Flame arrestors can operate on the principle of eliminating the heat from the source of flame as it attempts to pass through the narrow passages within the walls of metals and other heat attractor materials.
The flame arrester is a passive mechanical tool that is designed to be clipped on a tank or a process piping material. In the normal operation, the vapor substance in the pipe is being directed to the flame arrestors.
The flame arrestor is consists of an element or housing substance that connects to ensure the security of the pipe that is needed for the work process. The element present in the device can dissolve the flame, and it is usually seen in the form of a filter.
A filter provides a small screen of apertures in which the process gas will continuously flow, but it’ll block the flame transmission. The flame front will be broken down in the filter to a small aperture that is cooled by a massive heat capacity of the substance; thus, eradicating the flame.
Materials used in the filter includes crimped metal ribbons, sintered materials, woven wire gauze, and honeycomb material. Due to its construction, the substance will lead to a pressure drop or known as an obstruction to the system flow.
To control the increasing resistance to the flow, the substance area is sometimes more significant than the cross-sectional section of the pipework. Also, more considerable elements have the highest heat capacity so that they can sustain the heat.
Different Types of the Flame Arrestors
All the flame arrestors are created to enable gases and other liquid substances to pass through while blocking any flames or sparks from inducing an explosion or expanding the fire into a catastrophic event.
But the range of style may vary depending on its size and fitting in every application.
End of the Line Flame Arrestors
This flame arrestor is fitted at the end of the pipeline of a particular vessel or equipment to block flames from entering. Sometimes, experts believed that the end of the line flame arrestors could hinder the fire that exists in the container or pipe.
Without utilizing the weather-hood, they can be used in several orientations. However, an inverted mounting is not advisable as this can increase the risk of the heat being trapped inside the vessel. It should be fitted enough in a conventional and vertical orientation and to be utilized outside and be exposed in a different kind of weather.
In-Line Flame Arrestor
It is fitted in the piping systems to defend the downstream equipment. Though it is the culprit for the ignition can cause the flame to pass through the gas flow only if the fire can come from a straight direction. If not in the straight path, a bi-directional flame arrestor is needed for the system.
In-line flame arrestors could be deflagration or detonation depending on their condition in which they are being used for. Pipe orientation is often not an issue, not unless the liquid will give any attention to the gas flow.
In this kind of situation, an eccentric flame arrestor could be fitted to enable the collection of the liquid drainage.
