Flare Sytem

A Flare stack, is an elevated vertical conveyance found

accompanying the presence of :
1. Oil wells,
2. Gas wells,
3. Rigs,
4. Refineries,
5. Chemical plants,
6. Natural gas plants,
7. Landfills.

The Flare system include

• Flare
• Atmospheric ventilation
• Blow down
 Flare Sytem
The purpose of the Flare and Vent Systems is to provide safe discharge and
disposal of gases and liquids resulting from:

1. Spill-off flaring from the product stabilisation system. (Oil, Condensate,

etc.).
2. Production testing
3. Relief of excess pressure caused by process upset conditions and thermal
expansion.
4. Depressurisation either in response to an emergency situation or as part
of a normal procedure.
5. Planned depressurisation of subsea production flowlines and export
pipelines.
6. Venting from equipment operating close to atmospheric pressure
(e.g.Tanks)
 Flare Sytem
The Flare system are used to eliminate waste gas which is otherwise
not feasible to use or transport. They also act as safety systems for
non-waste gas and is released via pressure relief valve when needed
to ease the strain on equipment. They protect gas processing
equipments from being overpressured
 Flare Standard & Code
API RP521 ; Guide for Pressure Relieving and Depressuring Systems

API 2150A ; Design & Construction of Natural Gas Processing Plants

API 14C ; Analysis, Design, Installation and Testing of Basic Surface

Safety Systems for Offshore Production Platforms

ASME Section VIII Div. 1 : Rules for Construction Pressure Vessels

ASME B31.3 : Process Piping

NFPA 70 : National Electric Code Article 5000 Hazardous Location

 Flare Tip Design
The flare tip shall be designed to be
• a smokeless operation for range from 0% to 15% of the design flow rate,
• meet the thermal radiation limits,
• the liquid carryover requirements,
• the noise level limits,
• the minimum ground level concentration requirements for toxic materials
• the flare shall be designed for emergency blowdown during process
upsets.
•,The design life of equipment shall be 20 years as minimum, except for
flare components which shall be designed for 5 year service life.
• The design shall be based on designs which have operated in the field
for three years with only planned outages for maintenance/replacement of
normal wearing type components
 Flare Tip Design
The flare tip shall be complete with ;
• pilots,
• ignition,
• flame failure thermocouples
• fluidic seal where required by the flare tip design.
The flare shall be used for intermittent burning of drain and vent
reliefs, but will be continuously lit with low-pressure fuel gas sources.

The flare shall be used for intermittent burning of drain and vent reliefs,
but will be continuously lit with low-pressure fuel gas sources.

The flare tips shall be designed in conformity to API RP521 to burn with a
stable flame for the full operating range of flaring and at all anticipated
winds speed as stated in the data sheets.

A windshield shall be provided to ensure stable flame in adverse wind

conditions
 Flare Tip Design
Pilots
The pilots shall be of an energy efficient design and shall be a proven
design and have been proven by at least 2 years operation in similar
application. The pilots shall remain alight under the environmental
conditions stated in the data sheets.

The minimum gas flowrates for pilots shall be stated.

The flame retention devices and windshields may be used to achieve

reliable ignition and stable pilot flames

The pilot flame failure detection systems shall be fitted to each pilot
burner. These systems shall include following alarms / indicators /
functions:
• Common alarm on pilot status
• Indicate ‘pilot’ on/off

The ignition panel shall indicate the location and type of failure. Voltage
free contacts, for each of the above, shall be provided for alarms in the
plant’s Main Control System.
 Flare Tip Design
Thermal Radiation

The maximum allowable heat radiation in the vicinity of flare tip shall be
as specified in the data sheets.

Including the impact wind of speed and wind direction, the flare heat
radiation and temperature calculations shall be carried out to determine
radiation levels and surface temperature, at the following locations ;
• Base of flare stack
• Nearest edge of adjoining/structure/plant/building

The radiation study shall include solar radiation levels as indicated in

data sheet. Based on the radiation profile, the resultant temperature
profile across the stack shall be determined.
Vertical Flare Radiation Isopleths
 Predicted Radiation @ Grade vs. Distance
From Flare Stack Base Maximum Flare Load
CO2 GLC Profile
 Classification of Flare System

The systems are typically divided into :

1. a High Pressure (HP) Flare and

2. a Low Pressure (LP) flare system. The LP system is

operated marginally above atmospheric pressure to
prevent atmospheric gases such as Oxygen to flow
back into the vent and flare system and greate a
combustible mixture.
Guy Supported Stack
Flare Stack GA
Flare Stack Layout
 Flare Makers
ZEECO & METROSONIC, USA

JOHN ZINK COMPANY, USA

MACTRONICS, Canada

NAO, USA

APPLICOT, JAPAN

ITAS, ITALY

HAMWORTHY, UK

KALDAIR, USA
Thank you