Flame Arrester Design Advice

In-line Flame Arrester installations

As it is preferable to quench a flame at low velocities and pressures, it is usually recommended that flame arresters are located as close to the potential source of ignition as possible. Locating the flame arrester close to the potential ignition source will often enable a deflagration flame arrester to be used. The maximum distance from the potential source of ignition will always be defined for any in-line deflagration flame arrester and will be typically within 50 times the nominal bore of the pipe into which the arrester is installed. If compliance with this constraint is not possible, or if the pipework incorporates turbulence-inducing features, then it will be necessary to install a detonation flame arrester that will withstand the more severe conditions that might occur.

End-of-line flame arrester installations

When a flame arrester is to be located at the end of a pipeline, or at the entry or exit of a vessel, it is essential that the direction of travel of the potential flame is determined. An end-of-line deflagration flame arrester is designed to quench an unconfined deflagration in the surrounding atmosphere from entering the pipe or system and is almost certainly not suitable for preventing a flame from within the pipe or system igniting the surrounding atmosphere. This latter condition requires specialist consideration.

Explosion testing

All Elmac Technologies flame arresters have been independently flame and explosion type tested and certified accordingly. These tests are as specified in the European Standard for flame arresters, BS EN 12874:2001 and provide for a significant safety margin in typical operating conditions.

Application-specific testing

In some cases, the standard test procedures may not be representative of the final application. In such instances, tests may be undertaken against other standards, or to customised procedures.

To assist in application-specific testing, Elmac Technologies has recently commissioned a highly advanced flame arrester test facility. This facility is available for use when standard test procedures do not reflect the final application, or when clients wish to investigate the characteristics of particular gases or vapours.

The majority of flame arresters are designed to quench single event explosions but, in some cases, there is a requirement to withstand multiple event or a continuous burn on the surface of the element. In these situations, it is necessary to test the arresters for stabilised burning capability.

Any flame arrester supplied must be installed in accordance with the gas group, location and operating (e.g. temperature and pressure) conditions against which the explosion type testing has been performed.

Pressure drop

As a result of the nature of their construction, all flame arresters present a degree of resistance to process gas flow. This is called pressure drop. Elmac Technologies flame arresters are designed to give optimum pressure drop while meeting the flame and explosion quenching requirements of the test standard. Flow test data in accordance with BS EN 12874:2001 is available for all Elmac flame arresters.

Flame Arrester Enquiry

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