GB2535204A

GB2535204A - Panel

Info

Publication number: GB2535204A
Application number: GB1502362.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Garden Ian
Original assignee: HASS247 Ltd
Current assignee: HASS247 Ltd
Priority date: 2015-02-12
Filing date: 2015-02-12
Publication date: 2016-08-17
Also published as: GB201502362D0

Abstract

A panel comprising an inner leaf 58, an outer leaf 56 and a solid plate 54 between the two leaves. There is an outer connector 52 on the outer leaf and an inner connector 53 on the inner leaf. The inner and outer connectors are in communication with each other and supported by the solid plate. There may be a plurality of connectors which are linked internally to each other. The connector may be an electrical, power, communications or optical connector. The panel may be formed from anti-static, flame resistant material such as rubber coated E-glass cloth. By providing such a panel, control, power and/or communications can be provided between the inside and the outside of the habitat, without porting cables through holes in the material. A habitat (10, Fig. 1) may be constructed with the panel which engages with a frame (12, Fig. 1). The habitat may be constructed around a work area to mitigate the risk of fire through ignition of combustible gas, chemicals and fluids when welding or grinding.

Description

This invention relates to a habitat for working in a hazardous area environment where there is a risk of fire through the ignition of gas, chemicals and fluids, for example on an offshore facility.

Different areas of an offshore (or other) facility are designated into zones, representing the degree of risk from combustible gases etc. From time to time hazardous work, such as welding or grinding, needs to be performed in a hazardous environment.

In order to mitigate the risk of such gases being ignited by the hot work, a habitat may be constructed around the area to be worked on. The habitat is typically a modular structure comprising a scaffold-like frame and panels mounted on the frame. The habitat is large enough for personnel to be work therein, and a positive pressure is maintained in the habitat to resist ingress of hazardous gases.

GB2495184 discloses such a habitat. Whilst this or other such habitats are used in practise, the inventors of the present invention have developed an improved system to mitigate some disadvantages that the present inventors have noted.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a habitat for use in a hazardous environment comprising: a frame; at one panel engaging with the frame; the panel having an inner and outer leaf of material; the panel comprising an outer connector on the outer leaf of material, and an inner connector on the inner leaf of material; a solid plate between the inner and outer leaf of material; the inner and outer connectors in communication with each other and supported by the solid plate.

Thus by providing such a panel, control, power and/or communications can be provided between the inside and the outside of a habitat. The inventors of the present invention have recognised that this is an improved system, compared to the use of holes in the panel through which cables extend which is difficult to seal to maintain a positive pressure in use.

The connector may be an electrical connector especially for power, or for or communications between the inside and the outside of a habitat. Optical connectors are also an option.

Thus in use, power may be plugged into the connector on the outside of the panel, and a power cable plugged into the corresponding inner electrical connector.

There may be a plurality, such as more than three, or more than five, of such connectors on the inner and outer panels, and linked internally to each other. For example: power for welding plant, grinding tools, lights, oxygen supply, gas detection (internal and external), clock, burning equipment, alarms (both visual and audible), communications, signals and shut down systems. Moreover, it may include 110v external power supply plugs and/or 3phase external power supply plugs.

Moreover it is noted that the present orifice through which cables extend in the known habitats, that static can build up due to movement between the cables and the panels, which increases risk i.e. spark potential.

To extend this advantage, preferably the panels are be formed from anti-static material and indeed may be formed from flame resistant material.

Anti-static material is a material according to British Standard: PD CLC/TR 50404:2003 Electrostatics code of practice for the avoidance of hazards due to static electricity.

Flame resistant material is a material which has a high operating temperature threshold, such as above 165C and/or a high melting point threshold, such as above 800C.

One suitable material is a rubber coated E-glass cloth.

The solid plate may be a metal plate, such as stainless steel, having a thickness of 3 -7 mm, e.g. 5mm.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a panel for use in habitat in a hazardous environment comprising an inner and outer leaf of material an outer connector on the outer leaf of material, and an inner connector on the inner leaf of material; a solid plate between the inner and outer leaf of material; the inner and outer connectors in communication with each other and supported by the solid plate.

The panel according to the second aspect of the invention is an embodiment of the panel according to the first aspect of the invention. References herein to the panel include the panel according to the second aspect of the invention, and so more specific options are not repeated here for brevity.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of using an habitat as described herein, in a hazardous area environment.

The hazardous area environment may be a zone 1 or a zone 2 environment.

The habitat may be used on an offshore facility.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following figures, in which: Fig.1 is a perspective view of a habitat comprising panels; Fig. 2a is an outer view of the panel in accordance with the present invention; and, Fig. 2b is a side view of the Fig. 2a panel.

Figure 1 shows a habitat 10 comprising a frame 12 and a plurality of panels 20 engaging with the frame. The frame 20 engages with the plurality of panels 20 by threading the frame through a plurality of stabilising hoops 13 sewn to each panel.

The habitat 10 further comprises a door (not shown), emergency exit 11, check valve 15, water bags 17, gas detectors 16 and an electrical panel 50.

The habitat 10 also comprises an operating unit 18 which feeds air into the habitat to maintain a positive pressure. The operating unit 18 comprises various controls, fans and a gas detector (not shown).

A shroud 19 in the form of a sock is shown in Fig. 1 and surrounds an aperture A. The aperture A is sized to complement the pipework 14 to be worked on, such that a seal is created therebetween. The sock extends out of the plane of the panel, but is made from the same material as the panel. An advantage of such embodiments is that the amount of movement caused by gusts of wind for example, is mitigated, thus reducing the static energy and in turn the risk of sparks occurring.

In use, the habitat 10 is erected around pipework 14. The habitat 10 is weighted down by the water bags 17 to prevent the habitat from moving. Inside the habitat 10 there is a risk that hazardous gases may be present which could ignite if any hot work is carried out on the pipework 14. The operating unit 18 takes air from an area free of hazardous gases, and pumps it into the habitat 10, in the direction of the arrows shown, to expel the gases from the habitat. The pumping of clean air into the habitat 10 also creates a positive pressure within the habitat which resists the ingress of further gases from the surrounding area. The gas detectors 16 continuously monitor the area surrounding (and within) the habitat 10 for hazardous gases and hot work can be stopped if they are detected.

If too much pressure s created within the habitat 10 due to pumping in air, the check valve 15 (comprising a Venturi system) allows the excess air to escape from the habitat.

It is an advantage of certain embodiments of the present invention that a safer environment is created for personnel to carry out hot work on the pipework, compared to traditionally used habitats.

The interface panel 50 shown in more detail in Figs. 2a and 2b comprises a series of connectors 52, a 5mm stainless steel panel 54 between an outer 56 and inner 58 leaf of antistatic material.

A power cable 51 from a power source (not shown) may be attached to a connector 52 on the outside of the interface panel 50, and a plug 62 with cable 61 may be attached to a corresponding connector 53 on an inner side of the interface panel 50.

In this way, the power can be provided to the habitat through the connectors 52, 53 without porting cables through holes in the material.

Improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example communications, optical or electrical may be provided through the interface panel.

Claims

Claims 1. A panel for use in habitat in a hazardous environment comprising an inner and outer leaf of material an outer connector on the outer leaf of material, and an inner connector on the inner leaf of material; a solid plate between the inner and outer leaf of material; the inner and outer connectors in communication with each other and supported by the solid plate.
2. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector is an electrical connector.
3. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is a plurality of such connectors on the inner and outer panels, and linked internally to each other.
4. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the connector is one of a connector for welding plant, grinding tools, lights, oxygen supply, gas detection (internal and external), clock, burning equipment, alarms (both visual and audible), communications, signals and shut down systems.
5. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the connector includes 110v external power supply plugs and/or 3-phase external power supply plugs.
6. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, formed from anti-static material.
7. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, formed from flame resistant material.
8. A panel as claimed in claim 6 or 7, comprising a rubber coated E-glass cloth.
9. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the solid plate is a metal plate.
10. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the solid plate has a thickness of 3 -7 mm
11. A habitat for use in a hazardous environment comprising: a panel as claimed in any preceding claim, a frame; the panel engaging with the frame.
12. A method of using an habitat as claimed in claim 11, in a hazardous area environment.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the hazardous area environment is a zone 1 or a zone 2 environment.
14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the habitat is used on an offshore facility.