Analysis of ignition risk to ball bearings in rotating equipment in explosive atmospheres

Among all ignition sources, mechanical ignition sources (hot surfaces, friction and impacts etc.) are the main cause of ignition of explosive atmospheres. The aim of this paper is to study the effects of ball bearings in electrical and mechanical equipment as a source of ignition of explosive atmospheres. The damaged ball bearings which create effective sources of ignition are illustrated here. Knowledge is gained on the identification of initial occurrences of ignition sources in ball bearings, for the purpose of implementing explosion protection in industrial plants. For the experimental part of this study, a model was designed with ball bearings to identify the progress of critically high temperatures as a source of ignition. Research has advanced discoveries that are determined by today´s standards in explosion protection, which are related to the requirements of ball bearings. This study primarily involves the effects of damage to ball bearings at the onset of critically high temperatures and vibration, as the best indicator of ignition sources in rotary equipment. Based on data acquired during monitoring of temperatures and vibration data in damaged ball bearings, analysis was performed according to set control limits of ignition of gases, vapour and dust, as a measure before the development of an ignition source.