Flame Arrester (also spelled as Flame Arrestor) is a device fitted to the opening of an enclosure or to the connecting pipe work of a system of enclosures and whose intended function is to allow flow but to prevent transmission of a flame.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary there is no ‘correct’ spelling as both versions are valid. Within the deflagration and detonation research and manufacturing community the spelling ‘arrester‘ is more prevalent, although according to Google the spelling ‘arrestor‘ is the more commonly used search term.
Functions of Flame Arrestor:
Protects systems for generating, storing, and transporting gases and liquids of every hazard category against dangers such as endurance burning, deflagration and detonation.
Basic fundamental concept of the flame arresters:
The basic fundamental combustion process that occurs is mainly Explosion, which is nothing but abrupt oxidation or decomposition process that increases the temperature and pressure or both simultaneously.
The explosion can be further categorized as:
1) Deflagration– An explosion that propagates at sub sonic velocity
Types of Deflagrations:
a) Atmospheric Deflagration- occurs in open Air without a noticeable increase in pressure.