What Is a Flame Arrestor? How It Works and Why It’s Essential for Industrial Safety

Flame arrestors may not be widely known, but they play a vital role in ensuring safety in a variety of industries. These simple devices prevent fires and explosions by extinguishing the flames or preventing them from spreading. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about flame arrestors.

What are flame arrestors?

Flame arrestors (also known as flame arresters) are devices installed on top of tanks or vessels and are designed to prevent fires and explosions caused by flammable gases or vapours. They work by limiting the spread of an open flame, either by extinguishing it or cooling it to a level where it no longer poses a hazard. Flame arrestors can consist of simple mesh, plates or complex in-line devices.

Types of flame arrestors:

There are two main types of flame arrestors:

• Deflagration flame arrestors are designed to extinguish and cool a flame front travelling at subsonic speed.
• Detonation flame arrestors, on the other hand, are used when the flame front is traveling at supersonic speeds. These methods are more specialized and are usually used in high-risk industries.

Where are flame arrestors used?

Flame arrestors are used in various industries to prevent fires and explosions. Some of these industries include oil and gas, chemical and petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and refining. They are also needed in the transportation industry, such as shipping, to prevent explosions from fuel vapors.

How do flame arrestors work?

Flame arrestors work by interrupting the combustion process. When a flame front enters the flame arrestor, it travels through a series of channels that are designed to weaken and change its structure. These channels are usually small, which increases the surface area and allows for better heat dissipation. This prevents the flame front from spreading further.

Benefits and maintenance:

The main benefit of using a flame arrestor is the prevention of fires and explosions, which can cause injury to property and people. They also serve as protection against environmental pollution and can save companies money by preventing accidents. However, regular maintenance and inspection of flame arrestors are essential to ensure their proper functioning.

Conclusion:

Flame arrestors are essential safety devices that play an important role in preventing fires and explosions in various industries. They are designed to interrupt the combustion process and can be classified as deflagration or detonation flame arrestors. When properly maintained and installed, flame arrestors can provide reliable protection against potentially dangerous situations.

 

Looking for The Right Flame Arrestor? Get Expert Help Choosing the Ideal Arrestor Engineered To Fit Your Needs |

Cashco’s flame arrestors are engineered to stop the propagation of flames in gas piping systems, helping protect equipment, personnel, and facilities. For more information about Cashco's arrestors, view all models here .

Cashco is dedicated to ensuring you select the best solution for your tank protection needs. Need help choosing the right flame arrestor? Contact us and our experienced team will gladly assist you in finding the ideal product!