ACCELERATED RESPONSE FOR DELIVERY OF SMOKE SUPPRESSANT TO FLARES

摘要

An improved apparatus for very rapidly providing a supply of smoke suppressant to a flare stack, upon the incidence of flow, up to 10% of maximum rate of flow, of waste gases, which is provided in addition to the conventional apparatus for controlling the flow of smoke suppressant, such as steam, to the flare stack, upon the initiation of large volumes of waste gas flowing to the flare stack. This improved apparatus comprises a flow detector in the conduit carrying the waste gases to the flare stack, which is sensitive to flows up to 10% of maximum. The outputs of the flow detector, in the form of high and low pressure tubes, are connected to a pressure differential switch, which connects power to an appropriate solenoid valve, which controls a limited flow of smoke suppressant, such as steam, to the flare stack. Each of the parts namely the flow detector, pressure switch, and solenoid valve are very rapid-acting, so that as soon as the flow of waste gases reaches a selected level, the flow of suppressant is started, and combustion at the top of the flare stack will be smokeless from the first flow of gas.