High Intensity Safety Switch Applications

There is huge potential in the Oil and Mining industry for calamitous explosions due to equipment failure. While not every incident mirrors the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the close proximity of drilling operations to highly flammable oil or gas makes an environment prime for catastrophe.

CPI waterproof limit switches and thermal switches are one of the few safety limit switches in the world relied on to operate in these high intensity environments. Our waterproof limit switches, and thermal switch products are explicitly designed to withstand extreme heat, wind, sand, dust, moisture, EMI, and vibration. Their toughness makes them highly reliable safety controls used in a wide variety of Oilfield and mining equipment.

There are two major causes of unwanted combustion in offshore drilling sites:

1. Gas and Diesel Engines
2. The flammability of airborne chemicals.

Controlling Flammability with Safety Limit Switches

The use of Gas and Diesel engines in the same vicinity of flammable airborne chemicals can be risky business. For one, there is the danger of sparking caused by an improper ignition timing of the engine or the flammable mix of fuel and air. Also in certain conditions, the temperature of the engine, can potentially “autoignite” the encompassing atmosphere.

The main cause of engine overheating is the possibility of uncontrolled overspeed that may reach over 2000 rps. Preventing autoignition entails keeping engine surface temperatures below the autoignition temperatures of the flammable chemicals floating in the air.

Avoiding Engine Overspeed: CPI J4 Series Limit Switches

Detecting and preventing overspeed is handled by ASO valve switches which are used to sense the position of the valve. A closed valve means the engine is in a runaway condition and must quickly shut itself off to avoid conditions similar to what is suspected to be the cause of the Deepwater Horizon explosion of 2010.  Engines used on large generators (2 mega watt range) are required to have ASO valves.

CPI’s J4 type switch can handle the extreme temperatures (configurable for operation up to 400F) making them the best fit for this application. CPI’s J4 type switch can also be designed for application in atmospheric pressure up to 50 PSIG, which is typical for these systems.

CPI’s J4 series of waterproof limit switches are constructed entirely with stainless steel. This is the most appropriate material to stand up to the salt fog atmospheres found offshore where incorporation of an Air Shutoff Valve (and associated switch) is constituted. Additionally CPI’s J4 Switch can easily endure the high vibration environment where ASO valves are used on diesel engines.

About CPI Limit Switches

CPI has been designing and manufacturing extreme use switches and sensors for over half a century. Our J4 series of waterproof limit switches endure the toughest environment applications in the world. They succeed where other switches regularly fail.

Whatever switch you need in your application, our engineers can design, manufacture, and qualify it. We are experts in providing form, fit, and function replacements for other switches that fail in these intense, mission critical environments.

Why wait? CALL CPI ENGINEERING to discuss your oilfield safety requirements today. Or visit us at http:/www.cpi-nj.com