Design of flare system

overview
Introduction to flare system Flare stack sizing - simple approach Brzustowskis and Sommers approach

Flares
Convert flammable, toxic or corrosive vapors to less objectionable compounds by combustion provides a means of safe disposal of the vapor streams from its facilities, by burning them under controlled conditions such that adjacent equipment or personnel are not exposed to hazards, and at the same time obeying the environmental regulation of pollution control and public relations requirements

Flares
Factors 1. Availability of space 2. Characteristics of flare gas 3. Initial investments and operating cost 4. Public relations Two types 1. Elevated flare 2. Ground flare

Flare stack sizing - simple approach

Stack diameter : sized based on velocity Flare up velocity : 0.5*Mach no. for peak, short term or infrequent flow 0.2*Mach no. for normal and frequent conditions Mach no. = Sonic velocity =
vapor _ velocity sonic _ velocity

223(kT j )0.5 Mj

Flare stack sizing - simple approach

Flare tip diameter Mach no. = Where
w 11.6110 Pd 2
2

T kM

w, vapor relief rate P, pressure of vapor inside flare tip d, flare tip diameter T, temperature k, ratio of specific heats M, molecular weight of vapor

Flare stack sizing - simple approach

Stack height : based on radiation heat intensity
TFQ D 4 k

Where

D, min distance from midpoint of flame to the object being considered T, fraction of heat intensity transmitted F, fraction of heat radiated Q, heat release

Flare stack sizing - simple approach

Flame length : varies with emission velocity and heat release. Obtained from graph (flame length vs. heat release). Flame distortion caused by wind velocity : depend on U the ratio of wind velocity to flare tip velocity, (U ) U ( ) ). obtained from graph (y/L or x/L vs. U
i

1 y 2 1 R ' R x 2 H ' 2 D 2 R '2 H H '

Brzustowskis and Sommers approach

Graph xc vs. CL ( ) ( ) or yc vs. CL ( ) ( for different values of jet thrust diR = di ( U )( T TM ) U Where CL lower explosion limit volume fraction Ui gas exit velocity U average wind velocity di inside diameter of the tip in feet
Mi M

Ui U

Ui U

Mi M

H H ' yc

Thank you