Sep 26 2006
A new emergency bulkhead luminaire, the NexLED has been introduced by oil and gas industry lighting specialist Chalmit Lighting. Providing instantaneous bright white light, the compact low energy units are not adversely affected by extreme low temperatures. This ensures a dependable long-life with low maintenance, making NexLED an ideal and cost effective alternative to traditional fluorescent and HID emergency lights. Further, the luminaires’ low power consumption minimises the drain on UPS resources.
Designed in accordance with requirements for ATEX Category 2 and suitable for Zone 1 and 21 areas, NexLED will have widespread applications in onshore and offshore exploration, production, processing and storage. With die cast corrosion resistant marine grade aluminium enclosures, toughened glass covers, silicone rubber gaskets and stainless steel fittings, they are also suitable for use in other harsh industrial environments where there is exposure to high levels of dust and moisture.
“There are many performance and productivity advantages of using LED’s over conventional technologies,” explained Chalmit director Archie Haughey. “The output from fluorescent lamps diminishes in extremely low temperatures, whereas the light from LED’s increases in the same conditions. This capability has made the NexLED a popular choice for installations exposed to extreme conditions, such as those in locations like the Caspian Sea. LED’s also have an extremely long life of up to 50,000 hours – almost six years continuous use – meaning re-lamping will be rarely required during the lifetime of an installation. This is a key advantage where maintenance crews are working in cold and hazardous conditions.”
LED’s also have important environmental advantages. Their low power consumption saves energy costs and because they contain no mercury or other harmful agents they do not require special disposal arrangements.
Two NexLED models are available: 1W x 2 lamps and 1W x 8 lamps. Both can be fitted with battery packs for emergency lighting providing three hours and 90 minutes illumination respectively. A directional decal kit can also be fitted to identify emergency exit locations.
Chalmit Lighting is part of Hubbell Electrical Products, a division of Hubbell Inc. The company has worldwide distribution and a network of offices strategically located to provide sales technical support to the oil and gas industry. Free Chalmlight software is available to help electrical and mechanical services designers optimise lighting intensity for safety and efficient working.