Protection of Field offices, Process Control Rooms and MCC rooms in Corrosive Environments
 

Many industries use electronic and electrical control equipment to regulate various processes within facilities:

• petrochemical facilities and refineries
• pulp and paper plants
• steel & smelter facilities
• telecommunication facilities
• power plants
• wastewater treatment facilities

In these industries, many plants are engaged in a constant battle to protect electronic equipment from damage by corrosive chemical pollutants. The type of corrosive contaminants present and their challenge levels can be obtained from corrosion classification coupons. These coupons should be placed in the area where the controlled environment will be created as well as in the outside area where pressurization will be drawn from.

If the protected space is well sealed, the level of pedestrian traffic in and out of the space is low, and the level of internally generated contaminants (personnel smoking, etc.) is low, pressurization alone may be entirely satisfactory. However, it is recommended to pressurize the room to about 0.05 to 0.1 inch wg, by introducing outdoor air at a rate of 1 to 3 air changes per hour (2-5% of the gross room volume per minute).

               
Pressurization of Control Rooms and MCC rooms can be accomplished by combining any type of IQAir unit with a W125 InFlow unit as shown.

In conditions where the room is not properly sealed, where there are additional sources of internally generated contaminants, where the A/C equipment is located outside the protected space, the space has a high pedestrian traffic, or any control room wall is exposed to outside wind, IQAir recommends recirculation of cool air through an IQAir air purification unit located within the control room. The rate of room air circulation will be determined by the type of equipment used and the construction parameters of the controlled space. IQAir recommends a range from 4 to 12 air changes per hour.

IQAir filtration systems have an air delivery rate between 200 and 300 CFM depending on the system specifications. Higher delivery rates can be achieved by adding more systems.

Please check our pages concerning cleaning particulates: Clean Room units or cleaning gases: GC and GCX units or cleaning both particulates and gases by using the HealthPro Plus.