ATEX Temperature Controller (Zone 1/2-21/22) for Industrial Heating

Precise Control and Maximizing Safety: The ATEX Temperature Controller-Limiter

Temperature control is a critical requirement in many industrial environments. However, when these areas are classified as potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX zones), temperature control and limitation require equipment that does not compromise on safety. This ATEX temperature controller-limiter is precisely the answer to the needs of professionals. It offers a complete solution for thermal management, while incorporating an essential power selector function. This versatility simplifies installation and operation, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency. Designed to fit multitanks.com's entire range of ATEX heating products, this device is a pillar for industrial process safety in hazardous areas.

ATEX Compliance and Intrinsic Safety: The Absolute Requirement in Hazardous Areas

The major specificity of this device lies in its design for ATEX zones 1/2 (gas) and 21/22 (dust). Installation is permitted both inside and outside of these potentially explosive environments. To ensure maximum protection, this regulator uses the Ex-i (intrinsically safe) protection type for the connection of the Pt100 sensors. This mechanism limits the electrical energy in the sensor circuit to a level lower than that needed to cause an explosion. Galvanic isolation of the Pt100 DIN EN 60751 resistance thermometer in a 3 or 2-wire circuit reinforces this safety. In addition to this protection, the product comes with extensive documentation for the explosion protection manual, providing operators and safety managers with all the information needed for compliant use.

Key Features: Built-in Power Regulation, Limiting, and Selection

This controller goes beyond just regulating temperature. It acts as a true complete thermal management system. The user benefits from a dual solution: precise temperature control and safety limitation. The addition of the power selector function allows the heating intensity to be adjusted as needed, contributing to energy optimization and extending the life of the heating element. For optimal use, a built-in temperature switch is included, ensuring automatic deactivation around 90°C when needed. The clear measurement display via 7-segment LEDs ensures a quick and intuitive reading of the parameters. In terms of performance, the device has a switching point accuracy of less than 1 K and a regulator hysteresis of 2 K, which ensures reliability in maintaining the target temperature.

Simplified Installation and Maintenance for Everyday Use

The device is designed to be both user-friendly and intuitive. The aluminium housing with base plate mounting ensures robustness suitable for harsh industrial environments, with an IP 64 degree of protection according to EN 60529, ensuring good resistance to dust and splashing water. The connectors are designed to facilitate installation: three screw cables are provided (1x M25 for the power supply, 1x M25 for the heating cable and 1x M16 for the sensor cable). For maintenance, accessibility is essential: the fuse of the control circuit is accessible internally via the terminal. System safety is also ensured by sensor breakage and short-circuit notification, allowing technicians to quickly identify and correct any potential issues, minimizing production downtime.

Use Cases and Best Practices

This controller is suitable for any application requiring heating in ATEX zones with rigorous monitoring. It is commonly found in the chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical industries, or in the agri-food sector for the treatment of explosive powders.

• ATEX Drum and Tank Heating: Coupled with an ATEX heating jacket or an ATEX IBC tank heater, it allows fluids to be maintained at an optimal viscosity or to avoid freezing, while strictly respecting the safety temperature limits. The power selector function is ideal for adapting the heating to variations in volume or ambient temperature.

• Pipe Freeze Protection: Used with an ATEX self-regulating heating cable, it ensures that the temperature never drops below a critical threshold, preventing damage to installations without ever overheating, which is vital in an area at risk of explosion.

• Temperature Maintenance Process: In production processes requiring precise maintenance (slow cooking, chemical activation), this controller ensures that the temperature remains within the tolerance window, thanks to its high accuracy and its alarm relay from 5A to 250V with CO (Change Over) contact that can be wired to immediately signal any exceedance or anomaly.

The best way to use this regulator is to configure it in tandem with the intrinsically safe Pt100 sensor, ensuring that the alarm cut-off parameters are set according to the maximum requirements of the substance present in the ATEX area, using the limiter function as the ultimate safety barrier.

Detailed Technical Specifications of the ATEX Controller

For a quick overview of the product specifications, here is a summary table of the technical data: