Industrial facilities with hazardous locations, which require ATEX Certification, gained another safe cooling option as ITW Vortec introduced the ProtEX Vortex A/C, certified for Zones 1 and 21.
“ATEX Certification means that industrial facilities can now save thousands of dollars while cooling electrical, electronic and control system enclosures in ATEX Zones 1 and 21,” says Vortec’s Steve Broerman. “Previously, industrial facility managers had to purchase large, heavy and expensive hazardous location air conditioners, requiring a large initial investment with ongoing maintenance costs. The new ProtEX models are small, economical, and easily installed with low maintenance costs.”
The newly ATEX Certified ProtEX Vortex A/C models 8115, 8125, 8135, and 8170 are certified to the latest EN ISO 80079-36:2016 standard and draw on Vortec’s 50 years of air technology expertise and in-depth knowledge of industrial needs. These Vortec models offer 900, 1500, 2500, or 5,000 BTU/hour cooling capacity to suit the differing needs of each enclosure and facility.
Vortec’s ProtEX Vortex A/C units operate in environments up to 175° F. They are designed to cool enclosures quietly rather than adding to industrial noise, with 62 dBA operation, 78% quieter than typical vortex coolers. The design of the units ensures that no ambient, dirty or humid air enters the cabinet. They require no wiring and can be easily installed in minutes. A mechanical thermostat turns the unit on only when necessary. All four of the Vortec ProtEX models have a small footprint to fit on all enclosures and in confined areas; and can be mounted to the top or side of the enclosure. The Vortex A/C units have already been successfully cooling a wide range of industrial environments from petrochemical plants to food manufacturing.
The Vortec ProtEX Vortex A/C units gained safety certification for compressed air temperatures of up to 120° F and are approved for a Temperature Class of T3. The ATEX Certification mark will be affixed to each of the ProtEX Vortex A/C models starting this month following an extensive testing process by SGS Baseefa Limited in Buxton, Derbyshire, United Kingdom.
Cincinnati-based Vortec is a division of the Fortune 200 firm Illinois Tool Works (ITW).
