Flame arrestors (also called flame arrestor) are passive devices that prevent the propagation of a flame or fire from entering into an opening in a pipeline or vessel discharging flammable vapour.

The flame quenching element is designed to be three or four times the area of the pipe in which it is installed, and is assembled between two flanged reducing spools. The element comprises a tightly rolled scroll or scrolls of crimped stainless steel ribbon to form passages through which the vapor passes. The area of each passage determines the level of protection that the element provides. Storagetech™’s in-line Deflagration Flame Arrestor with Weco Connection provides ultimate safety with its new connection type and a Maximum Experimental Safe Gap as per standard and is suitable for gas groups IIB and IIA.

Under normal operation, the flame element allows the bi-directional flow of air and flammable vapor, however it introduces additional pressure loss and this must be considered in the design of the system. If a fire or ignition occurs external to the equipment and ignites the flammable discharge, the flame arrestor will quench the leading fire by absorbing and dispersing the heat as it passes through the element.