Cooperation vs True Collaboration in Construction – is the Industry Getting it all Wrong?
25 Nov 2024
Read more >Hazardous area lighting & power panelboards ATEX & IECEX for global Hazardous Area & Explosive Atmosphere Installations
Intro: Appleton NEC/CEC and ATEX/IECEx PlexPower Series Panelboards use circuit breaker modules that provide explosion proof protection for standard off-the-shelf breakers, eliminating the need for a heavy cast enclosure. Component level protection means the panelboard enclosure is lighter, more compact and easier to install.
Breakers can be easily replaced, upgraded or added in the hazardous area zone or workplace with no bolted cover to remove, no need for sealing or rewiring and no danger of compromising flamepath integrity. There’s never been a simpler, more versatile way to protect lighting, power and heat trace circuits in wet, weather exposed, corrosive or hazardous locations.
It’s been ten years ago since Appleton introduced their PlexPower™ line of hazardous location distribution boards – bringing the concept of component-level protection to North American markets governed by NEC and CEC standards. With new certifications for IECEx and ATEX installations, Appleton Group introduced the P-Series PlexPower distribution boards to the global marketplace.
P-Series PlexPower Easy To Install, Operate and Maintain.
AN INNOVATIVE WAY TO PROTECT
BREAKERS IN HAZARDOUS AREA LOCATIONS
For Zone 1 and Zone 2 (Gas) and Zone 21 and Zone 22 (Dust) explosive atmosphere applications, P-Series PlexPower distribution boards offer an innovative method for protecting power distribution, lighting and heat trace sytems. Appleton’s exclusive technology incorporates Labyrinth Joint Flamepaths into modular main and branch circuit breaker housings – allowing the use of standard, off-the-shelf circuit breakers that can be replaced in the field, instead of specialized, epoxy-encapsulated breakers.
PLEXPOWER FEATURES & BENEFITS
ATEX IECEx Panelboards
PlexPower offers the versatility to meet your hazardous area power distribution application requirements.
Standard Features
Branch breaker current ratings:
– 1-pole: 120, 240 Amps, 63 Amps maximum
– 2-, 3- and 4-pole: 240 and 415 Amps, 63 Amps maximum
Branch breakers are labeled with numbers:
– Odd numbers for line side
– Even numbers for load side
– Labeled with inside breaker details
Mains circuit breaker rating:
– 40 to 250 Amps, 2- , 3- or 4-pole
Mains and branch breaker combinations offer multiple cascading and short circuit ratings
Branch and mains breakers can be padlocked in either the On or Off position
Breaker modules supplied with captive bolts
Ground bar provided as standard
External ground lug provided as standard
240/415 Volts breaker module 8-pole terminal wire range: 2.5 mm2 through 10 mm2 (standard), 16 mm2 with special lug
600 Volts mains breaker module 4-pole terminal wire range: 16 mm2 through 150 mm2
Optional gland plate at the bottom of enclosure can be easily field punched or drilled for cable or conduit entries
Standard Options
Drain, add suffix – D
Drain/breather, add suffix – DV
Gland plate bottom only, specify suffix – GPP = plastic gland plate, – GPB = brass gland plate, —GPS = stainless steel gland plate.
316 L stainless steel enclosure material, add suffix —316L
Stainless steel legend plate (specify legend), add suffix – SP
Voltmeter, add suffix – VM
Ammeter, add suffix – AM
Cable glands installed, add suffix – CG; (cable details to be provided by customer)
For Ex de IIC, add suffix – IIC
Optional frame (structure) for floor mounting, self standing with and without canopy; contact your local sales representative for additional information
Standard Materials
Enclosure: fiberglass reinforced polyester (FRP) or 304 stainless steel
Hardware: stainless steel
Bus bar: hard drawn copper
Chassis: hot dip galvanized for wall mounting
This unique flameproof design offers many advantages. For example, the Appleton P-Series uses standard circuit breakers which are less expensive than sealed breakers and are easier to source and stock. The lightweight, corrosion-resistant polyester enclosure is easy to mount, and the door can be opened without needing to remove multiple bolts and without compromising the flameproof integrity of individual breaker housings.
Hazardous Area Industries & Applications
ATEX IECEx Panelboards are specified extensively in the following industry sectors:
Chemical Plants
Process Facilities
Petroleum Plants
Refineries
FLEXIBLE INSTALLATION
PlexPower is engineered to solve operational problems, easily adapting to your installation needs while providing the flexibility you require to reconfigure electrical power circuits and increase capacity at any time.
Appleton P-Series PlexPower distribution boards are also designed to fit a user’s unique power requirements and installation footprint. The modular design allows multiple distribution panel boards to be coupled together horizontally or vertically, offering practically unlimited circuit configurations while adapting to the available space.
A hot-dip galvanized steel wall mounting frame is included with each distribution board, and an optional self-standing frame is available for floor mounting, with or without a canopy, making the P-Series PlexPower distribution board flexible to any installation requirements.
A 50 kA copper busbar simplifies wiring while providing robust, reliable connections in a compact space. Factory installed Increased Safety line and load terminations are sized to accommodate branch breakers up to 32 amps, so facilities can easily upgrade ampacity in the future without rewiring the distribution board. Optional removable gland plates can be punched or drilled in the field to accommodate cable or conduit entries.
Click the link below for more information
By Thorne & Derrick International
762 Views