The perfomance of flame arresters consisting of metal or polyvinylchloride
sheeting or blocks, perforated with circular holes, has been investigated. The
arresters were mounted in horizontal tubing systems of various lengths filled
with flammable propane/air mixtures which could be ignited either at the open end
or at the closed end of the tube. The velocity of the flame that was just
quenched by an arrester was directly proportional to the thickness of the arrester
and varied inversely with the size of the holes in the arrester. No significant
differences were found in the flame quenching abilities of brass and
polyvinylchloride sheeting, under the conditions of test. The behaviour of
arresters consisting of brass sheeting perforated by a single circular hole was
erratic, when compared with that of similar arresters perforated by multiple holes.
A comparison is made between the behaviour of perforated metal and wire gauze
arresters. Some theoretical consideration is given to the behaviour of the
perforated arresters.
