Mineral insulated cables offer protection to thermocouple wires against oxidation while used in wet or chemically active environments. Mineral insulated cables are specialised cables that are ideal to be used in high-temperature conditions as these cables have low flammability. Insulation present in MI cables does not burn and makes them suitable for those applications where fire can be havoc. You can reach out to a reliable supplier of MI cable for industrial units or several other applications.
What are mineral insulated cables?
MI cables (mineral insulated cables) contain two conductors (sometimes four or even six) of distinct metals. These conductors are adjoined on a side on which the temperature gets measured. Mineral insulated copper cables are a varied kind of electrical cable constructed from copper conductors insulated through inorganic MgO powder.
What is the main purpose of using MI cables?
Mineral insulated cables provide fast and stable temperature measurement readings. MI cables for industrial units are majorly used for higher temperatures (even up to 1250⁰C in hazardous environments. Mineral insulated cables offer the best insulation resistance mainly at high temperatures.
What are the advantages of mineral insulated cables?
There are lots of benefits to using MI cables. Have a glance:
- MI cables are fire-resistant
Mineral insulated cables are designed especially for transmitting electricity in extreme situations. MI cables for industrial units are constructed for prolonged fire and assure users of no stoppage of electricity supply. In the situation of a fire, MI cables do not emit any kind of corrosive or toxic gases and thus protect public health and prevent possible damage to your electric equipment.
- Eco-friendly cables
Mineral insulated cables are eco-logical as they do not contain chlorate material like PVC. It avoids dioxins emission into the atmosphere. These cables never burn or produce any smoke and even do not contribute to ongoing fire emergencies.
- Corrosion resistant
MI cables are corrosion resistant and it makes these cables suitable for efficient usage in the areas where replacement and failures can be dangerous. MI cables are also used in nuclear plants for monitoring core temperature.
- Offers users with non-reactive insulation
Mineral insulated cables contain mineral fillings which offer the finest non-reactive insulation and prevent thermocouple wires from getting in contact with each other. MI cables do not get in contact with any caustic substances like solvents, oils or even water. It helps in ensuring that thermocouple probes stay accurate in a critical application.
- Operation becomes safer
As MI cables for industrial units do not burn therefore are best to be used in oil rigs and power plants. Installation of these cables can guarantee safe operations of systems.
- Works for long duty cycle
As MI cables are well-protected from the contact with electrically active wires through insulation, so they do not readily get subjected to any inaccurate temperature measurement or malfunction. Most of the MI cables available in the market are calibrated carefully and meet international standards. Mineral insulated cables provide precise temperature measurement even in long duty cycles with either less or no accuracy loss.
- Free-air cable
Mineral insulated cables can be easily bundled with other cables by providing them with a free-air rating. While other systems get free air but they need to de-rate the ampacity or even use space.
- Easy installation
MI cables for industrial units are easy to install, unlike the concrete construction process. If you follow the installation manual properly, these cables can be fire-rated each time.
One point to note is –
To stay certified, the verification chain should be intact. The thermocouple should always be recalibrated as an important part of the executed and well-documented quality management system.
A snippet of mineral insulated cable technology
The usually rated voltage of MI cables currently is – 500V & 750V. Flexible MI cables have voltage rated 500V & 750V. The highest working temperature of mineral insulated cable can touch 250 °C. The cables can be energized for even more than three hours under burning conditions of 950°C.
What is the application of mineral insulated cables?
Have a look at the applications of MI cables:
a) MI cables find application in rail transit tunnels that are used for efficient fire protection systems. They also include – gas fire protection, tunnel fan, jet fan system, emergency evacuation lighting etc.
b) Mineral insulated cables are used in high-rise apartments for emergency lighting, emergency elevator, fire alarm, computer room control circuit, ventilation lines etc.
c) MI cables are also used for warships and ships for transmitting lines for generator rooms, fire alarm systems, gas emissions, large power lines etc.
We hope, after reading this blog, you have come to know more about mineral-insulated cables. MI cables perform well in high temperatures and are ideal for potentially dangerous explosion areas. These cables maintain their insulation or high dielectric resistance features. You can reach out to a leading supplier of MI cables for industrial units in the Middle East and GCC region.
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