“I couldn’t believe I had my vent in four days!”
IEP Technologies Type MV 18×35
We know what it means to need equipment to keep your process working. Downtime is not acceptable and in the case of an explosion vent, it’s too risky not to have processes protected.
Maybe you need an explosion vent as a replacement after an event, as an add-on to an existing dust collector or vessel, to update to meet Code or for a brand-new dust collector. Whatever the reason, you want a quick turnaround, without compromising quality and safety.
Explosion venting, along with other explosion protection solutions, can protect your equipment as well as your employees. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 68: “Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting” provides guidelines for standards applicable to the design, location, maintenance and use of devices and systems that vent the combustion gases and pressures resulting from a deflagration within an enclosure so that structural and mechanical damage is minimized.
SysTech completed a project in Ontario, Canada where our client, who was addressing a combustible dust issue with their client, urgently needed an explosion vent installed on a four (4) filter cartridge, compressed air, pulse-cleaning dust collector (located outside) to meet local explosion protection requirements. The collector could not be installed until the vent was installed. In the United States, NFPA Standards are guidelines and can be enforced on the basis of safety through local codes and OSHA regulations. In Canada, occupational health and safety matters are regulated by several jurisdictional authorities; federal, provincial and territorial.
IEP Technologies Type MVRD 36×36
For this project, the combustible dust we were dealing with was fiberglass powder from a grinding operation. Our client had already instituted a dust analysis test using the explosion pressure testing which followed ASTM standard E-T226, Iso 6184/1-1995 and BS 6713: Part 1: 1996 with the following resulting data:
- Kst Value: 66 bar-m/s
- Pmax: 5.9 bar
- Pred: 0.2 bar-g
- Drawings/Dimensions of Collector: 4-cartridge collector
Using the information provided by the client, we determined that they required a 12” x 24” Type GE explosion relief vent as manufactured by IEP Technologies. The GE vent is well suited for retrofit applications as it has an integral flange for ease of mounting purposes. IEP is part of the HOERBIGER Group, a brand that has a long-standing reputation in explosion protection and safety technology. A stock of explosion vents was ideal for the client, which allowed for the shipment to arrive in four days!
More news from HOERBIGER. They’ve introduced a program that makes it easy to calculate the distance a fireball will extend beyond the vent (should a deflagration occur). This allows us to advise clients as to the ideal positioning of the dust collector or vessel, and if a vent will provide the protection that is required. If a vent is not feasible, a chemical suppression system may be necessary based on the plant and process system layout. We’ll help you make that determination.
We make it our mission to apply the best explosion protection systems and to create a plan for any explosion venting application, including retrofit or new designs, then deliver them ASAP! Call SysTech at 800-456-9460 for the advice you need.
