Beamex MC6-Ex Intrinsically Safe Field Calibrator

Overview

Beamex MC6-Ex is an intrinsically safe, documenting multifunction calibrator and fieldbus communicator for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. It is certified under ATEX, IECEx and North American schemes with the marking Ex ia IIC T4 Ga, which approves it for the tightest hazardous location, Zone 0. In practice this means a technician can carry one instrument into an area where flammable gases may be present and calibrate pressure, temperature and electrical signals without hot-work permits or additional safety equipment such as portable gas detectors.

Seven Star LLC supplies the Beamex MC6-Ex on request to oil, gas, petrochemical and power operators in Oman and the GCC, with engineering support in Muscat. Sites that already use the Beamex MC6 advanced field calibrator and communicator in the safe area can add the MC6-Ex for hazardous-area rounds while keeping one familiar user interface, one set of calibration procedures and the same Beamex calibration software.

Calibration and Communication Principle

The Beamex MC6-Ex works as a combined measure and source instrument. Internal and external pressure modules measure applied pressure, two simultaneous RTD or thermocouple channels measure temperature, and electrical circuits measure or generate voltage, current, resistance, frequency and pulses. A technician connects the device under test, selects the function and the instrument compares the reading with the reference, calculating error and pass or fail status against the tolerance defined for the instrument being calibrated.

In communicator mode the MC6-Ex reads and writes parameters of HART, FOUNDATION Fieldbus and Profibus PA field devices. Built-in loop power with the correct impedance for each bus removes the need for external supplies or resistors, and all three protocols can be installed in the same unit. The documenting calibrator mode stores as-found and as-left results and transfers them to Beamex CMX or LOGiCAL software, so calibration records are created automatically instead of being copied by hand into a logbook. Wireless data transfer over Bluetooth is available but must only be used in the safe area, and USB devices are not allowed in hazardous areas.

Engineering Design of the Beamex MC6-Ex

The Beamex MC6-Ex measures 207 x 231 x 80 mm and weighs 2.5 to 2.9 kg. Its robust IP65-rated, dust-tight and water-resistant casing has integrated impact protectors and has passed a 1 metre drop test, and it operates from −10 to +50 °C. A 5.7 inch 640 x 480 colour touch screen with adjustable LED backlight is complemented by a membrane keypad, with soft numeric and QWERTY keyboards appearing when text entry is needed. The unit offers five user interface modes: Meter, Calibrator, Data Logger, Documenting Calibrator and Communicator.

Power comes from a rechargeable NiMH battery pack of 4200 mAh at 9.6 V, giving 4 to 8 hours of operation under heavy to normal use. The battery must be charged in a safe area only, and a spare pack can be charged separately and swapped in the field. Pressure is handled by internal Ex modules such as P100m-Ex to P160-Ex and by intrinsically safe external EXT modules, covering ranges from 10 mbar differential up to 1000 bar. The MC6-Ex can also communicate with selected pressure controllers and dry blocks used in a safe area to automate a calibration sequence.

Key Features

The Beamex MC6-Ex combines safety certification with the full capability of a modern documenting calibrator:

• Ex ia IIC T4 Ga certification with ATEX, IECEx and North American approvals allows use in Zone 0, Class I Division 1 locations.
• Pressure uncertainty starts from ±(0.01 % FS + 0.025 % of reading), RTD measurement from ±0.015 °C and current measurement from ±(1 µA + 0.01 % of reading), stated as one-year total uncertainty.
• A traceable, accredited calibration certificate is delivered with every unit, including uncertainty data from the calibration laboratory.
• Multi-bus communicator for HART, FOUNDATION Fieldbus and Profibus PA with built-in loop supply works on all types of smart field instruments, not only pressure and temperature transmitters.
• Five operating modes in one device reduce the equipment a technician must carry into a hazardous area.
• Documenting calibrator mode with Beamex CMX and LOGiCAL software supports a fully digital, paperless calibration flow.
• Additional functions include scaling with square-root transfer for flow, programmable alarm, leak test, damping, step and ramp generation, and custom RTD and pressure units.
• Three-year warranty on the calibrator and a rugged IP65 housing protect the investment in demanding offshore and desert conditions.

Industrial Applications

The MC6-Ex targets offshore and onshore oil and gas platforms, refineries, chemical and petrochemical plants and any facility where flammable gases may be present. It is also used in the pharmaceutical industry, energy production and gas processing. For Omani operators this covers wellhead pads and gathering stations in the interior, process units at Sohar, Duqm and Salalah, LNG-related facilities, and fuel-gas and gas-turbine auxiliary systems in power and desalination plants.

Seven Star LLC helps maintenance and instrument teams choose the pressure module range, communicator protocols and accessories for each plant, and recommends the Beamex MC6-Ex where a calibrator must enter the hazardous area itself. Planners comparing options may also review the Fluke 754 documenting process calibrator or the Druck DPI 620G Genii advanced modular multifunction calibrator for safe-area work. Ask us for the Beamex MC6-Ex datasheet when you need certificate numbers, module lists and temperature class details for the permit-to-work package.

Technical Specifications

Selected specifications for the Beamex MC6-Ex are listed below from the manufacturer brochure. Some functions are optional, so confirm the configuration when ordering.

Request a Quote for Beamex MC6-Ex

To request a quotation for the Beamex MC6-Ex, send Seven Star LLC the pressure ranges, communication protocols and accessories you need, together with the hazardous-area zone and gas group. We supply the Beamex MC6-Ex on request with engineering support in Muscat, and we can provide the Beamex MC6-Ex datasheet and certification details to instrumentation and procurement teams across Oman and the GCC.