Abstract:
A burner assembly for the smokeless flare burning of low calorific value gases, or diluted hydrocarbon gases, which comprises a plurality of separate burner heads arranged in a horizontal array, each of the burner heads being mounted on top of a vertical pipe through which the low calorific gases are supplied. A plurality of hollow radial arms are inserted into the wall of the head, arranged in equally-spaced array, each of the arms having a plurality of ports in the top surfaces, near the ends of the arms. These ports are of selected size and selected angle of their axes, which are tilted inwardly towards the central axis of the burner heads. Additionally, there is between each pair of arms at least one port drilled downwardly from the inside of the burner head, at a selected angle, so that jets of gas will impinge downwardly on an annular plate positioned beneath the arms, to close off the vertical flow to the space between the arms. The arms are surrounded by a shallow cylindrical wall which is perforated in a selected uniform pattern over its entire surface. Over each of the arms is a cylindrical tube against which the gas jets, which can be sonic, impinge, so that the jets are diffused throughout the entire volume between the arms and above the arms. Air diffuses inwardly through the surrounding perforated wall to mix quietly with the gas so as to maintain a continuous combustion, with sufficient air to prevent the formation of smoke.
Abstract:
In a flare stack system for the flaring of waste gases, in which the flare stack is equipped with steam injection parts, such as nozzles or manifolds, adjacent the flame zone at the outlet end of the stack, means are provided for alternate injection of air from a blower, or live steam, through the steam injection parts. The alternate flow is controlled by two pneumatically controlled valves, one in the blower air line, and the other in the steam line, such that when one valve is closed, the other is open, and vice versa. The objective of the alternate supply of air and steam is for the purpose of cooling the steam injection parts when the full flow of steam is not required, because there is no waste gas flow or only a minimal gas flow. In that case, the heat of the maintenance gas flow may be sufficient to injure the steam injection parts, which must be cooled by passage of a gas through them. When the ambient temperature is below freezing a small flow of steam is unsatisfactory since it readily condenses to liquid, and can form ice over the parts of the main gas flow outlets, etc. In this condition, air at low pressure is used to cool the parts and when the gas flow is large, the two valves are switched, the air is cut off and the full steam flow is initiated.
Abstract:
Apparatus for burning combustible gases at very low pressure, in combination with a combustion chamber having an opening through one wall. The burner system comprises a burner tube for supplying the low pressure gas, comprising a tube of selected diameter and length, with an annular flange extending inwardly at the end inserted into the opening in the wall. A steam tube of smaller diameter than the burner tube, is mounted axially inside of the burner tube, and has a closed end in the plane of the inwardly extending flange. A plurality of orifices are drilled through the closed end of the steam tube at a selected angle to the axis, whereby when steam is supplied to the steam tube, at 5# gauge or more, high velocity jets of steam will flow outwardly through the orifices along the surface of a cone, and will aspirate into the steam streams the low pressure gas, which will be mixed with the steam, and will flow as a conical wall of steam and gas. This high velocity flow will aspirate air into the steam-gas streams for provision of air for burning the gas fuel completely.
Abstract:
Apparatus for vaporization of liquids having a boiling point lower than that of water, comprising a vessel having at least three narrow planar plena, contiguous to each other, so that there is a single metal wall between each adjacent pair of plena. Gaseous fuel and air is supplied to the first plenum to provide a downflowing flame and hot products of combustion which, at the bottom of the first plenum, pass through the wall into the second plenum, which is filled with water. The hot gases and water rise rapidly in the second plenum and the water flows over the intervening wall into the third plenum, which is also filled with water, which moves downwardly and back under the wall separating the second and third plena, and again rises in the second plenum. A vertical array of horizontal pipes is arranged in the third plenum, through which the liquid to be vaporized is flowed. Means are provided at the base of the first plenum, to distribute the flow of hot gases substantially uniformly over the cross-section, to provide more rapid and uniform heat transfer from the hot gases to the liquid. The hot water flowing downwardly over the pipes in the third plenum, transfers heat to the liquid therein, which flows countercurrently, upwardly through the pipes in zig-zag fashion. The cooled products of combustion are vented from the top of the space above the second and third plena to a stack. An optimum embodiment comprises a symmetrical assembly with duplicate second and third plena on each side of the first plenum.
Abstract:
Apparatus for the smokeless combustion of gases, supplied at substantial pressure, such that they will aspirate the required combustion air when discharged to atmospheric pressure. The apparatus comprises a plurality of spaced apart burner assemblies, each of which has a plurality of orifices arranged in a circular symmetrical pattern. Each burner assembly comprises a vertical tube supplying gas, with a plurality of short substantially radial arms, each of which has a plurality of orifices in its top surface. The arms themselves are tilted upwardly at a selected angle to the horizontal so that the orifices that are perpendicular to the arms will provide gas jets which will intersect each other along the axis of the assembly. In another embodiment, the top surface of the arms form a plane fingered plate of substantial thickness. The orifices are drilled at a selected angle toward the axis, in the top surface of the plate. In a third embodiment, each burner assembly comprises a toroid, or circular ring of pipe, with a plurality of circumferentially spaced orifices in the top surface of the pipe inclined at a selected angle to the plane of the pipe.
Abstract:
An improved flare system in which steam is injected into the column of gas to be burned, from circumferential nozzles at at least two spaced levels, above the tip of the flare stack. A circular manifold surrounds the stack just below the tip and an even number of small diameter riser pipes are attached to the manifold, spaced equally circumferentially. The riser pipes have nozzles all of which are directed radially inwardly and upwardly at a selected angle. Half of the nozzles are spaced at a first selected distance above the tip of the flare stack, and the other half are positioned at a greater selected elevation above the tip of the flare stack. Alternate risers have different elevations of the nozzles. By this means, a minimum diameter of the cross-section of the gas flow is occluded by the steam flow.
Abstract:
Apparatus for burning gaseous and liquid fuels in a furnace, to retard formation of NO.sub.x, comprising a fuel tube of selected length and diameter, closed at the end which is inserted into a combustion zone. There are a plurality of ports drilled in the closed end of the fuel tube, the axes of which lie on a conical surface coaxial with the fuel tube. The fuel tube is inserted coaxially into a burner tube of selected larger diameter, and the distant ends are substantially coplanar. A plurality of jets of low pressure steam are injected through a plurality of ports into the annular space between the fuel tube and the burner tube at the outer end of the burner tube. The steam jets flowing through the ports induce a flow of primary combustion air, which mixes with the steam and flows down the annular space to mix with the high velocity jets of fuel as they emerge from the ports on the fuel tube. The fuel, air, and steam mix together prior to entering the combustion reaction zone.
Abstract:
A smokeless burner apparatus for single structure flare systems which is capable of simultaneously burning emergency dumped gases from high and low pressure sources with minimal energy requirements for the low pressure gas combustion.
Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
An improved construction for an upwardly extending flare stack for the emergency venting to the atmosphere of large quantities of combustible gases, such improvement being for the purpose of preventing the inflow, and upstream flow of air, into the flare stack, comprising an annular obstruction means attached to the inner surface of the flare stack a short distance upstream of the downstream end of the stack.