Intrinsic safety barriers are used to protect workers who are involved with electronics in irregular conditions resulting from explosions and other accidents. The barriers are used to ensure the safe operation of the equipment.
Hazardous areas, such as gas platforms in the North Sea, can cause explosions from electrical sparks due to the amount of electrical or thermal energy. These areas are more likely to ignite from the normal sparks produced by electrical equipment such as two-way radios. Short-circuiting electronics can also heat rapidly, rising to dangerous temperatures. Intrinsic safety barriers are often used in areas where the air may become a combustible atmosphere. ...
more
Intrinsic safety barriers are used to protect workers who are involved with electronics in irregular conditions resulting from explosions and other accidents. The barriers are used to ensure the safe operation of the equipment.
Hazardous areas, such as gas platforms in the North Sea, can cause explosions from electrical sparks due to the amount of electrical or thermal energy. These areas are more likely to ignite from the normal sparks produced by electrical equipment such as two-way radios. Short-circuiting electronics can also heat rapidly, rising to dangerous temperatures. Intrinsic safety barriers are often used in areas where the air may become a combustible atmosphere.
Two types of barriers are commonly used, the Zener safety barrier and the galvanic isolation barrier. A Zener barrier, or Zener diode, is used as a shunt regulator inside small circuits. This helps keep the voltage of devices from rising above a safe level.
The galvanic isolation barrier works by forming a barrier around the functional sections of an electrical system. This prevents surges from moving from one area of the device to another, making it impossible for direct current to pass through the object.
If you would like more information on intrinsic safety barriers, visit the links on Business.com.
