Petrochemical processing plants generate a significant amount of waste products such as methane, volatile organic compounds, sulfur-related compounds, etc. These waste compounds are toxic, flammable and corrosive and, in many instances, cannot be directly discharged into the atmosphere.
The process of safely burning these waste gasses is called flaring. Flares serve an environmental and safety purpose in refineries and petrochemical facilities by burning off excess hydrocarbon gasses which cannot otherwise be used. Rather than releasing these vapors into the atmosphere, flares burn them off in a safe manner.
A flare system is an arrangement of piping and specialized equipment that
collects hydrocarbon releases from relief valves, blowdown valves, pressure
control valves and manual vents and disposes of them by creating safe carbon dioxide and water vapor through combustion. In many ways, this process is similar to burning liquid petroleum gas.
Flare systems are created to also relieve emergency process upsets that would necessitate the release of a high volume of gas. Flare systems are presently operated with gas recovery systems – where the volatile organic compound gasses are recovered and compressed so they can be used in subsequent processes as fuel or for livestock. When the base load recovery system is utilized, flare (the burning of waste gas) becomes the backup plan and is only necessary for emergency releases.
How Flaring Works?
- Unused gas, known as “waste gas,” is collected and sent through a system of pipes. A knock-out drum removes liquid from gas, and it is sent to the drain.
- The pipes include a sealed system designed to prevent explosive mixtures from occurring. A few inches of water keep pressure upstream to prevent the flam from flowing backward, known as a “flashback.”
- The gas flows up the header, an elevated stack that keeps the flare away from personnel and facilities, causing a chain reaction for combustion at the top. The pilot light ignites the gas through a series of small continuous flames. While the steam line at the header’s tip injects steam into the flame, reducing soot and smoke.
Our solution is simpler, easier, and cleaner- are you ready to take advantage?
Cimarron not only has a variety of standard and custom flare systems, but we also have an application engineering team who makes sure that the flares will produce little to no smoke for your specific purposes. In addition, we utilize the latest technologies available so that our clients can achieve 99%+ destruction rates at their well sites.
Cimarron provides a broad scope of products, from utility flares to steam-assist, multi-point ground or demountable derrick flares. We expertly engineer every product to fit an array of the gas stream and design conditions.
Cimarron offers environmental solutions for the biogas and coal mining industries, including capturing and destroying emissions from wastewater treatment facilities, landfills, food and beverage processing plants, agricultural waste or abandoned coal mines. We can help you capture or eliminate biogas emissions and optimize your production of renewable energy and/or carbon credits.
When you want an ignition system or pilot that is both safe and reliable, Cimarron should be your go-to choice. We have a proven track record, and our products are incredibly easy to use. Contact us today!