3/7/16 Page 1Benefits of Pressure-Assisted Flares

Benefits of Pressure-Assisted FlaresScott F ReidProject Engineering Manager | John Zink Company LLC918.234.5844 | scott.reid@johnzink.com

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Important NoticeThe information contained in these materials is for informational purposes only and is provided “AS IS”, withoutwarranties of any kind. Your use of the information contained herein is at your sole risk. We expressly disclaimany express or implied representations, warranties or guaranties, including without limitation, the implied warrantiesof merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. We will have absolutely no liability (whether direct, indirect orconsequential) in connection with these materials (and/or the information contained therein) including withoutlimitation, any liability for damage to person or property. We also reserve the right to make subsequent changes tothe materials without prior notice. For purposes of this notification, “We” includes John Zink Company LLC and itsaffiliates and their respective employees, partners, principles, agents and representatives, and any third-partyproviders or sources of information or data.

johnzinkhamworthy.com/trademarks

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Outline• Different Types of Pressure-Assisted Flares

• Introduction / Background

• Importance of Flare System Design

• Operation of Pressure-Assisted Flares

• Emission Test Results

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How is a Pressure-Assisted Flare different?Assisted / Unassisted Flares

• Unassisted-Pipe Flare / Utility

• Assisted• Smokeless

• Steam, Gas, Air, or Pressure

• Pressure assisted-flares entrain air• Sonic Velocity

• No Utilities- Steam, Power

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Pressure-Assisted Flare ExperienceOver 1,000 projects, ~42 countries and ~29 states. Several hundred pressure-assisted flares throughout the USA.

• !"⁄ to ! $⁄ are offshore

Significantly less operational issues than other types of assisted flares.Pressure-assisted flares are the preferred technology worldwide when process conditions allow.High customer satisfaction.

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Pressure-Assisted FlaresWhat’s the issue with permitting pressure-assisted flares?

• How is a pressure-assisted flare different?

Types of pressure-assisted flares

• Coanda Burner

• Spider Burner

• Converging Nozzle

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What’s the Issue with Permitting Pressure-Assisted Flares?

• Main flare EPA flare regulations are found in 40 CFR 60.18 or 40 CFR 63.11• Steam-assisted, Air-assisted, and Non-assisted.

• 40 CFR 60.18 / 63.11 limits flare exit velocity.

• Pressure-assisted flares not addressed.

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Steam and Non-assisted Flares

𝐿𝑜𝑔!) 𝑉+,- =𝐻0 + 28.831.7

400 ft/s

Permissible Region

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Air-assisted Flares

𝑉+,- = 8.706 +0.7084(𝐻<)

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Coanda Pressure-Assisted FlaresCoanda Principle

Tendency of a fluid jet to stay attached to a curved surface instead of flowing along a straight path from its origin.

Photo: John Zink Hamworthy Combustion

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Coanda Pressure-Assisted Flares

Photo by Reed Young. As featured in Popular Mechanics magazine.

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Spider Burner Pressure-Assisted Flares

Photo: John Zink Hamworthy Combustion

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Converging Nozzle Pressure-Assisted Flares

Photo: John Zink Hamworthy Combustion

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Variable Slot Coanda Flare

Tip Pressure (psig)

Flow

Rat

e

10 20 300

50

100

Variable Slot Coanda Flare

Sonic Flare

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Importance of Flare System DesignBack-Pressure

• Must prevent equipment over-pressure

• Proper PRVs

Capacity

• Small single point elevated flare to the worlds largest multipoint ground flares.

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HP / LP Flare System DesignConserve and utilize pressure

• HP / LP Design• Have HP and LP headers and flares.

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OperationBenefits

• No Operator Intervention

• No Operator Judgment

• No Utilities

• No Knobs to Adjust

• High Smokeless Capacity

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ApplicationsAnytime pressure is available

• Offshore

• Gas Plants

• Compressors Stations

• Pipeline

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Emission Test ResultsNumerous emission tests for clients

• Natural gas, saturated and unsaturated mixtures with inerts

• Extractive and PFTIR Analysis

• ~80 Test Runs

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Emission Test Results

Permissible Region

𝑥> = 99.96%

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Emission Test Results

400 ft/sVelocity Limit

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Emission Test Results

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Emission Test ResultsHigh Destruction Efficiency

• Composition

• Pressure / Flow Rate

Properly designed pressure-assisted flares can be better for the environment than other types of flares.

• 98% vs. 99.5% → 75% reduction

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SummaryHigh destruction efficiencyMany suitable applicationsHigh smokeless capacityReduced thermal radiationExcels under maintenance / start-up / shutdown eventsHigh customer satisfactionWide effective operational range

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Scott F ReidProject Engineering Manager | John Zink Company LLC918.234.5844 | scott.reid@johnzink.com

Contributors:Jim FranklinZach Kodesh