Page 44 - Industrial plants

Pepperl+Fuchs, a leading company in industrial proved to be invaluable.
sensors and explosion protection systems, announced Across the world oil tankers, floating oil production
the acquisition of the Bebco EPS (Electrical Purging platforms, and cargo ships are in transit in international
System) business in May 2018. waters.
On their journey across the world’s oceans, tankers and
“Pepperl+Fuchs announced the cargo ships use ballast water for stability and trim. The
acquisition of the Bebco EPS ballast water is being changed at regular intervals
(Electrical Purging System) business during loading and unloading, and it washes up at
in May 2018 coastal regions all over the world. Organisms that do
not naturally occur at the destination ports are carried
The strategic acquisition aimed to expand along with the ballast water. These “stowaways” can
Pepperl+Fuchs’ portfolio of hazardous area solutions upset the balance of the local ecosystem. Environmental
and to reinforce its position as a leading supplier of damage can occur as a result of threats to native
explosion protection systems. It combined two well- species or health risks from bacteria by introducing
established companies with extensive experience and harmful organisms and pathogens into marine
expertise in explosion protection. ecosystems.
Here is where the physical methods to be used to clean
the organisms and microbes from the ship as a as a
treatment system for the ballast water meet our
protection method Ex p!
Explosion protection plays a pivotal role on board,
whether it is to protect the ships’ pumps from the
proximity of the cleaning systems, or due to a potentially
hazardous environment created by the cargo ships.
Pepperl+Fuchs has developed customized solutions for
this purpose, delivering the perfect combination
of purge and pressurization along with a ballast water
treatment system.
Floating Production Storage and Offloading units
(FPSOs) are vessels employed in offshore oil and gas
production, combining production, storage, and
offloading capabilities in a single unit. Designed to
extract oil and gas from underwater wells, FPSOs can
As part of the acquisition, Pepperl+Fuchs obtained the store, clean, and load these resources onto tankers or
Bebco EPS brand, along with its manufacturing pipelines for transport to shore.
facilities, testing capabilities, and certifications. This Systems like this have become the main method of
allowed the company to broaden its product range to protection in many offshore productions regions around
include a comprehensive line of purge and pressurization the world. Like other applications in flammable
technology solutions essential for protecting electrical environments, the electrical control of certain processes
equipment from ignition sources in hazardous requires explosion-protected solutions to minimize the
environments. The acquisition also enabled risk for people, the environment, and machines.
Pepperl+Fuchs to enhance its global presence by Given that FPSOs operate in flammable environments,
increasing manufacturing capabilities and distribution they necessitate special precautions to ensure the
networks in North America, Europe, and Asia. safety of workers, the environment, and equipment.
There is a growing demand for hydrogen analyzer purge This means using equipment and equipments
solutions, in the hydrogen industry. As a highly specifically designed and certified for hazardous
flammable gas, hydrogen requires meticulous handling environments or protected by a purge and pressurization
to ensure its safe usage and transportation. By purging system. By implementing these measures, the risks
electrical enclosures with an inert gas like nitrogen, associated with offshore oil and gas production can be
explosions and fires can be avoided by reducing minimized, enabling safe and efficient operations.
oxygen concentration. Pepperl+Fuchs’ purge and Pepperl+Fuchs’ packaged solutions of predefined and
pressurization technology is an ideal solution in this certified cabinets further reduce complexity for
industry, maintaining positive pressure within electrical customers, simplifying installation and maintenance
enclosures and preventing the ingress of potentially while lowering costs. The company’s solutions also
hazardous gases and moisture. feature automatic temperature and leakage control,
In the shipbuilding industry, Pepperl+Fuchs’ technology providing a feedback loop on the type of protection and

IndustrIal Plants - May 2023
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