Grantee Research Project Results
Development of Real-Time Flare Combustion Efficiency Monitor
EPA Contract Number: EPD13024Title: Development of Real-Time Flare Combustion Efficiency Monitor
Investigators: Zeng, Yousheng
Small Business: Providence Photonics, LLC
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: May 15, 2013 through November 14, 2013
Project Amount: $79,854
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2013) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Air and Climate
Description:
There are approximately 7,000 flares in operation at industrial facilities across the United States. Flares are one of the largest Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and air toxics emissions sources. Based on a special emission inventory required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in 2007, highly reactive VOC emissions from 28 flares located in 11 facilities in Harris County, Texas, were 1,469.5 tons in a year, which accounted for 60 percent of the emissions from the 11 facilities. Unlike stack emissions, there are no practical methods available to measure emission rate or control efficiency of flares. For air emission inventories, flares are assumed to have an efficiency of 98 percent when their operation meets the conditions codified in federal regulation (40 CFR § 60.18). Many studies have shown that this 98 percent efficiency assumption may not be valid even when flares meet the regulatory requirements. This has been a critical issue facing regulatory agencies and industry because VOC and air toxics emissions from flares can make up more than 50 percent of emissions, assuming the 98 percent efficiency. If the actual flare efficiency varies, the emission inventory will be drastically different, causing large errors in air quality planning, compliance, health impact assessments and associated decision making.
The proposed method uses a 4-band infrared (IR) imager to determine relative concentrations of CO2, CO and hydrocarbons (HC) in the flare plume, and calculate flare efficiency in real time. It would not only solve the problem of not being able to measure flare efficiency, but it will provide facility operators with real-time performance information needed to improve flare operations and minimize flare emissions.
The proposed Phase I work includes (1) using a laboratory hyper-spectral imager with video frame rate capabilities to image actual flares and select the best spectral windows for the proposed 4-band camera; and (2) performing a bench-scale test using the same hyper-spectral imager as a surrogate to the 4-band camera and conventional analyzers for CO2, CO and HC to validate the proposed method. The results of Phase I will prove the concept and determine design parameters for the proposal flare efficiency monitor to be constructed during Phase II.
Anticipated results of the proposed project will fill the void in flare efficiency monitoring for the estimated 7,000 flares in the United States. Potential environmental benefits include a reduction in VOC and air toxics emissions by tens of thousands of tons annually.
Supplemental Keywords:
air pollution, flares, flare efficiency monitoring, air toxics emissions, volatile organic compound (VOC), imager;Progress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase II:
Development of a Real-Time Flare Combustion Efficiency Monitor | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.