Deflagration and Detonation Arresters for Gases

Independently of its design the elfect of a flame arrester derives from one or several of the following mechanisms. 

1 Flame Quenching in Narrow Channels Static Dry Flame Arresters 

Through intimate contact with the cold walls of a filter element comprising many narrow channels heat and free radicals are withdrawn from the combustion process, and the flame is extinguished. This mechanism is employed in dry flame screens (e.g. the crimped-ribbon flame arrester shown in Fig. 7.5). 

The element consists of wound corrugated metal strips. The quenching gap size can be adjusted in accordance with the flash-back capability of the explosive mixture. The principle of flame quenching in small gaps is applied in end-of-line flame arresters and in-line flame arresters. 

Gap width and length of the flame arrester element determine its extinguishing capability. The narrower and the longer the gap the better is the extinguishing effectiveness. The wider and the shorter the gap the lower is the pressure loss. The optimum is determined by experiment. 

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