Posted to News on 9th Nov 2007, 20:11
CPV10 valve terminal now available with ATEX approval
Festo is launching an intrinsically safe (IS) version of its popular CPV10 valve terminal, known as the CPV10 Ex-i, which is designed specifically for use in potentially explosive atmospheres in accordance with ATEX equipment category 2 (Gas Zone 1). It can be mounted in close proximity to the pneumatic actuators and drives that it controls, resulting in short tubing lengths and rapid response. It is particularly suitable for automation employing decentralised control schemes.
The CPV10 Ex-i valve terminal can accommodate up to sixteen 3/2-way valves and offers a wide variety of valve functions, including two 3/2-way, 5/2-way, single- and double-solenoid, and two 2/2-way. All the valves feature intrinsically safe solenoid actuators to ensure that only low voltages and energy levels can occur; they are rated for 0-10bar operating pressure and can handle flow rates as high as 400 litres/minute.
Festo has designed a novel pneumatic multi-plate connector that simplifies installation of the valves in IP65-rated control cabinets; instead of using a number of bulkhead fittings and tubing connections, the connector enables all pneumatic connections to be made via a single multi-way plate that incorporates its own sealing ring and only requires one rectangular cut-out in the cabinet. This helps minimise installation time and contributes to a very neat appearance.
According to the company, Festo was the first manufacturer to produce a wide range of pneumatics products that comply with Directive 94/9/EC (ATEX), and it operates an aggressive test and certification programme aimed at expanding the number and types of products that can be used in potentially explosive atmospheres. Festo's ATEX product portfolio includes six families of pneumatic cylinders, twelve families of drives and a range of proximity sensors for equipment categories 1 and 2, for both gas and dust. There are also seven families of solenoid valves and coils, three families of pneumatic valves and a compact valve terminal – including its associated fieldbus and I/O modules – that are approved to directive RL 94/9/EC. The wide product offering includes an extensive range of ATEX-compliant pneumatic accessories, such as pressure regulators, filters, manual control valves and tubing.
Free guide to pneumatics in hazardous areas
Festo publishes a highly informative 24-page booklet titled Pneumatic Products and Explosion Protection to help customers seeking ATEX-certified pneumatic and electro-pneumatic products or more information about the 94/9/EC (ATEX) directive. The booklet details the various zones, equipment categories and degrees of protection covered by the Directive, explains the meaning of the Directive in the local language of each EU member country, and offers a comparison with American standards. Printed copies of the booklet are available free of charge from Festo, or a PDF version can be downloaded from the Explosion Protection (APEX) page on the Festo website at www.festo.com/gb/atex.
This web page also provides direct links to FAQs (frequently asked questions) and an on-line library containing Operating Instructions and Declarations of Conformity for all Festo ATEX products – a list that now runs to 64 pages and includes details of products that can be used in hazardous environments without requiring certification. Machine builders can now effectively adopt a 'design before buy' strategy, and can simply download the documents covering each component used or retrofitted in an application, for presentation to the end-user.
