11 replies to this topic

[erin]

I have a few flammable storage tanks with flame arrestors on the vent lines. We currently do not service them. I am responsible for setting up a replacement or PM schedule.

Are there any requirements to verify the arrestors are not plugged?

Are arrestors generally built so that they can be easily dismantled for inspection? I would imagine expensive ones are and the cheaper ones would need to be cut open to learn of their status.

Any info regarding the maintenance of flame arrestors is appreciated.

Erin

[Art Montemayor]

Erin:

If you are to set up a replacement or Preventive Maintenance schedule, you should get in touch with the flame arrestors’ manufacturer and request their detail drawings and specifications (if you don’t already have them) as well as their written recommendations on maintenance and inspection. They owe you this if they have not yet furnished the information. Many times, this information is delivered together with the equipment but it either gets “lost” or is thrown away at the plant. This is as accurate and authoritative as you can get – and that is what you should be striving for. I personally know that manufacturers like ProtectoSeal have furnished this exact type of information to me when I was operating and designing at plant level.

All the specific questions you ask are good questions. There are authoritative and correct answers for them and the best place to obtain those specifics is from your manufacturer. You should furnish all related data such as model, size, and serial numbers.

Good Luck.

[erin]

Erin:

If you are to set up a replacement or Preventive Maintenance schedule, you should get in touch with the flame arrestors’ manufacturer and request their detail drawings and specifications (if you don’t already have them) as well as their written recommendations on maintenance and inspection. They owe you this if they have not yet furnished the information. Many times, this information is delivered together with the equipment but it either gets “lost” or is thrown away at the plant. This is as accurate and authoritative as you can get – and that is what you should be striving for. I personally know that manufacturers like ProtectoSeal have furnished this exact type of information to me when I was operating and designing at plant level.

All the specific questions you ask are good questions. There are authoritative and correct answers for them and the best place to obtain those specifics is from your manufacturer. You should furnish all related data such as model, size, and serial numbers.

Good Luck.

Art,

Thanks for the feedback - I will track down as much info from the flame arrestors that I can and contact the manufacturer.

Thanks Again,
Erin

[Lukman]

We just installed new flame arrester from Protego. The manufacturer, Protego, on its manual, mentions that basically flame arrester is free of maintenance. It needs replacement only.
We will do what Protego suggests. It is estimated that its lifetime about 5 years.

[Qalander (Chem)]

We just installed new flame arrester from Protego. The manufacturer, Protego, on its manual, mentions that basically flame arrester is free of maintenance. It needs replacement only.
We will do what Protego suggests. It is estimated that its lifetime about 5 years.

Depending Upon

1)Service(Paticulates,Filthy/Sticky Entrainments)

2)Environment(Dusty,High Paticulates Soot etc,Birds Shit&wastes)

These are to be replaced;most usually.

Since the very little clearance(s) surfaces deigned to cap /arrest flame(s) can not stay functional after certain period of eposure to such harsh conditions.

This is to be established through regular,rigorous inspections/observations and maintenance.

Hope this helps
Qalander

[erin]

We just installed new flame arrester from Protego. The manufacturer, Protego, on its manual, mentions that basically flame arrester is free of maintenance. It needs replacement only.
We will do what Protego suggests. It is estimated that its lifetime about 5 years.

Depending Upon

1)Service(Paticulates,Filthy/Sticky Entrainments)

2)Environment(Dusty,High Paticulates Soot etc,Birds Shit&wastes)

These are to be replaced;most usually.

Since the very little clearance(s) surfaces deigned to cap /arrest flame(s) can not stay functional after certain period of eposure to such harsh conditions.

This is to be established through regular,rigorous inspections/observations and maintenance.

Hope this helps
Qalander

Thanks Lukman and Qalander for your input.

We typically have a clean solvent service in our tanks with flame arrestors, so it is quite possible that the equipment could last a long time without plugging. Our solvents are compatible with stainless steel, which is what our material of construction is. While it is easy to see if a bird has built a nest within an arrestor, it would not be easy to see down inside without removing it completely from the tank.

Qalander- by inspection do you mean just looking down through the arrestor to see if anything looks corroded, plugged, etc.? Or did you have a more thorough inspection in mind?

Erin

[Qalander (Chem)]

We just installed new flame arrester from Protego. The manufacturer, Protego, on its manual, mentions that basically flame arrester is free of maintenance. It needs replacement only.
We will do what Protego suggests. It is estimated that its lifetime about 5 years.

Depending Upon

1)Service(Paticulates,Filthy/Sticky Entrainments)

2)Environment(Dusty,High Paticulates Soot etc,Birds Shit&wastes)

These are to be replaced;most usually.

Since the very little clearance(s) surfaces deigned to cap /arrest flame(s) can not stay functional after certain period of eposure to such harsh conditions.

This is to be established through regular,rigorous inspections/observations and maintenance.

Hope this helps
Qalander

Thanks Lukman and Qalander for your input.

We typically have a clean solvent service in our tanks with flame arrestors, so it is quite possible that the equipment could last a long time without plugging. Our solvents are compatible with stainless steel, which is what our material of construction is. While it is easy to see if a bird has built a nest within an arrestor, it would not be easy to see down inside without removing it completely from the tank.

Qalander- by inspection do you mean just looking down through the arrestor to see if anything looks corroded, plugged, etc.? Or did you have a more thorough inspection in mind?

Erin

Dear Erin Hello/ Good evening,

It is definitely Pleasant to know that the suggestion was found helpful.I wonder that do you really know the interior construction of a good design flame arrestor?

Since your inspection's narration somehow indicated as if I do not correctly understand construction myself.

I believe in most cases I came across one can not see-through these.Kindly update on this.

Moreover floating Roof's Rim vent's or other flame arrestors are not fuunctional if clogged for any reason;thus could harm the basic service needs satisfaction.

What I implied by rigorous ispection/maintenance and observation was

some especially planned critical and very frequent degree of checking to ensure due functionality and if that is not found upto the requirements

then earliest replacement within minimum time;having replacement ready in stock.

hope this clarifies the issue
Best Regards
Qalander

[erin]

Qalander,

I appreciate any feedback. But I am alittle confused by what you meant by your statement: " I wonder that do you really know the interior construction of a good design flame arrestor?" Maybe you are implying that most flame arrestors have multiple MOC and to be careful...? Or maybe you thought I was accusing you of some way - absolutely not my attention.

As far as looking through a flame arrestor for inspection...I was clueless whether this could be done or not using a flashlight or some sort of boroscope or something. I have never had the opportunity to try.

You mention testing for functionality of the flame arrestor. I suppose we could hook up a nitrogen supply to the tank and verify flow through the arrestor. How much flow is good? I suppose any.

I quickly tried to sum up my situation (my last reply) to give an idea of my flame arrestor situation/environment. I did forget to mention that my service is ethyl acetate.

Thanks,
Erin

[Qalander (Chem)]

Dear

Although what you just mentioned using N2 might be a way of doing it, but this should be as per vendor's/ manufacturer's advice

Regarding my comment about construction was related to your phrase 'see-through' while talking on inspection in your 2nd last post.

Believe me I could never see-through the flame arrestors.

Best regards
Qalander

[Whit123]

I have a few flammable storage tanks with flame arrestors on the vent lines. We currently do not service them. I am responsible for setting up a replacement or PM schedule.

Are there any requirements to verify the arrestors are not plugged?

Are arrestors generally built so that they can be easily dismantled for inspection? I would imagine expensive ones are and the cheaper ones would need to be cut open to learn of their status.

Any info regarding the maintenance of flame arrestors is appreciated.

Erin

Basically you need to inspect them to ensure that they are not plugged. Plugging happens due to various reasons, not just because of the vapors from the tank on which it is mounted. It could be birds trying to build a nest and also due to some insects which cover up the openings with some material (probably trying to build a home for them). Hence inspection of these is a must, at least every year.

Erin,

Jorco Engineering has been involved in servicing of flame arrestors for a number of years in the petro-chem industry. It is vital you keep the pathways clear of debris to allow free flow of gasses etc to avoid back
pressures. we offer cleaning services of all types of arrestors should you be looking for a maintenance team to undertake this type of work.

Best regards

[Qalander (Chem)]

Erin,

Jorco Engineering has been involved in servicing of flame arrestors for a number of years in the petro-chem industry. It is vital you keep the pathways clear of debris to allow free flow of gasses etc to avoid back
pressures. we offer cleaning services of all types of arrestors should you be looking for a maintenance team to undertake this type of work.

Best regards

Dear Someone(Sir/Madam)from 'Jorco Engineering'Hello/Good Night,
Firstly I assume posting with a company's reference only, becomes 'Commercial' and injures 'forum's spirit';

Accordingling Everyone must abstain from doing so!

Secondly Although in principle you have re-iterated and confirmed the gist of my previous(3rd last and earlier post's explanations to OP& others);

but you should have better done this as a forum participant member, student,other professional.

Hope you do appreciate this!