Remote monitoring of combustion of flare stack pilot burners by sampling gasses from the burner

摘要

A flare stack, especially for oil and gas fields or petrochemical plants, comprising a pilot burner 16 at a burner location; a sampling device to sample gasses at the burner location and deliver the sample to a monitoring location 20 remote from the burner location; a sensor at the monitoring location detecting a parameter that is indicative of combustion; a signaling device arranged to signal if the parameter is not detected in the sample. Preferably an igniter, such as a flame front generator, automatically relights the burner in response to the signal. The signal may be provided if the proportion of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide or nitrogen oxides in the sample falls below a reference value or if the proportion of oxygen is above a reference value. The sensor may comprise an electrochemical cell or a NDIR sensor. Preferably the sampling device includes a conduit 24 to deliver the sample to the monitoring location; the conduit may include an aspirator which may operate periodically or continuously.