Flame arresters are passive devices with no moving parts. They prevent the propagation of flame from the exposed side of the unit to the protected side by the use of wound crimped metal ribbon type flame cell element.
This construction produces a matrix of uniform openings that are carefully constructed to quench the flame by absorbing the heat of the flame.
This provides an extinguishing barrier to the ignited vapour mixture.
Under normal operating conditions the flame arrester permits a relatively free flow of gas or vapour through the piping system. If the mixture is ignited and the flame begins to travel back through the piping, the arrester will prohibit the flame from moving back to the gas source.