Flame arrester

FLAME ARRESTER

A flame arrester is a safety device installed on a nozzle on top of a tank when the flash point of the stored product is lower than the possible tank temperature.
A majority of the time, a “vent to atmosphere” pressure / vacuum valve is installed on top of the flame arrester. A flame arrester is also used as in-line safety device where combustible gases are transported through low pressure pipe lines to actual combustion, as in an incinerator or flare or where combustion fumes are vented through piping to atmosphere where lightning can cause a flame.

Flame arresters should be designed to stop tank farm fires caused by lightning, sparking, a flame arrester must act as a barrier (stop a flame), a flame holder (contain the flame at the barrier), and dissipate heat in order to prevent auto ignition on the down side of the flame arrester.

 

Flame Arresters are designed to inhibit flame propagation in gas piping systems and to protect low pressure tanks containing flammable liquids. They protect low flash point liquids from externally caused sources of heat and ignition, providing increased fire protection and safety.

The flame arrester consists of two main components, the arrester bases and the flame element housing. The bases serve as the connecting interface to the piping system. The housing accommodates the flame element and is instrumental in stopping the flame passage. The flame element is comprised of small parallel triangular passageways aligned so that an approaching flame front is slowed down and then quenched before it can propagate to the protected

All NEOTECHKOREA flame elements utilize spiral wound, crimped ribbon constructed of corrosion resistant materials, to insure the best flame quenching performance with minimum pressure drop. A flame arrester should be treated as a safety device and maintained by a knowledgeable repair technician.

 

 

 

In order to be an effective flame prevention device, a flame arrester must have a quenching or hydraulic diameter small enough to stop the flame created by the combustible gas. Each combustible gas has a different required hydraulic diameter to be able to stop the flame.

In addition to stopping the flame, an arrester must be able to dissipate heat. Flame element mass ensures that hot gases above the auto ignition temperature never reach the downstream side of the flame arrester.

With an in-line installation, structural integrity is important to insure safety if a detonation should occur. Proper gasket to insure an oxygen free environment in the event of a detonation is also important. Unless a flame arrester meets or exceeds the above mentioned design criteria, it is not a true flame arrester.

 

IGNITION OF GAS/AIR VAPOR-CLOUDS EXTERNAL ATMOSPHERIC EXPLOSION

During filling of a storage tank and depending upon weather conditions explosive gas/air vapor clouds can develop in case they ignite due to external to protect the tank gets in touch with both flame and explosion shock wave. The provided device has to prevent a flashback and long burning poof.

 

 

BURNING OF EXPLOSIVE GAS/AIR VAPORS LONG BURNING SITUATION

Out breathing of explosive gas/air mixture  Breathing of explosive ignited gas/air mixture

 

IGNITION OF GAS/AIR MIXTURES IN PIPELES INTERNAL EXPLOSION /DEFLAGRATION

During this combustion influenced by the geometry of pipe flame propagation speeds of several hundred m/s (up to 500 m/s) and explosion pressure between 6 and 10 bar with an initial pressure of 1 bar and ambient temperature appear.