV surveillance cameras. Special explosion-proof enclosures are required.
The explosion-proof and other extreme environment cameras systems include special enclosures that protect the IP camera. This article reviews how industrial IP camera systems are protected in extreme environments.
An explosion-proof camera includes a special enclosure. The camera and enclosure can be used in a hazardous potentially explosive environment. This means that the camera system will not cause an explosion, rather than survive an explosion outside the enclosure.
The camera and enclosure used in these environments are designed to prevent ignition of the surrounding gases or dust. They will either contain any explosion within the device or prevent sparks exiting the device and triggering an explosion.
Normally, we don’t worry about sparks. For example, a household light switch may emit a small, harmless visible spark when switching. In an ordinary atmosphere, this arc is of no concern, but if a flammable vapor is present, the arc might cause an explosion. Explosive environments can be found in a number of places such as oil and gas tankers, chemical processing plants, hospital operating theaters, aircraft refueling, and hangers, coal mines or oil refineries, sewage treatment plants, grain handling, sugar refineries, and printing industry. These environments can contain flammable gases such as acetone, propane, methane, hydrogen, or coal dust.
