More Than Just a Box and Parts Design And Engineering Challenges Behind "db eb" Creations : Copyright Material IEEE Paper No. PCIC-2021-33

In a hazardous area, where electrical equipment has been traditionally been stuffed into a thick-walled flameproof enclosure to provide explosion protection, different approaches have been introduced as alternatives to this concept. The approach of a series of small flameproof "d" enclosures, each with increased safety "e" terminations, commonly called a "db eb" component is not new, but the advantages provided have made a significant impact in industrial applications. While the concept is similar, a "db eb" component is not just a smaller version of the overall flameproof enclosure. The creation of the "db eb" product that allows for their integration into an increased safety "e" sheet metal or fiberglass enclosures is not as simple as creating a series of small flameproof "d" boxes that will enclose and protect the individual components.This paper will provide insight into the challenges that shape the engineering, production, and testing of the "db eb" components that are becoming more commonly used in hazardous location applications, including the USA and Canada. Unlike an overall explosionproof or flameproof, enclosure that provides the explosion protection, the design of these components can be quite challenging, but can really simplify the design of a system employing them and replace the overall flameproof enclosure.