Electrical Power & Protection


Electrical machines with hazardous area certification

October 2015 Electrical Power & Protection

Rockwell Automation and local electro-mechanical equipment solutions provider Actom Electrical Machines have been awarded a hazardous area certification for the oil and gas industry by Explolabs. The Exn certification was awarded subsequent to the testing and assessment of the Actom MS4 452-4 non-sparking Ex nA IIA and IIB T3 motor and Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 7000 medium voltage AC drive combination(s) for compliance to “Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres – General Requirements” (SANS 60079-0: 2012 Ed 5) and “Equipment protection by type of protection ‘n’” (SANS 60079-15: 2010 Ed 4).

As a subset of a larger project, five Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 7000 medium voltage AC variable speed drives by Rockwell Automation and five Actom motors will be used by Engen Petroleum’s Greenfields project to control Flowserve’s 1320 m³/h centrifugal pumps, facilitating the movement of product from Engen’s Island View facilities to Transnet’s NMPP Island View West site. Rockwell Automation’s PowerFlex 7000 are fitted with an 11 kV to 6,6 kV integral transformer to power Actom’s 650 kW, 6600 V, 4 pole motor situated in the hazardous area.

The VSD and motor combination test was conducted to determine the maximum surface temperature of the motor in accordance with SANS 60079-0: 2012 Ed 5 Clause 26.5.1.3 and Annex E, which included the monitoring of the motor winding temperature; ambient temperature; DE & NDE bearing temperatures; and motor supply voltage, current and rpm. The combination test was conducted at the motors maximum duty point for 8 continuous hours.

Explolabs found that the drive and motor combination complied with the requirements set out in the standards and certified the installation for ‘Zone 2’ (‘Gas: Surface’) application, i.e. as the ‘location’ while the ‘environment’ is listed as ‘Group IIA and IIB’. ‘Frequency’ is listed as ‘abnormal’ as could occur under normal operation.

“Considering the criticality of this project and the stringent Engen specification meant we needed to supply a reliable solution that conformed to all the requirements of the various stakeholders,” says Henry Craukamp, ETO sales manager – Southern Europe and Africa. “The test results prove the compatibility between Rockwell Automation drives and Actom’s motors, one of the reasons we entered into our co-operation agreement in 2013.” This agreement is to supply Rockwell Automation and Actom customers with appropriately paired variable speed drives and motor products.

The now Exn-certified VSD and motor combination was delivered to site and the installation completed. The Rockwell Automation commissioning team is on stand-by to begin on-site commissioning as soon as Engen completes the remainder of the installation.

“Rockwell Automation is extremely pleased with the outcome as it verifies that our VSDs have no temperature effect on the motor whatsoever. The tests further prove that our VSDs and Actom’s motors are compatible in one of the harshest environments. We will continue the certification process with our low voltage PowerFlex 755 series VSDs and Actom’s low voltage motors,” Craukamp explains. He adds that Engen Petroleum indicated it was extremely satisfied with the result.

For more information contact Henry Craukamp, Rockwell Automation, +27 (0)11 654 9700, [email protected], www.rockwellautomation.co.za



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Localised inverter-integrated transformer
Electrical Power & Protection
ACTOM, South Africa’s largest manufacturer, repairer and distributor of electromechanical equipment, is launching a breakthrough in renewable energy integration with its localised inverter-integrated transform

Read more...
Steinmüller Africa integrates advanced technologies at Mondi’s boiler project
Electrical Power & Protection
Steinmüller Africa is leading a boiler project at Mondi’s Richards Bay mill. The 18-month undertaking showcases the company’s blend of engineering excellence and cutting-edge technology.

Read more...
ABB innovation for energy efficiency and sustainability
Electrical Power & Protection
The application of sensor technology to reduce the operational and standby power losses of traditional current and voltage transformers can lead to energy savings of 181 MWh over a 30-year period, the lifetime of a typical switchboard in the African environment.

Read more...
UPS systems are key to keeping SA’s automotive industry up and running
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
During loadshedding, PLCs and OT systems often fail, not because they are directly tied to the factory’s core manufacturing process, but because they are now an integral part of IT infrastructure. When an IT system shuts down, the impact is far more complex than simply restarting machinery.

Read more...
ACTOM advances energy infrastructure
Electrical Power & Protection
At this critical juncture where South Africa is poised to modernise its power infrastructure, ACTOM’s Engineering Projects and Contracts (EPC) Division showcased its capabilities for the first time at Enlit Africa 2025.

Read more...
Advanced contactor solution to revolutionise motor management
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric South Africa has launched the TeSys Deca Advanced, an advanced contactor solution designed to revolutionise motor management with unparalleled efficiency, reliability, simplicity and sustainability.

Read more...
Steaming ahead with boiler skills development
Electrical Power & Protection
As an expert in steam and boiler operations and maintenance, AES is very focused on safety, quality, technology advancement and the development of human capital. The company invests heavily in training and the promotion of talented people on an equal opportunity basis into the industrial operations environment.

Read more...
High-performance oscilloscopes
Electrical Power & Protection
RIGOL Technologies, a global leader in electronic measurement instruments, has launched two powerful additions to its oscilloscope portfolio.

Read more...
Revolutionising solar farm management with remote monitoring solutions
Electrical Power & Protection
As South Africa continues its transition to renewable energy, the efficient management of solar farms has become more critical than ever. Iritron, a leader in industrial automation and control systems, is at the forefront of this revolution, offering advanced remote monitoring solutions tailored to the unique challenges of solar farm operations.

Read more...
SKF announces wave energy technology partnership
SKF South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
SKF and Carnegie are collaborating on the design and delivery of a power take-off system driven by the motion of a buoy that sits a few metres below the surface of the ocean and moves with the ocean’s waves.

Read more...