Rice Lake IQ plus 810 XPCD Installation Manual page 6

High Temperature
Gases
Gasket
INSIDE OF
ENCLOSURE
The design intent of an explosion proof enclosure is not to contain an explosion, but to control it. The flame
path is carefully controlled at the flanges. This insures that if an explosion occurs, any gases that escape will
be cooled to a temperature below the ignition point of any atmosphere specified within that enclosure's
rating.
Propagation of Gas due to
Pressure from an Internal
The distance from the boundary of
the inside of the enclosure to the
gasket is known as the Flame Path.
This distance must be at least 1" for
Group C throughG.
For clarity, the slope of the flange
faces has been greatly enhanced
(Typically, the slope is .0015"/inch)
Explosion
Explosion
Enlarged view
below
Cooling from
Expansion of Gas
(Boyle's Gas Law)
Lower
Temperature
Gases
HAZARDOUS
AREA
3