Various strategies are employed to safeguard process and control equipment in hazardous environments across numerous industries. The primary objective of these strategies is to remove at least one element of the fire triangle to prevent explosions. The most prevalent methods of explosion protection in the process control sector are:
- Containment: This method involves confining the explosive or flammable materials within a controlled environment to prevent ignition.
- Energy Limitation: This approach reduces the energy available in the system to below the level that can ignite an explosive atmosphere.
- Avoidance: This method prevents the formation of an explosive atmosphere around the equipment.
Additionally, other techniques for protecting equipment from explosions include exclusion, which keeps hazardous materials away from ignition sources, and dilution, which reduces the concentration of flammable materials in the air to safe levels.
