Breather valves with flame arrestors: Dual protection for safe tanker operations
When safeguarding marine cargo tanks, relying solely on a breather valve is not sufficient. While breather valves – also known as PV (Pressure/Vacuum) valves – play a vital role in regulating tank pressure and vacuum to protect structural integrity, they do not offer protection against flame propagation. Without additional safeguards, volatile vapours in the tank could be ignited by external ignition sources, posing a serious fire or explosion hazard.
Why dual protection is essential
The combination of a breather valve with a flame arrestor is essential for dual-layer safety. Here’s how both components contribute:
- Pressure/Vacuum Regulation: The PV valve automatically releases excess pressure and admits air during vacuum conditions, preserving the tank’s structural integrity during cargo handling and voyage.
- Flame Arrestor: The integrated flame arrestor is engineered to stop the propagation of flames into the tank, effectively preventing ignition of flammable vapours and possible explosions within.
Pres-Vac Engineering: Supplying integrated valve systems for demanding applications
Pres-Vac Engineering is a leading provider of valve systems featuring built-in flame arrestors. Our PV valve with flame arrestor solutions are compliant with IMO/ISO/ATEX standards, and have been rigorously tested against both deflagration and endurance burn scenarios. This guarantees robust protection in the harshest environments commonly found on chemical tankers and methanol carriers.
Practical applications: chemical tankers, methanol & VOCON systems
The importance of dual safety cannot be understated in applications where both volatile organic compounds and flammable cargo are present. On chemical tankers, vapour control is critical; here, the flame arrestor ensures that external ignition cannot trigger catastrophic incidents. Similarly, in methanol transport and VOCON (Volatile Organic Compound Operation) systems, the combination of a PV valve with a flame arrestor surpasses regulatory requirements and delivers best-in-class safety performance.
For more information and technical details on integrated venting and flame protection technologies, please see our flame arrester product range.