How HLPL feedthroughs help create a secure pressure boundary while simplifying installation
In hazardous locations, passing electrical power through a pressure boundary presents a unique engineering challenge. The connection must do more than securely hold conductors in place. It must prevent gases and liquids from migrating through the opening, maintain the integrity of the pressure boundary and meet the requirements of the surrounding environment.Traditional approaches may require additional sealing methods to achieve the necessary protection. Conax HLPL Hazardous Location Power Lead Feedthroughs provide an alternative designed specifically to seal insulated power leads in demanding hazardous-location applications.
Why power lead sealing matters in hazardous locations
Any point where electrical conductors pass through an enclosure, vessel or other pressure boundary can create a potential leak path for gases or liquids. In hazardous environments, maintaining an effective seal at these penetrations is critical to the safety and reliability of the overall system. The challenge becomes even greater when pressure or vacuum is involved. Conductors must remain securely positioned while the fitting maintains its seal against gases or liquids.
HLPL fittings are designed to provide pressure and vacuum sealing on Kapton™-insulated copper lead wires and thermocouple wires while resisting wire movement under pressure. By maintaining the integrity of the pressure boundary, they help protect hazardous-location applications where reliable sealing is critical.
Creating a reliable seal without poured sealing compounds
The difference lies in the compression seal. Unlike poured sealing compounds, HLPL uses a compressive sealing design that seals not only between the conduit and the wire insulation, but also between the insulation and the conductor itself. This creates a more complete pressure boundary and helps prevent gas or liquid migration.
The seal is created by compressing GraFoil™ around each individual conductor. Once properly torqued, the compressed GraFoil™ provides a minimum 20 mm flame-path seal. Teflon™ sleeves help protect the wires from damage where they exit either end of the feedthrough, further supporting long-term reliability.
By eliminating the need for poured sealing compounds, HLPL can help simplify installation while providing a purpose-built solution for hazardous-location applications.
Built for demanding operating conditions
Hazardous-location applications can expose components to pressure, moisture and wide temperature ranges. HLPL feedthroughs are designed to perform across these demanding conditions.
HLPL fittings are pressure rated to a maximum of 1,500 PSI with NPT threads and are suitable for both gas and liquid applications. They carry IP66, IP67 and IP68 ingress protection ratings, with IP68 protection specified at a depth of 5 meters for one hour. The fittings are designed for ambient temperatures ranging from -40°C to 200°C.
Standard construction uses a 316/316L stainless steel body and a 303 stainless steel B cap. Using different stainless steel grades for these components helps minimize potential galling issues.
Certified for hazardous-location applications
Selecting components for hazardous environments also requires careful consideration of applicable certifications. HLPL fittings are ATEX and IECEx certified for use in specified hazardous gas and dust environments. These certifications help engineers select a power lead sealing solution designed and tested for the demanding conditions found in hazardous locations.
Combined with their pressure and ingress protection ratings, these certifications make HLPL fittings well suited for applications where maintaining the integrity of electrical penetrations is critical.
Flexible options for application-specific requirements
No two applications present exactly the same combination of conductors, mounting requirements and operating conditions. HLPL fittings are available for a range of wire gauges, conductor quantities and amperage requirements. Standard fittings are supplied with a minimum of 18 inches of lead wire on both sides, with longer lengths available. Additional body and cap materials and mounting configurations may also be available depending on the application.
This flexibility allows engineers to start with a proven hazardous-location feedthrough design while working with Conax to address application-specific requirements when a standard configuration isn’t enough.
Find the right sealing solution for your application
Choosing the right power lead feedthrough requires considering pressure, temperature, conductor requirements, hazardous-location classifications and other operating conditions. Conax offers both standard products and custom-engineered solutions designed to meet even the most complex sealing challenges.
Have a challenging application? Talk to a Conax engineer to find the right solution for your requirements.
GraFoil™ is a trademark of NeoGraf Solutions™
Kapton™ is a trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company™
Teflon™ is a trademark of The Chemours Company™