Switched reluctance drives for applications in hazardous areas

Hazardous areas are normally defined as those places where a potentially flammable atmosphere exists. Electrical equipment for use in these areas must therefore have particular design and constructional features which enable them to operate safely. A large number of specifications and standards have been drawn up, both by users and national approvals agencies, to regulate the designs. Inevitably, these act as constraints on the designer, making his task more difficult. The authors consider the design of variable-speed drives which meet these constraints and give an illustration of a successful recent development.<>