Zenerpiirejä

Zenerpiirejä, often translated as Zener barriers or Zener diodes in intrinsically safe circuits, are essential safety components used in hazardous environments. Their primary function is to limit the voltage and current that can be supplied to equipment located in a potentially explosive area. This is achieved through the use of Zener diodes, which are semiconductor devices designed to conduct electricity in reverse bias at a specific, predetermined voltage.

In a Zener barrier, one or more Zener diodes are connected in reverse bias across the power or signal lines. If a voltage surge or fault occurs that exceeds the Zener voltage, the diodes will conduct, effectively shunting the excess energy to ground. This prevents the voltage from rising to a level that could ignite flammable gases or dust in the hazardous area. Resistors are often included in series to limit the current flow, further enhancing safety.

Zener barriers are passive devices, meaning they do not require a separate power source to operate. This makes them highly reliable and suitable for use in locations where power availability might be intermittent or restricted. They are widely employed in industries such as oil and gas, chemical processing, and mining, protecting instrumentation, control systems, and sensors from ignition hazards. Their simplicity, effectiveness, and low cost have made them a ubiquitous solution for intrinsic safety.