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Flame Arrester Testing Guidelines

Flame arresters should be tested under conditions representative of the actual piping system to verify their ability to quench flame propagation. Both deflagration and detonation tests are important, as some designs can pass one but fail the other. Additional testing is warranted for process gases that accelerate combustion, such as acetylene, hydrogen, and olefins. Continuous burn and endurance tests help determine performance during flame retention. Minimum ignition sensitivity tests are also important, and additional testing is advised for gases with sensitivities under 0.90mm. Proper testing procedures and an understanding of what hazards were addressed are essential for ensuring flame arrester suitability.

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ROUSHAN KESHRI
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22 views2 pages

Flame Arrester Testing Guidelines

Flame arresters should be tested under conditions representative of the actual piping system to verify their ability to quench flame propagation. Both deflagration and detonation tests are important, as some designs can pass one but fail the other. Additional testing is warranted for process gases that accelerate combustion, such as acetylene, hydrogen, and olefins. Continuous burn and endurance tests help determine performance during flame retention. Minimum ignition sensitivity tests are also important, and additional testing is advised for gases with sensitivities under 0.90mm. Proper testing procedures and an understanding of what hazards were addressed are essential for ensuring flame arrester suitability.

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ROUSHAN KESHRI
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SECTION 7-FLAME ARRESTERTESTING AND CERTIFICATION

7.1 GENERAL
Flame arresters installed in piping systems should always
be tested to verify that the design would quench a flame front
propagating within a closed piping system. If the test conditions
are not equivalent to, or representative of, the actual service
conditions of the particular piping system and gas
(including the system temperature and pressure), further testing
is warranted before installing a particular flame arrester.
7.2 DEFLAGRATION AND DETONATION TESTING
Deflagration tests as well as detonation tests should be performed
for flame arresters used in closed piping systems.
Experience has shown that some flame arrester designs will
pass a detonation test but will fail a deflagration test. Deflagration,
detonation, and explosion tests for flame arresters are
typically performed using propane. However, if the process
gas of concern has an accelerated combustion reaction rate,
such as acetylene, hydrogen (or hydrogen-containing mixture),
or olefìnic hydrocarbons, additional tests using the specific
process gas are warranted.
7.3 FLAME RETENTION TESTING
If a flame is retained on the element of a flame arrester, the
flame arrester may become incapable of preventing passage of
the flame through the arrester as a result of the arrester housing
and element becoming heated by the flame. Continuous burn
and endurance burn tests typically are performed using gasoline
vapor or n-hexane to determine how the flame arrester will
perform during flame retention. Arresters tested using these
fuels are probably suitable for use with most common paraffìn
or aromatic hydrocarbons. However, if the gas to be transported
in the piping supports accelerated rate combustion reactions,
such as acetylene, hydrogen, or olefìnic hydrocarbons,
additional tests using the specific process gas are warranted.
7.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF MESG
Background for MESG is discussed in Section 4. If the
MESG of the gas is less than 0.90 mm., additional tests using
the specific process gas are warranted. A list of hydrocarbon
and chemical gases or vapors which have a MESG less than
0.90 mm. is contained in Appendix B. If the process gas contains
some portion of a gas or vapor which has a MESG less
than 0.90 mm (like hydrogen), it is advisable to conduct additional
tests at least to establish the specific MESG for the process
gas mixture. It is advisable not to rely totally upon the
MESG value as a determining factor as to the nature of a
potential combustion wave within a piping system. The
molecular structure of the gas or vapor can be an important
factor, particularly if double or triple bonds exist. Turbulence
generation can cause a combustion reaction to accelerate such
that a flame arrester design is challenged beyond its capability
to interrupt a flame front andor a detonation occurs.
7.5 USE OF ESTABLISHED TEST PROCEDURES
The test results for a flame arrester listed or approved by a
testing laboratory should be reviewed to ensure suitability for
the intended use. The distinction between arresting flames
versus protecting against detonations should be recognized. If
detonation tests have not been performed, additional testing
may be warranted prior to utilizing a flame arrester in a piping
system. It is important to understand the tests used.
Flame arresters tested in accordance with USCG requirements
in 33 CFR Part 154, Appendix A, have been tested for
detonations. However, Appendix B of the same regulation

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