DN50 - DN350 (2" - 14")
ANSI Flanged
Aluminium, Nodular Iron, Cast Steel, SS304, SS316, SS316L
Up to + 60℃ (=140℉) @ 1.1 bar abs
API 2000, BS7244, and EN 12874 / ISO 16852
As federal, state and local air quality regulations become more stringent, incineration of gases becomes a more viable option rather than venting to atmosphere. In addition, there are regulations that require gas with any significant sour content be flared because of foul smell and toxicity. Companies that engage in this type of activity understandably have important safety concerns and protection against flashback in systems that contain flammable liquid products becomes a serious issue.
Flame arresters have been utilised in a variety of applications over the past fifty years.
Old and new applications would include:
Selection Criteria
Flame propagation poses significant dangers to systems and personnel in industries worldwide. Careful consideration must be taken to determine whether to use a Deflagration Flame Arresters or a Detonation Flame Arresters. There are two basic determinations when evaluating the intended application:
First, determine the location of all potential ignition sources (i.e. flare, vacuum pump, blower, burner, lightning strike, static discharge, etc).
Second, evaluate the system to determine exactly what should be protected (i.e., the gas source, process component, personnel, upstream process facility, tank, etc.).
When you have determined the ignition source(s) and what is to be protected, the following parameters should be evaluated in order to determine the appropriate flame arrestment protective device:
All of these variables affect the design of the arresters and can also affect the dynamics of flame propagation.
Inline and End of Line Deflagration Flame Arresters Applications
The inline flame arresters and the end of line (free vent) arrestor are used to stop flame propagation of confined and unconfined low pressure deflagrations. They are typically used
for limited piping applications when the system operating pressure is near atmospheric levels.
Detonation Flame Arresters Applications
The detonation flame arresters is an advanced technology flame arresters. They are used to stop the high pressures and velocities associated with detonation. They stop confined and unconfined low and high pressure deflagrations, stable and overdriven detonations. Application parameters for the detonation flame arresters far exceed those of flame arresters for pipe lengths, configurations, system operating pressures, and flame stabilisation. Our flame arresters are designed, manufactured and tested according to API2000, BS7244 and BSEN1287 test standards and codes.
System gas grouping
The type of gas in the system and it’s corresponding gas group determines the design of the arrestor element. The SS316L element must be designed to accommodate the specific gas group that could possibly ignite and propagate in the system. The available designs consist of International Electric Code (IEC) group gases into IIC, IIB, IIA and I, the National Electric Code (NEC) groups gases into A, B, C and D categories depending on the MESG value of the gas.
A flame arrester is a safety device installed on pipelines, vents and openings to stop a fire from spreading back into equipment or storage vessels. In practice, it allows gases or vapours to pass through but halts any flame front, preventing explosions in tanks, compressors or pipework. You’ll find them on storage tanks holding flammable liquids, on vent lines from chemical reactors, and anywhere there’s a risk of combustible vapour igniting outside the vessel.
Inside you’ll find a pack of thin metal sheets folded into dozens of tiny channels. When a flame front hits these narrow gaps, it breaks into many smaller flames. Each little flame cools against the metal walls until it fizzles out, well before it could reignite the vapour on the other side.
Always match the model to your tank size, vapour type and flow rate; Australian Standard AS 4821 gives the details.
The flame arrester sits at the interface between your storage or processing unit and the open atmosphere, or between one section of piping and another. On a tank vent assembly, you’ll typically see it bolted or flanged directly to the vent nozzle. In skid-mounted systems, it often appears as a stand-alone item in a protective housing, upstream of gauges or relief valves. Look for a label stamped with flow direction arrows and a mesh box or cartridge; those are clear visual clues you’re looking at a flame arrester.
Gas