FLAME Arrestors

A U S T R A L I A

Flame Arrestors
with Proven
Performance
and Safety

(A Division of Pressure Systems Pty Ltd)

FLAME Arrestors
A U S T R A L I A

The most straight-forward protection device against flame propagation

is a Flame Arrestors Australia product.

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.
Protect against flashback in systems that contain flammable liquid products becomes
a serious issue.
Flame arrestors have been utilised in a variety of applications over the past fifty years.
Old and new applications would include:
n Storage tank vents
n Offshore drilling platform vents
n Oil/petrochemical refineries
n Chemical Processing plants
n Marine loading systems
n Natural gas supply lines
n Flare stacks
n Pulp and paper NCG processing
n Vapour incineration systems
n Vapour recovery systems
n Landfill gas incineration
n Sewage treatment vapour processing
n Pharmaceutical
FLAME Arrestors A U S T R A L I A

PRODUCTS
End of Line Flame Arrestors Inline Flame Arrestors Detonation Flame Arrestors

End of line or free vent flame Inline flame arrestors can be installed Detonation flame arrestors provide
arrestors allow free venting in either vertically or horizontally within positive protection against flame
combination with flame protection a designated distance from the propagation in piping systems that
for vertical vent applications. potential ignition source. are manifolded or have long runs.
They prevent flame propagation by The units are passive devices with The arrestors are designed to stop
absorbing and dissipating heat using no moving parts. They prevent an ignited flammable vapour mixture
spiral wound crimped ribbon 316Lss the propagation of flame from travelling at subsonic or supersonic
flame cells. the exposed side of the unit to velocities. They are also designed to
the protected side by the use of a protect against continuous burning
The KSFE unit gives the protection
316L stainless steel crimped metal against the SS316L flame cell for a
needed. For sizes 4” and under after
ribbon type flame cell element. This specific period.
ignition of the out flowing gases a
construction produces a matrix of
fusible element melts, the spring The standard flame cell is suitable for
uniform openings that are carefully
loaded cover automatically opens IEC IIA or NEC group D gases. Cells
constructed to quench the flame by
and the full surface of the flame for other gas groups are available as
absorbing the heat. This provides an
arrestor is exposed so that the flame additional extras.
extinguishing barrier to the ignited
arrestor element will not attain the
vapour mixture. The flame arrestors are available
ignition temperature through heat
with either carbon steel (epoxy
absorption. The standard flame cell is suitable for
coated), SS304, or SS316 housings
IEC 11A or NEC group D gases. Cells
Housing construction are Aluminium, with SS316L flame cells.
for other gas groups are available as
Cast Iron, Cast Steel, 304ss and
additional extras. Sizes range from 50mm to 600mm.
316Lss.
The flame arrestors are available These arrestors can be located at
Hood construction is stainless steel
with either aluminium, nodular iron, great distances from the ignition
and the element is 316Lss.
cast steel, 304ss, 316ss and 316Lss source.
Sizes are from 50mm through to housings. Iron and steel housings are
300mm. supplied epoxy coated.

Cast iron and cast steel units are Sizes range from 15mm to 600mm.
epoxy coated both inside and
outside.

KSFI
Deflagration & Explosion proof type

KSFE KSFD
Detonation & Explosion proof type

KSFH
Deflagration & Explosion proof type

KSFF UFD
Explosion proof type Detonation Flame Arrestor

KSFL
Deflagration & Explosion proof type
FLAME Arrestors A U S T R A L I A

How Flame Arrestors Work

Flame arrestors are passive devices the proper flame arrestor be installed Initial operating pressures
with no moving parts. They prevent to meet the requirements of both the
High pressure deflagrations and
the propagation of flame from the application, operating conditions and
detonations can occur more easily at
exposed side of the unit to the the flame state to which the arrestor
higher system operating pressures
protected side by the use of wound will be exposed.
than at near atmospheric levels.
crimped metal ribbon type flame cell
Pipe length, bends and/or flow Elevated pressures condense the
element. This construction produces
obstructions ignitable gas giving the flame more
a matrix of uniform openings that are
matter and energy to release thereby
carefully constructed to quench the Extended lengths of pipe allow the
boosting flame heat intensity.
flame by absorbing the heat of the flame to advance into more severe
flame. This provides an extinguishing states of flame propagation such Flame stabilisation on the
barrier to the ignited vapour mixture. as high pressure deflagrations and element
detonations.
A critical concern in flame arrestor
Flame Cell Channel
installation is the possibility of a
Effect of distance and bends on
velocities and pressures flame stabilising on the face of the
5 Mtrs flame cell element. A flame that
continuously burns against the flame
arrestor element for a period of time
can heat the element above the gas
A autoignition temperature resulting
2 Mtrs in flame propagation through the
3 Mtrs

element. The time period varies with

the type of element, mixture of air
and gas, type of gas, and velocity at
which the gas stream is moving.
Under normal operating conditions B
the flame arrestor permits a relatively
xample Flame Speed Pressure
E
MESG (Maximum Experimental
free flow of gas or vapour through Mtrs/Second Kpag Safe Gap)
the piping system. If the mixture is
A 150 38 Measurement of the maximum
ignited and the flame begins to travel
B 1160 1654
gap between two equatorial flanges
back through the piping, the arrestor
on a metal sphere that will prevent
will prohibit the flame from moving
a flame from being transmitted
back to the gas source.
Bends in piping, pipe expansions from the sphere to the surrounding
In-line flame arrestors have and/or contractions, valves, or flow flammable mixture. MESG is
specifically designed heat transfer obstruction devices of any kind, dependent on gas composition,
characteristics for slow moving cause turbulent flow. Turbulent The stoichiometric mixture is used to
flames and low to medium pressure flow enhances the mixing of determine the minimum MESG value
fronts (low to medium pressure the combustible gases, greatly for a given gas.
deflagration). But flames moving at increasing the combustion intensity.
higher velocity and carrying higher This can result in increased flame
pressure fronts (high pressure speeds, higher flame temperatures,
deflagration and detonations) can and higher flame front pressures
pass through a standard in-line flame than would occur in laminar flow
arrestor. That is why it is critical that conditions.

Flame arrestor
Flame stabilised on element absorbs IEC NEC MESG Test Gas List
arrestor element and quenches
flame front
Piping Group IIC Group A 0.25 Acetylene

Group IIC Group B 0.28 Hydrogen

Group IIB Group B 0.65 Ethylene

Group IIA Group D 0.90 Propane

Exposed side Protected side Group I G.M. 1.1 Methane

FLAME Arrestors A U S T R A L I A

SELECTION CRITERIA
Flame propagation poses significant 1. Length and configuration of pipe and unconfined low and high
dangers to systems and personnel and pipe between ignition source pressure deflagrations, stable and
in industries worldwide. Careful and arrestor. overdriven detonations.
consideration must be taken to
2. System gas grouping. Application parameters for the
determine whether to use a Flame
detonation flame arrestors far exceed
Arrestor or a Detonation Flame 2. Initial operating pressure.
those of flame arrestors for pipe
Arrestor. There are two basic
3. Flame stabilisation on element. lengths, configurations, system
determinations when evaluating the
operating pressures, and flame
intended application: All of these variables affect the
stabilisation. Our flame arrestors
performance of the arrestor and can
n the location of the ignition source are designed, manufactured and
also affect the dynamics of flame
from the flame arrestor, and; tested according to API2000, BS7244
propagation.
and BSEN12874 test standards and
n what needs to be protected.
Inline and End of Line codes.
First, determine the location of all Applications
System gas grouping
potential ignition sources (i.e. flare,
The inline flame arrestor and the end
vacuum pump, blower, burner, The type of gas in the system
of line (free vent) arrestor are used to
lightning strike, static discharge, etc). and it’s corresponding gas group
stop flame propagation of confined
determines the design of the arrestor
Second, evaluate the system to and unconfined low pressure
element. The SS316L element
determine exactly what should deflagrations. They are typically used
must be designed to accommodate
be protected (i.e., the gas source, for limited piping applications when
the specific gas group that could
process component, personnel, the system operating pressure is
possibly ignite and propagate in the
upstream process facility, tank, etc.). near atmospheric levels.
system. The available designs consist
When you have determined the Detonation application of International Electric Code (IEC)
ignition source(s) and what is to be group gases into IIC, IIB, IIA and I,
The detonation flame arrestor is an
protected, the following parameters the National Electric Code (NEC)
advanced technology flame arrestor.
should be evaluated in order to groups gases into A, B, C and D
They are used to stop the high
determine the appropriate flame categories depending on the MESG
pressures and velocities associated
arrestment protective device: value of the gas.
with detonation. They stop confined

Gas group chart

Group A Group D (IIA) Group D (IIA) (continued)
Acetlyene Acetone 3-Methyl-1-butanol
Acrylonitrile (isoamyl alcohhol)
Group B (IIC) Ammonia Methyl isobutyl ketone
Benzene 2-Methyl-1-propanol
Butadiene Butylene (isobutyl alcohol)
Ethylene oxide 1-Butanol (butyl alcohol) 2-Methyl-2-propanol
Hydrogen 2-Butanol (secondary butyl alcohol) (tertiary butyl alcohol)
Manufactured gases containing Cyclohexane Naphtha (petroleum)
more than 30% Hydrogen N-Butyle acetate N-Propyl acetate
(by volume) Isobutyl acetate Octanes
Propylene oxide Ethane Pentanes
Propyl nitrate Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) 1-Pentanol (amyl alcohol)
Ethyl acetate Propane
Group C (IIB3) Ethyl acrylate 1-Propanol (propyl alcohol)
Ethylene dichloride 2-Propanol (isopropyl alcohol)
Acetaldhyde Gasoline Propylene
Cyclopropane Heptanes Styrene
Diethyl ether Hexanes Toluene
Dimethyl hydrazine Isoprene Turpentine
Ethylene Methane (natural gas) Vinyl acetate
Hydrogen sulfide Methyl acrylate Vinyl chloride
* Methanol (methyl alcohol) Methylamine Xylenes
Methyl mercaptan Methyl ethyl ketone
Unisymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine Methyl mercaptan
(UDMN)
 Flame Arrestors with
Proven Performance and Safety

FLAME Arrestors
A U S T R A L I A

(A Division of Pressure Systems Pty Ltd)

Head Office:
35 Sir Laurence Drive, Seaford, Victoria, 3198 Australia
PO Box 154, Seaford, Victoria 3198 Australia
Telephone 03 9776 9477 Facsimile 03 9766 9606
web www.pressuresystems.com.au