Fike UK has enhanced its already extensive range of high quality, safety driven products with the introduction of the Fike Dust Detection System (FDDS). The FDDS functions by signaling the presence of unusually high airborne dust particles enabling the prevention of explosion devastating the workplace.
Keith Avila, General Manager of Fike UK said of the new product launch: “A dust explosion can be potentially catastrophic. We are very proud to be the first in the industry to introduce such ground breaking technology and be at the forefront of providing safety solutions like this which prevent devastating and irreversible effects.”
Signs of potential contamination
The advanced technology is installed in ducts and will alert a business to any early warning signs
Featuring unique technology the FDDS – a processor based device – can identify levels of dust that can cause explosive hazards whilst also having the ability to validate the protection of non-zoned areas. The advanced technology is installed in ducts and will alert a business to any early warning signs of potential contamination caused by nuisance dusts.
The system works by detecting the normal amount of dust particles passing by with an easy ‘traffic-light’ notification system indicating the levels of dust concentration within the duct.
Advanced filtering algorithms
Commenting on the benefits of the new product Keith said: “As well as detection, it comes with an additional layer of protection which removes any potential hazardous dust zones, whilst also being able to detect leaking filter bags. One of the key benefits of the FDDS for our customers is it requires little or no maintenance – a feature that really appeals to them in terms of cost efficiency and resourcing.”
The use of innovative Inductive Electrification technology sets the product ahead of other optical or tribo-electric devices by determining the background acceptable level of dust during normal process operation and triggering alarms at different pre-set dust concentration levels when these are attained. This is coupled with running advanced filtering algorithms that can detect the smallest of dust concentration variations and provide the most accurate dust measurement signaling.
Combustible dust particles
Dusts can be caused through various means including transporting, handling, processing, and polishing
Dust is a serious health and safety consideration with a wide range of materials capable of causing a dust explosion. These include anything from agricultural products and metals, through to chemicals, wood and many more raw materials. Dusts can be caused through various means including transporting, handling, processing, and polishing; through to abrasive blasting, cutting and mixing. The dust explosion is caused by a sudden ignition of a mixture of air and a high concentration of suspended combustible dust particles.
Fike has almost 70 years’ experience advising on fire explosion and pressure relief solutions with a team of in-house engineers, application specialists, and combustion researchers specializing to companies across the food, power, wood and pharmaceutical/chemical industries.
Explosion protection systems
Keith added: “In our industry, Fike has unprecedented expertise and is committed to providing quality safety products that are fully explosion tested. The FDDS has been developed over a considerably long period of time and carry the highest industry standards to ensure our customers have the safest potentially life-saving product.”
Fike is a globally recognized company supplying products and services which protect people and critical assets from fire, explosion and over/under-pressurization. A leader within the industry, Fike manufacture solutions for a diverse range of process industries, providing products ranging from bursting discs and explosion protection systems to energetic oil and gas products for the offshore markets. Other UK branches of Fike also provide fire suppression systems, fire detection devices and alarm panels.
