Evaluation of the Efficiency of Industrial Flares: H2S Gas Mixtures and Pilot Assisted Flares

摘要

The report is the fourth in a series on a research program which will result in quantification of emissions from, and efficiencies of, industrial flares. The report gives test data on the combustion efficiency and destruction efficiency of (1) gas mixtures containing H2S, and (2) flare flames with pilotflame stabiliztion. The latest tests, conducted on 3- and 6-in. open pipe flares without aerodynamic flame stabilization devices, led to conclusions including: (1) gas mixtures of H2S/N2 can be stably flared at much lower volumetric gas heating values than can propane/N2 mixtures; (2) destruction and combustion efficiencies greater than 98% are obtained for gas mixtures of H2S/N2 and H2S/propane/N2 when the gas heating value is at least 1.2 times the level required to produce a stable flame; (3) for mixtures containing both H2S and propane, H2S destruction efficiency was consistently higher than propane combustion efficiency; and (4) combustion efficiencies greater than 98% for pilot assisted flares are achieved when the heating value is greater than 1.2 times that required to stabilize the flame.