Explosion-Proof Inclinometers: Safe Tilt Sensing in Hazardous Areas
In hazardous industrial environments where flammable gases, volatile vapours or combustible dust clouds are present, standard electronic instrumentation is a real operational hazard. A single electrical arc or an overheated internal component can easily lead to ignition.
To specify tilt and angle measurement for hazardous machinery, you need sensing hardware that is specifically designed to prevent any energy discharge into the surrounding atmosphere. To support these applications, POSITAL offers a range of ATEX- and IECEx-rated TILTIX inclinometers.
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Critical Applications in Hazardous Environments
Maintaining accurate orientation throughout volatile industrial operations protects heavy plant capital, maintains process stability, and protects people.
Inclinometers support various industrial applications; below, we’ve listed a handful where a certified explosion-proof inclinometer can prevent catastrophe for on-site personnel and operations.
Marine and Offshore Operations
On offshore oil & gas platforms, inclinometers monitor derrick tilt, mast alignment, and deck levelling under heavy cyclic loading. In marine vessel environments, dynamic units provide real-time stabilisation feedback for motion-compensated transfer gangways, deck winches, and subsea lifting cranes, all of which are subject to the corrosive effects of salt spray and high shock loading.
Process Plants and Bulk Handling
Inclinometers support applications in chemical plants and industrial coating plants, with sensors used to monitor the mechanical indexing of slurry mixing tanks and solvent reaction vessels, which are typically in dense vapour atmospheres. Similarly, in underground mining and agricultural bulk handling, inclinometers serve to protect headframe hoists, conveyor transfers, and bucket elevators, all of which have flammable dust and gas present.
Compliance and Hazardous Area Certification
Operating legally and safely in a volatile environment necessitates strict compliance with the relevant internationally recognised explosion-proof directives.
The TILTIX range is explosion-proof and carries dual certification under the European ATEX directive and the international IECEx scheme. This dual rating covers both gas and dust.
- Zone 1 (Gas) and Zone 21 (Dust): For areas where an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur occasionally during normal plant operation.
- Zone 2 (Gas) and Zone 22 (Dust): For secondary locations where flammable mixtures are likely to occur only under abnormal conditions or for very short periods.
These approvals confirm that the enclosure's physical integrity, non-sparking alloys, and special internal circuits help prevent thermal overload or electrical arcing, which could ignite the surrounding atmosphere.
Seamless Integration and Rugged Architecture
Tilt sensing can be incorporated into existing control architectures or new plants, and this will require a wide variety of electrical and mechanical interfaces. Tiltix units provide single-axis (0° to 360°) or dual-axis (up to 80°) tracking with 0.1° accuracy and 0.044° resolution.
Encased in non-sparking anodised aluminium or marine-grade 316L stainless steel, the sealed housing protects the internal MEMS elements from severe vibration, washdowns, and chemical exposure, supporting long-term measurement integrity in a hostile process environment.
These inclinometers integrate with existing plant PLCs, mobile controllers, and modern networks via CANopen and SAE J1939, plus standard 4-20mA current loops and 0-10V analog outputs.
Need Help? Call Today!
Looking to replace an obsolete tilt sensor or design an IECEx-compliant monitoring system? Speak to our helpful PCA team for local specification advice, CAD models, and pricing on the full POSITAL TILTIX series. Send any questions through our contact page here, or call us directly on 1300 236 467
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