Measurements of air exchange in forced-ventilated rooms (battery production, mining, tunnels, laboratory, computer and clean rooms…)

Technical ventilation of rooms / monitoring ventilation systems for ex applications or for rooms with hazardous materials

 

 

Process data

Measuring task:
Recording the fan’s flow rate

Measuring point:
At the entry or exit of air into the room

Measuring range:
0.3 … 20 m/s

Process pressure:
Atmospheric

Process environment
Typically ATEX zone, often aggressive gas mixtures, to some extent SIL2 required

Application

In rooms where hazardous, explosive or aggressive gases might arise multiple and complete air exchange is necessary. This applies to production facilities for battery production, to battery rooms as well as explosion endangered manufacturing plants where environmentally critical gases and vapours can occur. LNG tanks and tunnels also need monitored air exchange. Air exchange can happen through natural ventilation or technical ventilation with fans. In both cases the exchange of air has to be recorded. If the ventilation fails there’s a warning or the process is being stopped. That’s why the measuring instruments are connected to the central process control.

The measuring value can also be used to regulate the fan. Depending on the process and the hereby produced gas more or lees ventilation is necessary. This optimises the entire system’s energy use and therefore also contributes to environmental protection.          

Your advantage

Safe
The required / desired gas exchange is ensured by the measurement

Reliable
Our sensors ensure continuous ventilation all around the clock

ATEX-certified
Sensors to monitor aeration/ventilation are also available for ATEX zones up to 0/1

Recommended products

Vortex VA40 ... ZG8 Ex-d / ATEX

Product Product data sheet


Vortex  VA40 ... ZG4

Product Product data sheet

Monitoring ventilation for safety, reduction of costs and climate protection

In many manufacturing or storage processes gases arise that have to be removed through forced ventilation. Process exhaust air, fresh air supply, explosion protection to name a few. Sensors monitor air exchange on land, underground, at sea and in the air.

Why forced ventilation?

In rooms where hazardous, explosive or aggressive gases might arise a defined air exchange is necessary. Ensuring forced ventilation is an essential part of combustion regulations for example. Gas appliances without flame monitoring require the room air to be completely exchanged several times per hour using a mechanical ventilation system.

 

What is the point of a ventilation monitoring system?

Flow measuring instruments are perfect for the continuous measurement of air exchange for safety, environmental or health reasons. If the ventilation fails there’s a warning or the process is being stopped. That’s why the measuring instruments are connected to the central process control.

 

Where are ventilation systems used?

Ventilation measures are not only relevant for building technology: the air exchange in manufacturing plants, storage rooms or fermenting cellars can be done through natural ventilation or technical ventilation with fans. The same goes for factory buildings where ovens are operated. Even air exchange in large computer centres requires monitoring ventilation. To reduce the risk of explosion in paint shops or dust explosions in silos, controlled air extraction is inevitable. Forced ventilation / aeration always has to be recorded. In safety relevant areas (Ex-areas) ventilation monitoring also has to be precisely documented like during manufacturing processes that also require exact production conditions to ensure the quality of the product.

 

Is ventilation of manufacturing plants only relevant to safety?

In a large number of manufacturing plants, toxic or dangerous vapours or gases arise with the process. The production of the slurries for the electrode production of lithium batteries takes place, for example, under a controlled protective gas atmosphere to ensure product quality. Welding smoke also has to be extracted reliably. Vapours and gases that are a risk to health and the environment have to be extracted. Ventilation and extraction in those areas are monitored. Safety-relevant measurements are not only important when monitoring the ventilation of laboratories. In many areas of ventilation monitoring the highest level of reliability is mandatory. Höntzsch vortex sensors with SIL2 are perfect for monitoring air exchange.  

 

Why do battery rooms need ventilation and air extraction?

When charging cells in battery rooms it creates hydrogen. It’s gathered below the ceiling. In addition lead batteries emit sulfuric acid mist which settles on the floor. Hydrogen in combination with air can cause an explosive mixture. Sulfuric acid vapour is hazardous to health. That’s why the concentration of both gases must be minimized through adequate ventilation in the battery rooms. Höntzsch sensors are perfectly suited for this application.

 

Why ventilate tunnels in pumped storage power stations (underground mining)?

In pumped storage power stations the water’s position energy is converted into kinetic energy. The generators used are installed underground in a cavern. You get access to the engine room through the tunnel. The engine room also has to be supplied with fresh air. The necessary flow rate is monitored through sensors.

In case of a fire the flow is turned around. The supply and exhaust air ducts have a correspondingly large cross-section which means that the measurement must take place outside the center, the point of the greatest flow velocity. The rough conditions underground put highest demands on the sensors. High demands such as monitoring air exchange in  tunnels in underground mining. Every now and then if the forced ventilation of tunnels is not or unreliably monitored, firedamp events with often terrible consequences for the miners happen. Our ex-certified sensors come into play here.

Traffic tunnels also require monitored air exchange.

 

Why is regulated ventilation more than health and explosion protection?

The incoming and outgoing air data can also be used to regulate the ventilation monitoring. Depending on the technique and kind of production air exchange has to be monitored more or less. The accurately controlled ventilation optimizes energy consumption, lowers operating costs and at the same time serves to protect the climate.