Noncontact temperature monitoring in hazardous areas

The manufacturer supplies a complete intrinsically safe package including the sensor, a communication box, and an Ex power supply. All three components are IP65-rated, and each can be easily exchanged in the field without re-calibration of the entire system. One or two intrinsically safe MI3 sensing heads can be powered by one power supply. The sensor cables can be up to 30m long in total, providing high flexibility for setting up safe monitoring scenarios.

Featuring a stainless steel housing with integrated electronics, the MI3 pyrometer is one of the smallest stand-alone digital infrared temperature sensors for fixed installation on the market today. The series comprises pyrometers for various spectral ranges and applications, including the 1M and 2M short wavelength models with 100:1 resolution and 10ms response time, which are suitable for monitoring temperatures to +1800°C. Each intrinsically safe MI3 sensing head is labelled with the Ex i certification.

In the case of the MI3100, this also covers the laser sighting function for easy positioning and aiming. MI3 sensors are said to have excellent EMC characteristics and can be used in ambient temperatures to 180°C. Communication boxes are available with RS485, Modbus, Profibus, Ethernet, and Profinet IO interfaces and with four galvanically isolated analog outputs. Automatic head detection and digital communication between sensor and box enable plug and play.

The ATEX and IECEx certifications open up many additional areas for the MI3 series, for example steel industry processes using hydrogen atmospheres such as galvanising, annealing, plating, and coating; hydrogen reduction in the solar industry; petrochemical applications such as sulphur recovery and monitoring boilers, reactors, pipes, and flare control; manufacture and storage of various chemical and agricultural products such as vinyl, fertiliser, starch, alcohols, and flour; fire detection; monitoring mining equipment and conveyors; hazardous waste disposal; and sewage treatment.