Safety and explosion protection rank among the most important requirements in the process industry. Especially where explosive atmospheres are created by flammable gases, vapors or fine dust, choosing the right technology is crucial in order to reliably protect people, the environment and the systems.
UWT level sensors and intelligent monitoring systems deliver exactly the level of protection required in sensitive applications, certified to international standards such as ATEX / IECEx, NEC / CEC, overfill prevention or SIL.
Safety starts with choosing the right technology
In potentially explosive atmospheres, choosing the right sensor technology is crucial, because different technical and safety requirements apply depending on the zone.
Classification of Ex gas zones
- Zone 0: The explosive gas atmosphere is present permanently or for long periods of time.
- Zone 1: The explosive gas atmosphere occurs occasionally.
- Zone 2: The explosive gas atmosphere occurs rarely and only for short periods of time.
Classification of Ex dust zones
- Zone 20: The explosive dust atmosphere is present continuously or frequently.
- Zone 21: The explosive dust atmosphere occurs occasionally.
- Zone 22: The explosive dust atmosphere occurs rarely and only briefly.
For each of these zones, UWT offers tailored solutions with intrinsically safe electronics, a flameproof enclosure, encapsulated electronics or a dust-tight housing.
Types of ignition protection
| Type of protection | Principle | Typical applications |
|---|---|---|
| Intrinsic safety (Ex i) | Energy is limited to the point where ignition is not possible | Pharmaceutical and food industries, silos with fine dust |
| Flameproof enclosure (Ex d) | A possible explosion stays safely contained inside the enclosure | Chemical, petrochemical, oil and gas industries |
| Increased safety (Ex e) | Additional protection against sparks and heat | Plastics and wood processing, the metallurgical industry |
| Encapsulation (Ex m) | The electronics are fully encapsulated to prevent ignition | Plastics industry, recycling, pharmaceutical, food |
| Dust protection (Ex t) | The dust-tight enclosure keeps external ignition sources out | Bulk storage, mills, cement plants, recycling |
Process reliability through intelligent technology
UWT level measurement solutions offer:
- Extreme pressure and temperature: up to 400 bar / 1,100 °C
- Overfill and dry-run protection (FSH & FSL)
- Decoupled sensor technology for environments with high temperatures and vibration
- Digital interfaces: Bluetooth, HART, IO-Link, Modbus, Profibus
SIL — Safety Integrity Level
SIL (Safety Integrity Level) describes the reliability of safety-related systems. The classification indicates the probability of a failure occurring:
- SIL 2: For medium-risk applications — level or pressure control in industrial processes.
- SIL 3: For especially critical processes — emergency shutdowns, fire or gas detection.
UWT sensors with SIL certification provide the confidence needed to integrate them into functional safety loops per IEC 61508 / IEC 61511.
Intelligent remote monitoring
With the NivoTec® visualization system, fill levels can be monitored reliably — directly on site or remotely through a web server module, a remote display or a touch panel.
The NivoLED® signal light provides clear visual signals, even in conditions of reduced visibility. Its rugged PVDF housing has been developed specifically for Ex zones and demanding industrial environments.
A warranty of 6 years — Approved quality
UWT is the first level instrumentation manufacturer to offer an extended warranty of up to 6 years on all its sensors. Long-lasting, maintenance-free equipment designed to operate in the most demanding environments.
Beiton — official UWT representative in Panama
As the official UWT representative, Beiton provides technical selection, supply, commissioning and after-sales support for the whole range of level instrumentation. If your process runs in classified areas or you need sensors with ATEX/SIL certification, contact us for technical advice.
Source: UWT GmbH — official blog. Content reproduced with permission as the official representative.