All Flowseal Vent closures are designed to withstand natural forces such as wind loads; operating conditions with pressure fluctuations and the effects of temperature, abrasion and corrosion.
Explosions can be devastating and occur far more frequently than most people realise. They often result in loss of life, injury, damage to plant equipment, and loss of production.
Flowseal Explosion Vent Panels which conform to the requirements and specifications of NFPA68 (1998 edition) offer a safe and cost-effective means of countering this catastrophe.
Our Engineers can assist in the application and sizing of explosion vent panels.
For more on NFPA Standards, see http://www.nfpa.org
Panels (Support and Burst)
All Flowseal multi ply composite panels incorporate a support panel on the inside, this is to prevent abrasion and or damage to the seal membrane as well as preventing the seal membrane from being sucked inward due to negative pressure.
Multi-ply composite slotted panels and single-ply domed panels all conform to the NFPA 9-4.3.2 requirement relating to the inertia of vent closures, and that is that the mass must not exceed 12.2kg per square metre.
Vibration Damping
In all composite slotted type panels, a layer of ceramic fibre is inserted between the support panel and the seal membrane to minimise the effects of vibration brought about by the turbulence of passing air or the pulsing of a pulse-type bag filter.
Frames
Frames are designed to completely support the panels and to ensure that the panels can rupture as planned without any hindrances or distortion that may adversely affect the bursting pressure or the vent area.
The frames are generally drilled to suit customer requirements.
For composite slotted-type panels, if the system is under negative pressure, the frame must incorporate vacuum support bars designed to support the panels under full negative pressure. In calculating vent areas, the area of the vacuum support frame is to be taken into account.
Seal Membrane
The seal membrane is generally made out of a ply of PTFE non-permeable foil or other material suitable for the operating temperature and medium.
Flowseal Bursting discs and explosion panels are manufactured so that in the event of an explosion, all parts are retained, there will be no shrapnel or fragmentation.
Burst Detection
Burst detection can be provided if required by simply using a brake wire system or using an encapsulated reed switch and magnet.
Burst Testing and Certification
Burst testing is done in the Flowseal factory and complies with the requirements of BS 2915:1990. At least one panel of every batch is tested to provide certification.
Tags and Signage
All panels supplied are fitted with tags that indicate the static burst pressure of the panel, and are equipped with a bold sign stating in large lettering: “DANGER – EXPLOSION VENT – KEEP CLEAR”
Associated Terms:
- Explosion Discs
- Burst Detection
- Burst Panels
- Pressure relief devices
- Deflagration Devices
- Deflagration Panels
- Explosion Safety
- Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting
- Burst Discs
- Bag Filter Protection
- Bag Filter Safety
- Burning Velocity
- Vent area
- Silo Protection
- Silo Safety
- Cyclone Protection
- Cyclone safety
- Agricultural Explosions
- Agricultural Safety
- Gas Explosions
- Gas Safety
- CO Explosions
- Static Activation Pressure
- KST
- Pred
- Pmax
- L/D Ratio
- Length Diameter ratio
- Pressure Rise
- Fundamental Burning Velocities
- Mass Median Diameter
- Minimum Flammable Concentration
- Dust Hazard Class
- Combustible Dust
- Carbonaceous Dust
- Chemical Dusts
- Metal Dust
- Plastic Dust
- Flammability Properties
- Kg values
- Burst Pressure
- NFPA
- NFPA 68
- Explosion Venting
- Deflagration Venting
- Explosion Protection
- The standard to which Flowseal designs and manufactures their explosion panels is based on the NFPA 68 – Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting
- NFPA stands for National Fire Protection Association
Flowseal Explosion vent panels can be of the multi-ply composite slotted type or the domed one-piece construction type. The accuracy of response is within 10% of the certified burst pressure and the response is immediate.
General Design
Flowseal Explosion Vent Panels are manufactured with controlled opening patterns that ensure full opening on initial rupture and can be fabricated to any size and can be circular, rectangular or curved. They can be supplied in a variety of different configurations, depending on temperature, pressure, medium, etc.
Read more about dust explosions and rupture discs.
Flowseal explosion vent panels are of the “composite slotted” type and are essentially maintenance-free.
They can be manufactured for temperatures up to 500ºC, and rectangular, round or curved vents.
All Flowseal Explosion vent panels are certified and can be manufactured to burst at pressures as low as 5kPa.
