Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory CANMET Bells Corners Complex Bldg. 9 c/o 555 Booth Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G1 Canada Test Report Product Tested: Prototype 12x36 Catalytic Heater Test Report No.: C015-D21-4 Client's File: Client Name: Protective Heat Development Group Client Address: 2568 Royal Windsor Drive Mississauga, ON L5J 1K7 Client Contact Name: Mr. P. Pietraszek Condition of sample when rec’d: Undamaged. Date of receipt of sample: No. of pages in this report: 08 (including this cover page) Page serial numbers: 2005101301 to 2005101308 (inclusive) Cover page serial no.: 2005101301 Reviewed by: G. Lobay, P.Eng., Certification Officer Date of test report: October 14, 2005 No inference shall be made that the product assessed in this test report complies with any test requirement not specifically provided for herein, or that the product is deemed suitable for any particular end use. Such determinations are not within the scope of this test report. When duplicated, this report shall be duplicated in its entirety. Unless otherwise stated herein, all tests were conducted at room ambient temperature (~20 o C) and at normal atmospheric pressure (~1 bar). Where more than one test series was conducted on a particular sample on the same date, the tests were conducted in the order in which they appear in this report.
Transcript
Canadian Explosives Research LaboratoryCANMET Bells Corners Complex Bldg. 9
c/o 555 Booth Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G1
Canada
Test Report
Product Tested: Prototype 12x36 Catalytic Heater
Test Report No.: C015-D21-4
Client's File:
Client Name: Protective Heat Development Group
Client Address: 2568 Royal Windsor DriveMississauga, ON L5J 1K7
Client Contact Name: Mr. P. Pietraszek
Condition of sample when rec’d: Undamaged.
Date of receipt of sample:
No. of pages in this report: 08(including this cover page)
Page serial numbers: 2005101301 to 2005101308 (inclusive)
Cover page serial no.: 2005101301
Reviewed by: G. Lobay, P.Eng., Certification Officer
Date of test report: October 14, 2005
No inference shall be made that the product assessed in this test reportcomplies with any test requirement not specifically provided for herein, or thatthe product is deemed suitable for any particular end use. Such determinationsare not within the scope of this test report.
When duplicated, this report shall be duplicated in its entirety.
Unless otherwise stated herein, all tests were conducted at room ambient temperature(~20oC) and at normal atmospheric pressure (~1 bar). Where more than one test serieswas conducted on a particular sample on the same date, the tests were conducted in theorder in which they appear in this report.
Technicians: C. Stephens, A. Marklew
Reviewed by: G. Lobay
Witnesses:
Serial No.: 2005101302
Page: 2 of 08
Our File: C015-D21-4
Client's File:
Client's Name: Protective Heat DevelopmentGroup
DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES
CANADA CENTRE FOR MINERAL AND ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
CANADIAN EXPLOSIVES RESEARCH LABORATORY
Intent of Test:
This test quickly envelopes an operating catalytic heater with an explosive gas atmosphere, which
increases from 0% heptane to the target concentration. The intent is to determine whether the hot surface
of the heater will be capable of igniting the explosive gas, when it is subjected to the spectrum of gas
concentrations between zero and the target concentration.
Test Apparatus:
Referring to the figure on page 3 of this report, the heater was installed with the long axis vertical in an
enclosure measuring approximately 1.2 m x 1.2 m x 2.4 m, along with an air atomizing nozzle and mixing
fan.
Product Tested:
The product tested was a prototype unit. Figure ??? shows the control panel for this unit. The active heating
surface measured approximately 12 by 36 inches. This unit used propane as fuel, but required a 12 Volt dc
supply to start the heater.
Test Procedure:
Prior to the commencement of the tests, the heater was started and allowed to reach equilibrium operating
temperature. The heater was fuelled with propane (C.P. grade), supplied via a suitable regulator at the
specified inlet pressure. During the heater ignition and warmup period, the front of the test enclosure was
left open to atmosphere, i.e. the 2 mil plastic diaphragm was not installed. This particular model of heater
uses an electronic control system for ignition. After ignition, the electric heater element associated with the
startup system is automatically de-energized.
The amount of heptane liquid required to produce the desired vapour-air concentration was calculated and
placed into the reservoir of the air atomizing nozzle.
The plastic diaphragm was installed on the test enclosure, the mixing fan was turned on, and the
compressed air supply for the atomizing nozzle was connected to commence heptane vapourization. The
nozzle air pressure was 60 psi. The time required to vapourize the liquid was typically one minute or less,
depending on quantity. The vapour-air concentration was monitored with a NDIR (non-dispersive infrared)
analyzer, and the oxygen content of the atmosphere in the chamber was monitored with a paramagnetic
oxygen analyzer. The purpose of the NDIR measurements was to confirm the calculated values of liquid
required to produce the desired concentration, and the O2 analyzer confirmed that the oxygen content in the
closed test chamber was remaining relatively constant for the duration of the test, taking into account the
displacement of O2 caused by the heptane. Oxygen to replace that which was consumed by the heater
during the test was supplied from compressed air being delivered to the chamber via the nozzle.
Each test was terminated 10 minutes after complete vapourization of the liquid into the chamber.
Technicians: C. Stephens, A. Marklew
Reviewed by: G. Lobay
Witnesses:
Serial No.: 2005101303
Page: 3 of 08
Our File: C015-D21-4
Client's File:
Client's Name: Protective Heat DevelopmentGroup
Dept. of Natural Resources
Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology
Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory
Hazardous Locations Group
Test Results:
Test No.
Heptane Vapour
Concentration in
air, per cent
Amount
of
Heptane
(mL)
Was there
ignition of the
surrounding
explosive gas
atmosphere?
(Note 2)
Comments
1 5 594 No Pad visibly red in subdued light
2 5 594 No ditto
3 6.7 797 No ditto
4 6.7 797 No ditto
5 6.7 797 No ditto
Note 1: The lower and upper limits of flammability of heptane are 1.1 to 6.7 per cent by volume in air,
respectively. The ignition temperature of heptane is 204o C (by hot surfaces), which is the
lowest value listed for Group D gases and vapours, according to the Canadian Electrical Code,
and supported by other more extensive references.
Note 2: The heater was in full operation and completely immersed in the explosive heptane vapour-air
atmosphere. This atmosphere was under continuous observation and did not explode at any
time during any of the five tests that were conducted.
Technicians: C. Stephens, A. Marklew
Reviewed by: G. Lobay
Witnesses:
Serial No.: 2005101304
Page: 4 of 08
Our File: C015-D21-4
Client's File:
Client's Name: Protective Heat DevelopmentGroup
Figure 1 - View of air atomizing nozzle
Technicians: C. Stephens, A. Marklew
Reviewed by: G. Lobay
Witnesses:
Serial No.: 2005101305
Page: 5 of 08
Our File: C015-D21-4
Client's File:
Client's Name: Protective Heat DevelopmentGroup
Figure 2 - View of nozzle position. The yellow item is a thermocouple.
Technicians: C. Stephens, A. Marklew
Reviewed by: G. Lobay
Witnesses:
Serial No.: 2005101306
Page: 6 of 08
Our File: C015-D21-4
Client's File:
Client's Name: Protective Heat DevelopmentGroup
Figure 3 - General view, prior to installation of diaphragm on the front of the
