Static electricity is the appearance of a free charge on the surfaces of dielectrics. The emergence of an electrostatic field poses a great danger to production cycles associated with combustible substances, dust, flammable vapors. These charges can cause malfunctions in electronic devices and devices. Protection against static electricity is also necessary for the prevention of many diseases.
Content
- The nature of static electricity
- Danger to humans
- Enterprise protection
- Ensuring the safety of the house and apartment
The nature of static electricity
In an equilibrium state, molecules and atoms of any substance have the same number of positively and negatively charged particles. Negatively charged particles, electrons, can move from one atom to another, thereby creating different charges on the atoms.
Where an extra electron appears, the charge is negative. Where the missing electron is positive. These charges immobile in space create an electrostatic field. It occurs in such cases:
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When rubbing one object against another. - With a sharp temperature drop.
- Due to exposure to various radiation (ultraviolet, radioactive).
- Static charges build up on the human body when wearing synthetic or woolen clothing. They arise in the body of a car when driving.
It is very dangerous to transport gasoline in plastic containers. When the fluid rub against the walls, static electricity is generated, which can create a spark and ignite the gasoline vapors.
Sparks arising during the discharge of electrostatic fields can cause a fire in dusty and gassed rooms.
Danger to humans
The need to eliminate the dangers associated with the appearance of an electrostatic field exists both in production and in everyday life. ESD protection in production is a must when explosive and fire hazardous production processes. In accordance with safety regulations, it is necessary to protect workers in factories from electric shock.
The intensity of the electrostatic field is low and with rare exposure does not harm health, but it may cause muscle reactions, cramps, which will lead to an accident. Long-term exposure to electrostatic fields may affect the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The electrostatic field also has a negative effect on electronic devices. As a result of the discharge, they often fail.
Enterprise protection
Static electricity and protection against it are issues that are seriously considered when creating safety regulations in enterprises. Compliance with them should protect personnel from electric shock and prevent process disturbances.
The measures used in production are to reduce the intensity of the generation of fields and to drain the charge. To reduce the intensity, apply:
- Cleaning combustible gases and liquids from contamination with solid and liquid impurities.
- Refusal, if possible, from crushing and spraying substances in the technological cycle.
- Compliance with the design speed of movement of materials in highways and devices.
To discharge the charge, grounding of all metal and electrically conductive parts of the equipment, metal casings and pipelines is required. Moving devices and rotating elements that do not have permanent contact with the ground should also be grounded. An increase in the conductivity of dielectric materials also promotes charge dissipation. This is achieved by the use of surfactants that increase the conductivity of dielectrics. Keeping the air humidity at least 60-70% is a successful method of combating static electricity.
Neutralizers are used if technological measures are insufficient. These devices are used to neutralize surface electric charges by ions of different signs. Induction and high-voltage neutralizers are used to ionize air with a high voltage electric field.
In order to neutralize charges in explosive rooms, radioisotope neutralizers are successfully used. Ionization occurs due to active α or β radiation.
Individual protection methods are special footwear and clothing.
Ensuring the safety of the house and apartment
Free electrical charge is accumulated: rubber shoes, synthetic clothing, linoleum and plastic, carpets, reinforced concrete walls. To protect living quarters, first of all, you need to ensure that the air humidity is at least 60%.
There are a variety of humidifiers available that can solve this problem. Air ionizers are used to neutralize electrostatic charges. Static Electricity Precautions:
- Use in residential premises grounding and grounding of electrical wiring.
- Get rid of dust, do not allow it to accumulate on carpets.
- Observe electrical safety rules.
- Treat synthetic clothing with an antistatic agent.
Protection against free electrical charges will help save health, avoid explosions and fires, and improve the performance of technological devices and electronic devices. These measures are very important both for the protection of every home and for the safety and improvement of conditions for workers in the workplace.
