AMETEK EXSH1 LWIR Flameproof Housing for LWIR-640

AMETEK Land EXSH1 LWIR flameproof housing for the LWIR-640 thermal imager

The AMETEK Land EXSH1 LWIR is a flameproof stainless steel enclosure made so the LWIR-640 long-wave infrared thermal imager can work in hazardous areas where explosive gas or combustible dust may be present. It carries ATEX, IECEx and UKEX certification and does not need purge air for safety. A germanium window passes the 8 to 14 µm radiation the imager needs.

In the part name, EXSH1 is the housing platform and “LWIR” names the imager it houses. A sister version, the EXSH1 Ex SPOT, is built for SPOT+ spot pyrometers and uses a sapphire window, so the two are not interchangeable. The EXSH1 LWIR is for camera-type imaging, such as flare stack and vessel monitoring. Seven Star LLC supplies the EXSH1 LWIR in Oman and the GCC as an independent supplier in Muscat.

EXSH1 LWIR technical specifications

Certification zones and functional temperature for EXSH1 LWIR

The manufacturer notes that the highest functional temperature is limited by the LWIR imager itself, while the enclosure stays safe up to the temperatures in its markings. Verify the nameplate against your area classification before installation.

The LWIR-640 imager inside the EXSH1 LWIR

The housing sheet lists highlights of the LWIR-640 camera for reference; the full specification is in the LWIR-640 brochure.

How the EXSH1 LWIR protects the camera

Flameproof protection (Ex d) lets an internal ignition occur without passing flame to the outside atmosphere; the joints and the window mounting are designed to cool and contain any burn. The germanium window is gridless, so the imager sees the scene without a protective mesh in the picture. With dust-ignition protection (Ex t) the enclosure also suits dust zones.

The 316 / 316L body resists corrosion and the IP66 / IP68 rating covers dust, immersion and high-pressure water jets. For hot ambient locations, air or water cooling lifts the functional limit, but the imager, not the housing, sets the maximum working temperature.

Selection and ordering checklist for EXSH1 LWIR

• Confirm the instrument is an LWIR-640 (all variants fit); other cameras are not listed.
• Zone, gas group and temperature class (zones 1, 21, 2, 22).
• Lens and field of view of the LWIR-640 and target distance.
• Ambient range and need for air or water cooling.
• Supply of 19 to 26.4 V DC, 2.3 A maximum, and the Gigabit Ethernet route (fibre or certified cable).
• Mounting accessories, tilt or pan brackets, and a sun or weather shield.
• Approval wanted: ATEX, IECEx or UKEX.

Installation and maintenance of EXSH1 LWIR

Install on a solid bracket that carries the 20 kg unit and keeps the camera aimed during wind and vibration. Use certified glands, keep flame paths clean and never open the housing under power in a classified area. Clean the germanium window with care, using a method recommended by the manufacturer since germanium coatings scratch easily.

Network design deserves attention: a Gigabit Ethernet camera at the end of a long hazardous-area run usually needs an industrial switch or fibre converter near the unit. Record the nameplate data in the hazardous-area register and keep spare seals and glands in stock.

Typical applications in Oman and the GCC

The manufacturer lists flare stack monitoring, critical vessel monitoring, storage pile monitoring, and hydrocarbon processing and chemical applications. In Oman and the GCC these correspond to flare systems at oil and gas facilities, tank and reactor skin temperature surveillance at refineries and petrochemical plants and stockpile monitoring for self-heating. Direct sun and high ambient temperatures make cooling and a shade shield sensible design choices.

EXSH1 LWIR compared with EXSH1 Ex SPOT

Information to send with your EXSH1 LWIR RFQ

• LWIR-640 variant and lens
• Area classification, gas or dust group and temperature class
• Ambient temperature and target distance
• Cooling and mounting needs
• Network and power arrangement
• Quantity and delivery location

Site conditions in Oman for the EXSH1 LWIR

Field instruments in Oman are exposed to strong sun, high ambient temperature, wind-blown dust and, on coastal plants, salt in the air. When you specify the EXSH1 LWIR, check the ambient and process temperature limits, the enclosure rating and the wetted and housing materials against the actual installation point, and consider sunshades for transmitters mounted in direct sunlight. Cable entries should be sealed with suitable glands so that dust and moisture cannot enter the housing.

Calibration and verification planning matters as much as selection. Record the range, configuration and tag data of each EXSH1 LWIR at commissioning, define a check interval that suits the criticality of the loop, and keep the certificates with the plant documentation so that audits and shutdown work can proceed without delay.

Documents and quotation

The AMETEK Land EXSH1 LWIR housing brochure is attached on this page.

Send the EXSH1 LWIR part number with your camera model and zone data, and we will prepare a quotation. Seven Star LLC is an independent supplier in Muscat.