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The experience "safe" Comi Condor in the sector of the centrifuges for the fields of chemistry and pharmacy

The centrifuge and the ATEX certification

Technical Department of Comi Condor.01/04/2005

The European Directive 94/9/EC (ATEX) gave new impetus to the improvement of the level of protection of all the facilities located in potentially explosive environments through a new approach to the system of risk analysis. The result is of vital importance, as well as the type of the centrifugal certification is the recognition of the protection system of inerting certified by the same system.

Centrifugal HX/GMP horizontal with knife

For many years Comi Condor has developed various types of centrifugal always used in potentially explosive atmospheres of product treatment with solvents.

The centrifugal Comi Condor and its inerting system obtained CE certification of type of the nominated agency TÜV Product service of Monaco (Germany) and secondly the condition of the European Directive 94/9/EC (ATEX). Comi Condor obtained the certification of the quality system for production of the system of inerting of its centrifugal according to annex IV to the directive for equipment and protective systems for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

The phases of the certification

The initial of the certification step was the analysis of the risks of the centrifuge, secondly the rules EN1127-1: 1997 in order to define the possible causes of possible explosion, the relative probability of occurring and evaluate solutionsequipment and protection systems adopted to eliminate or reduce risk in relation to the classification of typical areas for a centrifuge.

In this sense, it is necessary to define on how clear the principle of assessment of the area. Classified inside the centrifuge delimited by the envelope including the filter basket, we consider process area (therefore defined as the area of risk), we will have to be considered area 0 for gases and 20 for dust, given that the explosive atmosphere is always present during the operation in production.

The direct external environment to the centrifuge is then identified as technical surface, it can be classified in such a way that is zone 1 for gases, where "the potentially explosive atmosphere may exist for a given time", and zone 22 for dustwhere "the potentially explosive atmosphere cannot be excluded and it may occur for short periods".

On the basis of the classification of surfaces or areas the European directive provides for protection of security systems must be taken so that it prevents the risk of explosion: in order to obtain ATEX certification of the centrifugeall the requirements of the system of control of the centrifuge of adapted security systems must be deeply completed and that they must fulfil the conditions of protection.

The centrifugal Comi Condor can work in safe mode even using external inertizaciones

Centrifugal HT/GMP horizontal reversible bag with possibility of drying. (centrifugal / dryer)

Inerting system

The inerting system is that reduces the concentration of oxygen to the minimum concentration (LOC) by an inert gas (typically nitrogen). It is, therefore, the main measure to ensure the security of the system and their proper integration in the system of control of the centrifuge. It is basic condition which the centrifugal Comi Condor meet the qualities of the directive such as is revealed in the relating certificates.

The projected system of Comi Condor is a protection system adapted to the certification code and obtained an Ex II (1) GD classification, means valid for teams associated and adapted to the regulations in the area 0 and 20.

There is the possibility of proposing centrifugal certified in which takes into account the classification within the team, or a system of inerting adapted to the zone 0 and 20.

The initial of the certification step was the analysis of the risks of the centrifuge

The certification provides two possible types for the inerting system: based pressure control and the system based on control of pressure and analysis of oxygen with the % of oxygen in continuous control. The measurement is carried out with Thermo-ParaMagnetic parser that does not need periodic maintenance.

In both cases, to the implementation of certified security and mechanisms concerning redundant systems are checked, being necessary condition and sufficient to ensure a correspondence to the requirement of the AK 4 (Anforderungsklasse) according to the DIN19250 specifications: 1989 - equivalent to a Safety Integrity level SIL 2 according to the lEC61508 - andAccordingly, to meet the conditions of the directive for the "system protection intense for use in potentially explosive atmospheres".

It is fair to point out the distinction between a classic certification of a typical flameproof component, e.g. oxygen analyser, certificates of a system of complete inerting as a certified system of protection. While the classic certification essentially aimed to aspects of protection and explosion-proof of the same components, the system of protection is evaluated even functionally in each of its parts. In order to obtain the certification, it must be built according to the capacity of security, redundancy, resistance and capacity of relationship breakdowns as a system of measurement, regulation and control.

Comi Condor, which already has been certified ISO 9001 and Visio2000 for the production of centrifuges, is subject to the control of periodic inspection of the TÜV for the production of the inerting system.

In addition to security systems to ensure conditions of boot and locking of the centrifuge, the system uses programmable logic, valves of regulation and analog of the system, as transmitters with the flexibility of management allow the achievement of excellent conditions of functioning of the cycle of inertingreducing the consumption of nitrogen and eliminating anomalies of unemployment due to sudden variations in variations of the system.

The centrifugal Comi Condor are classified to Ex II 2 G T4 3D T 135 ° C, which are installed in zone 1 and 22.

The inerting system is that reduces the concentration of oxygen to the minimum concentration using an inert gas