If flames can’t propagate inside a pipe, then what is the purpose of a pipe flame arrester?
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This post was last edited by linweihua6 on 2011-10-1 08:25. A flame arrester should be installed in the pipeline connecting the gas tank to the heating furnace. But since flames don’t propagate within the pipeline, isn’t that the case? Then why is a flame arrester needed in that pipeline? What is the purpose of a flame arrester?
A flame arrester is a metal mesh that absorbs a large amount of heat, thereby preventing combustion and explosions. A flame arrester prevents explosions caused by sudden drops in pipeline pressure and backflow.
A flame arrester is a safety device used to prevent the spread of flames from flammable gases and liquids and to avoid explosions caused by backfire. For gaseous combustibles, the speed of gas flame propagation varies depending on the pipe diameter, and thus the test speeds also differ. Generally, it increases as the pipe diameter increases, but once a certain diameter is reached, increasing the diameter further does not result in an increase in velocity ； Similarly, the flame propagation speed decreases as the pipe diameter decreases, and when a certain minimum diameter is reached, the flame ceases to propagate; the flame arrester is designed taking advantage of this property of combustible gases.
After absorbing a large amount of heat, the gas temperature is reduced below its auto-ignition point, causing the flame to go out and preventing further combustion.