Hydrocarbons are highly flammable but their levels can be calculated depending on the ratio it has with the air around it. The concept would bring forth control during circumstances where they should be prevented from combusting. This is called deflagration where the the flames are burnt down.
A lot of industries needs to have more control and safety when it comes to managing hazardous liquids and flammable materials. Because of the Clean Air Act of the USA, industries are required to minimize the combustions of gasses in order to maintain the safety of both the environment and the people. That is why detonation arrestor is invented.
In 1990, Nicholas Roussakis and other inventors made Flame Arresters or Arrestors as their initial mechanism to burn down any ignition inside a pipe. This is in order to prevent it from tracing back to the source of the tank and further make damages. But there is a difference between that and a detonation arrester.
For the detonation, it is built in order to manage high pressures like 1,500 psi or 10 MPa and that it travels through the pipes in a supersonic speed which is about 2,500 meters per second. Generally this works by placing this device in between pipes to make a demarcation in cases of ignition on either side and to stop it from further burning. Although it still allows flow of the gas between the two sides.
This is a passive device so there are no moving parts inside it and should be working once it is installed. Inside it is composed of many layers of metallic ribbons that has crimped corrugations. This allows the travel of gas to flow but combustion to stop at certain levels.
The compression of these corrugations are studied in accordance to the Upper Explosive Limit and the Lower Explosive Limit of hydrocarbons that are usually being used. Laboratory tests have revealed composition percentages in the ratio between the air and the hydrocarbons. This finds out as to what levels would it allow to combust or not.
Initially, the LEL starts from the smallest amount of hydrocarbon then increasing it to which point it would start burning, while the UEL is at how much it is until it stops burning. So basically, the ratio is determined with its composition relevant to the air around it. With this information, the arrestor is developed and manufactured accordingly.
For example, Methane gas is shown to have five percent of its Lower Explosive Limit. Therefore, at five percent methane as to ninety five percent air, it would start to combust already. While at fifteen percent methane composition with eighty five percent of the air, it would then start to stop burning. Although there are some gasses that require no oxygen at all for them to combust.
The industries that are utilizing this may call this as their vapor control system. The gases contained may be vented to the atmosphere and therefore controlling them should be a requirement and to ensure safety precautions for the workers and especially the environment. This prevents any fire or explosions within the area.
A lot of industries needs to have more control and safety when it comes to managing hazardous liquids and flammable materials. Because of the Clean Air Act of the USA, industries are required to minimize the combustions of gasses in order to maintain the safety of both the environment and the people. That is why detonation arrestor is invented.
In 1990, Nicholas Roussakis and other inventors made Flame Arresters or Arrestors as their initial mechanism to burn down any ignition inside a pipe. This is in order to prevent it from tracing back to the source of the tank and further make damages. But there is a difference between that and a detonation arrester.
For the detonation, it is built in order to manage high pressures like 1,500 psi or 10 MPa and that it travels through the pipes in a supersonic speed which is about 2,500 meters per second. Generally this works by placing this device in between pipes to make a demarcation in cases of ignition on either side and to stop it from further burning. Although it still allows flow of the gas between the two sides.
This is a passive device so there are no moving parts inside it and should be working once it is installed. Inside it is composed of many layers of metallic ribbons that has crimped corrugations. This allows the travel of gas to flow but combustion to stop at certain levels.
The compression of these corrugations are studied in accordance to the Upper Explosive Limit and the Lower Explosive Limit of hydrocarbons that are usually being used. Laboratory tests have revealed composition percentages in the ratio between the air and the hydrocarbons. This finds out as to what levels would it allow to combust or not.
Initially, the LEL starts from the smallest amount of hydrocarbon then increasing it to which point it would start burning, while the UEL is at how much it is until it stops burning. So basically, the ratio is determined with its composition relevant to the air around it. With this information, the arrestor is developed and manufactured accordingly.
For example, Methane gas is shown to have five percent of its Lower Explosive Limit. Therefore, at five percent methane as to ninety five percent air, it would start to combust already. While at fifteen percent methane composition with eighty five percent of the air, it would then start to stop burning. Although there are some gasses that require no oxygen at all for them to combust.
The industries that are utilizing this may call this as their vapor control system. The gases contained may be vented to the atmosphere and therefore controlling them should be a requirement and to ensure safety precautions for the workers and especially the environment. This prevents any fire or explosions within the area.
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