Explosion Vent
Explosion vent is a metallic safety pipe or plate used to protect an equipment or building against excessive explosion-incurred internal pressure. It is also known as rupture panel. It is an important parts of the transformer. It prevent explosion by releasing excessive pressure to the atmosphere. It is installed on the main tank and its level is normally mentioned above the level of the conservator tank. It is only installed in high rated power transformer. It is simple and efficient protective system.
Function of Explosion Vent in Transformer
The main function of the explosion vent is to expel the hot boiling oil and over-pressurized gas from transformer to atmosphere in-order to avoid explosion during excessive pressure build up in the main tank due to heavy internal faults. It acts as an emergency exit for hot boiling oil and hot air gases present inside the main tank during heavy internal faults.
It prevent explosion and other damage to the main tank from excessive pressure due to heavy internal faults. It works as same as the safety valve works in the pressure cooker. Hence, in other words we can also called “the explosion vent is the safety valve in case of the transformer”.
Construction of the Explosion vent of Transformer
The construction of explosion vent is very simple and easy to install. It is a bent metallic pipe or a metallic plate with thin aluminium diaphragms either at curved outer end or both ends. A wire mesh is provided at the lower end to prevent ruptured piece of diaphragm from entering into the main tank. A wire mesh is also provided at the upper vent pipe to prevent mechanical damage from the upper diaphragm.
A small oil level indicator is also provided near the lower diaphragm which indicate the failure of lower diaphragm when insulating oil rises in metallic pipe. It is placed on the main tank with or without an equalizer pipe. Its level is normally mentioned above the level of the conservator tank.
Working of the Explosion Vent in Transformer
When fault occurs in the transformer, then pressure inside the main tank rises due to rise in temperature, boiling of insulating oil and generation of gases. Then, when pressure reaches prescribed value of explosion vent, lower diaphragm ruptures and insulating oil rises in metallic pipe. Then, the oil level indicator which is provided near lower diaphragm indicates the level of insulating oil in metallic pipe.
The pressure inside the main tank is more than normal and rising even after rupturing of the lower diaphragm. Then, upper diaphragm ruptures out to release the excessive pressure inside the main by throwing out the boiling insulating oil and gases. In this way, an explosion vent prevent a transformer from mechanical damage due to excessive pressure.
Application of Explosion vent
Other than transformer, it is used for venting in various machines in industries. some of them has listed below.
- Dust collectors (such as Bag-house, cartridge collector and cyclones)
- Process Vessels
- Bucket elevators
- Silos
- Hoppers
- Vacuum Systems
- Product receivers and conveying systems
- Duct or piping networks and other industrial structures.
Conclusion
Hope, you have clearly understand about the explosion vent, it's function, construction, working and application. Make sure to leave your opinion and suggestion about this post in the comment section below.