Electrical safety considerations for canned pumps in flammable material services

Abstract

When handling flammable materials the close proximity between the process fluid and the electric motor, which is unavoidable given the basic design of the canned motor pump, gives rise to safety issues which must be carefully considered. Any potential hazards associated with these safety issues must be carefully managed if the benefits of canned motor pumps are to be realised safely. This paper explores a number of electrical safety issues and questions that are raised by the use of canned motor pumps in the petrochemical and related industries. Arising as they do from the very nature of the canned motor pump, these are matters which do not apply when dealing with conventionally sealed pump and external motor driver.