Donaldson prefers AEG ATEX compliant motors

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 10, 2004

To meet the requirements for Zones 21 and 22 environments, Donaldson Torit DCE has selected AEG's ATEX compliant DAM range of dust ignition proof motors for UK built products.

The ATEX Safety Directive 94/9/EC is intended to further protect employees and enhance safety in manufacturing environments.

Brought into force on 1st July 2003, the directive's purpose is to ensure that precautions are taken to both prevent potential explosions and to mitigate the effects if an explosion occurs.

It applies to many manufacturing processes, including those that emit flammable gases, vapours, mists and combustible dust.

It requires all new equipment for manufacturing environments with potentially explosive atmospheres to be ATEX compliant.

In addition, plant operators must classify sections of existing facilities where potentially explosive atmospheres exist and bring equipment in those areas into compliance by June 2006.

Particularly important for Donaldson Torit DCE are the new considerations for evaluating and specifying filtration equipment, not only that operating within a potentially explosive atmosphere, but also systems which handle explosive dusts and hence contain a potentially explosive atmosphere within their casing.

In the latter case, although the unit itself does not require ATEX certification because it is not located within a hazardous working environment, the internal components which are within the air-stream being filtered do require specifications to suit the materials being handled typically Cat 1D (Zone 20) for the dirty air side components, CAT 3D (Zone 22) for equipment on the clean air side.

In most unit configurations this means that the fan assembly and electric motor are within a Zone 22 area.

To meet the requirements for Zones 21 and 22 environments, Donaldson has selected AEG's ATEX compliant DAM range of dust ignition proof motors as its preferred motor option for UK built products.

The AEG motors are available in both IP55 and 65 enclosures (both single and three phase) to avoid the accumulation of dust within the motor where it might be liable to cause an ignition hazard.

In addition to meeting the ATEX requirements, being offered in power ratings from 0.25 to 200kW and frame sizes ranging from 80 to 315, the AEG DAM range also covers all Donaldson's potential power and motor size requirements.

Donaldson is able to offer ATEX compliant options in all ranges to meet the requirements of handling explosive materials (dusts and gases) and for installing such equipment in zoned areas.

Donaldson, as a global leader in industrial air filtration, is uniquely equipped to engineer systems for handling dust, drawing on nearly 90 years of filtration experience.

This expertise not only provides a sound basis to address ATEX, but also allows the company to manufacture effective solutions for handling dust explosions.

In addition to engineering systems with ATEX-compliant design features, Donaldson1s experienced research and development team has thoroughly tested the company1s collectors to assess all elements of performance.

Explosion testing procedures have also been independently verified by leading experts in Europe.