explosion proof electromagnet

"I need an explosion proof electromagnet."

One characteristic of electromagnets is that they are explosion proof by nature.

If you must take extra precautions the electromagnet should be in an air-tight sealed enclosure, and the power leads treated similarly till outside the hazardous enviornment.

"One characteristic of electromagnets is that they are explosion proof by nature."

This may be true of course but what about the system it is built in. Electro magnets by themselves are totally inert and therefor harmless but what if it pulls an anvil in that , lets say generates a high impact upon closing, you need to include these factors as well in your explosion proof specs.

I am fortunate enough that I never had to design anything to explosion proof standards as I understand it it can be quite tricky. Hard enough to work for automotive manufacturing standards.

Eh? What's it doing? Lifting cars, for example? Is there petrol/gasoline dripping from them?

While it would be quite possible to create an Ex 'd'-rated coil for an electromagnet of any size, it would be difficult to conceive a metal-to-metal collision where the collision energy would be insufficient to create an incendive spark that would ignite any surrounding flammable atmosphere.

Think again.

Sorry I am a bit confused now...

"it would be difficult to conceive a metal-to-metal collision where the collision energy would be insufficient to create an incendive spark "

Did you mean INSUFFICIENT therefor agreeing with me that it can or is that a typo?

The ignition energy for an explosive hydrogen-air, or hydrocarbon-air, mixture is tiny. In the case of hydrogen-air it is typically of the order of 20μJ (that is why non-sparking tools are specified for use close to locations where potentially explosive atmospheres can occur).

The original poster hasn't commented on the reason for needing an explosion-proof electromagnet or any parameters for its size or performance. While it is easy in principle to encapsulate an electromagnet so that an explosion inside its enclosure cannot be communicated to any flammable atmosphere on the outside (which is the underlying principle behind explosion-proofing the electrical part of the equipment), it is more difficult to ensure that the mechanical action of such a device will not cause an incendive spark to occur as a result of metal-to-metal collisions when it is energised. So, while the electromagnet can in principle be rendered explosion-proof in terms of its electrical behaviour, the same cannot be applied immediately to its mechanical behaviour.

The question about the possibility of its being used to lift cars was bait for further information. Sadly none has been forthcoming so far. Until that information is available, the original poster may well seek in vain. And without that information, guidance on alternative courses of action remains nebulous.

All clear now, thanks.

That is how I thought it was when I corrected one of the first replies stating that electro magnets were explosion proof by design.