Abstract |
The report gives results of Phases 3 and 4 of a four-phase research program to quantify emissions from, and efficiencies of, industrial flares. Phase 1 consisted of the experimental design; Phase 2, the design of the test facilities; Phase 3, development of the test facilities; and Phase 4, data collection and analysis. The combustion efficiency of large pilot-scale flares was measured. The flame structure and combustion efficiencies were correlated with operating conditions of the flare, the size of the flare head, and properties of the flared gases. The combustion efficiency was correlated with the ratio of heating value of the gas flared to the heating value required to maintain a stable flame, and was independent of the flame head size. In turn, the heating value required to maintain a stable flame was correlated with the reciprocal of an estimated flame temperature based on properties of the flared gas. The length of the flame, entrainment into the flame, and liftoff distances were also correlated, using combinations of the Richardson Number, jet theory, and properties of the flared gas. |