Many people have already heard what flame arresters are but don’t really know what they are used for. If this is one of your concerns, then this is the right place for you. Let this article walk you through on what you need to know about flame arrestor and what they are used for.
What are Flame Arresters?
Flame arresters are passive devices which allow the gas to pass through with the capability to stop the flame from growing. These flame arresters were invented way back in 1815 by Sir Humphrey Davy. These devices were used to protect the miners from possible explosions that can be caused by naked flames while mining.
This Davy lamp has a candle within the fine gauze mesh screen that will allow the light to pass through while preventing the flames from igniting the pockets of methane that escapes the lamp. This mesh acts as the heat sink that cools the flame to prevent it from igniting the gas that is outside the lamp.
Different Types of Flame Arresters
Most of the flame arresters that you can find in the market these days come in two categories: End of line and In-Line. The End of line or the vent-atmosphere arresters can help prevent atmospheric fire or it prevents any explosion from entering a certain enclosure. The In-Line flame arrester, on the other hand, can prevent the development of an explosion just within the pipeline.
The flame arresters are made up of a pattern of channels where the walls ‘quench’ the flame as it passes through it by removing the heat energy from the reaction. The height and the length of these channels offer the least resistance when it comes to gas flow while quenching the flame at the same time.
There are so many flame arrester designs in the market today but the most common is crimped ribbon. All you have to take note of is that the quench gap varies from the MESG of the explosion group that it is certified for.
Flame Arresters At Elmac Technologies
When it comes to flame arresters, one of the trusted names is Elmac Technologies. They provide three types of flame arresters: End- of line deflagration, In-line detonation, and the in-line deflagration. All of the flame arresters that they provide meet the ATEX and ISO standards and legislations.
Understanding Combustion and the Explosion Risks
Before buying flame arresters, it is important that you have a full understanding of what combustion is as well as its explosion risks. Combustion happens as an exothermic chemical reaction of fuel exposed to oxygen. For this reaction to happen it needs fuel, oxygen, and ignition. As a result, this releases energy through heat and light.
There are cases where avoiding potential gas or vapor exposure is not possible. So when it comes to the explosion risks, you need flame arresters to prevent them. And when it comes to flame arresters, there’s only one name that you can trust – Elmac.
