Non-sparking (Ex nA) and increased safety (Ex e) motors now have to meet tough requirements with regard to sparking. The latest IEC and EN standards specify criteria for risk assessment and gas environment tests for rotor and stator designs to show that the motors are spark-free in all operational conditions.
By testing and securing certification for its motors, ABB is helping to streamline the risk assessment process for its customers. Due to these tough tests to be fulfilled, it re-inforce the insulation system and increase the time life of products.
The alternative to testing and certification involves, in the majority of cases, equipping the motor with provision for pre-purging. This means investing in a higher capacity air compressor, piping, and a purge control unit. It also requires an additional operation – purging – every time the motor is started.
Benefits of the ABB approach therefore include reduced initial capital expenditure, lower operating costs, and faster starting. Reliability is improved as no additional components are required. Most importantly, ABB’s certified motors offer proven safety, as testing represents the only way to verify that equipment is really safe.