Noren Heat Pipes Made Heat Exchangers Viable for Hazardous Locations

Today, heat exchangers are widely recognized as more efficient and cost-effective solutions to managing electrical waste heat. Yet, it wasn’t until the introduction of Noren’s heat pipe technology that heat exchangers could be certified to operate in hazardous locations. Noren Thermal was the first manufacturer to receive national and international certification for HX applications in hazardous conditions, paving the way for heat exchangers to revolutionize industries such as oil and gas, power generation, waste water treatment, food processing, and more.

What Are Hazardous Locations?

Hazardous locations are those in which the potential for fires and explosions is amplified by the presence of flammable substances. By necessity, all equipment utilized in hazardous locations must meet specific design, installation, and operation requirements to avoid the elements of the “fire triangle.” These elements include:

  • a flammable substance, such as propane gases or agricultural dust;
  • an ignition source, such as sparks or high heat;
  • and air or oxygen

Air cannot be avoided, and in many industries, flammable substances are at the center of operations. Because heat exchangers previously relied on aluminum sheets, they could generate sparks and complete the fire triangle in hazardous locations.

How Heat Pipes Work

Rather than aluminum sheets, Noren heat exchangers utilize heat pipes that dissipate waste heat away from electrical panels without creating a static or electrical charge. Small fans help draw heated air over the core to prevent hot spots, and neoprene gaskets and flanges prevent air contamination inside and outside of the panel. The fans are the heat exchanger’s only moving parts and don’t require an external circuit board, which significantly cuts the costs of maintenance and down-time, and considerably reduces energy consumption.

Leading Innovators in Thermal Management Solutions

Noren’s heat pipe core technology was the first to be awarded UL/cUL, ATEX and IECEx certifications for use in Class I, Division 2 (Europe—Class I/Zone 2) hazardous locations. In addition to Underwriters Laboratory, Noren has accreditation for ISO 9001:2008 and for GSA contracts. To learn more about our innovative thermal management solutions, call Noren Thermal, Inc. at 650-322-9500, or toll-free at 866-936-6736. Located in Menlo Park, CA, Noren proudly produces all of our products in the United States and delivers them to clients nationwide.