Wilcoxon Research sensors certified to meet new ATEX standards

The sensors which received new certification are models 786A-IS, 786F-IS, 786T-IS, 787A-IS and 787A-M8-IS, all of which are certified with KEMA, a European hazardous area certifying agency. In Europe, the new ATEX approvals are for Class I Zone 0 Ex ia IIC T4. In the U.S., these same sensors are hazardous area certified for Class I, Div 1 GP A B C D; Class II, Div I GP E F G; and Class III Div 1.

Also receiving updated certification are models 766-35, 793-35, 793-10-35, 797-35 and 797L-35, which were approved by SIRA, another European hazardous area products certifying agency. These sensors received hazardous area certification for Class I Zone 0 Ex ia IIC T4 rated locations. The 793V-35, also certified with SIRA, is rated for use in Class I Zone 0 Ex ia IIA T4 locations.

The sensors were evaluated to the latest revision of the ATEX standards, due to become mandatory soon. The latest ATEX standards EN 60079-0:2006, EN 60079-11:2007 and EN 60079-26:2004 are replacing standards EN 50014, EN 50020:2002, and EN 50284:1999. The changes are required only for the ATEX certified sensors in Europe, not the North American Intrinsically Safe certifications.

The safety parameters associated with these sensors have increased from 47 mA to 93 mA and from 400 mW to 650 mW. These changes permit the sensors to be used with a wider range of safety barriers. This increase may allow a customer to use the same safety barriers that they use for other Intrinsically Safe installations and not have to manage two or more types of safety barriers. Wilcoxon Research offers several safety barriers for use with their Intrinsically Safe certified sensors, such as model ISBS-STD-01.

The 786 Series, 787 Series, 793 Series and 797 Series of vibration sensors are primarily 100 mV/g general purpose accelerometers and include 500 mV/g low frequency sensors. The 793V Series is a 100 mV/ips general purpose velocity sensor. Applications for these vibration sensors include machinery health monitoring of motors, fans, pumps, gearboxes, blowers, machine tool spindles, compressors, chillers, rollers, and mixers. Predictive maintenance and condition-based monitoring using vibration sensors is common in industries such as pulp and paper, nuclear power, power generation, petrochemical, oil and gas, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, railway, steel making, and wastewater treatment plants.