Gas flares, also known as flare stacks, are important safety devices used in refineries and petrochemical facilities. They safely burn excess hydrocarbon gases that cannot be recovered or recycled. Excess hydrocarbon gases are burned in an environmentally sound manner in a flare system as an alternative to releasing vapors directly into the atmosphere.
During the flaring process, excess gases are combined with steam and/or air and burned off in a flare system to produce water vapor and carbon dioxide. The process of burning these excess gases is similar to burning liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which some of us use as a fuel for home cooking.
The use of flares is minimized to the extent possible. However, flaring can occur during startup and shutdown for maintenance at any of our facilities, as well as during unplanned operational interruptions such as power outages. When flaring occurs, neighboring companies and government agencies are notified promptly.
There are two types of flares that we typically use in our manufacturing facilities:
Elevated flares, where the flare head is located between 20 and 150 meters above the ground.
A ground flare, where the flare head is about 2 to 3 meters above the ground, is surrounded by a high insulated fence that also acts as a safety zone.
What can sometimes be seen or heard in a flaring situation:
Flames or glow
The public may become concerned when they see a flare and mistake it for a fire.
An elevated flare presents itself as a flame.
A ground flare is not visible during the day. At night, it may cast an orange glow in the night sky, depending on cloud cover.
Noise
A flare may produce a rumbling sound. It may sound like thunder.
This is caused by the turbulent mixing of gases, air, and steam. The sound is similar to what you hear when you blow on a campfire, with oxygen mixing with the flames.
Smoke
Sometimes, a white cloud may be observed around the flare. It is actually steam injected into the flare system to support clean combustion.
While we strive to achieve smokeless combustion, it may not always be possible in operational situations.
In some cases, a flare may emit black smoke.
Smoke, which consists primarily of carbon particles, is produced when the amount of air is insufficient to support complete combustion. This can occur when there is a sudden release of excess gas into the system and a delay in response before sufficient steam is provided to the combustion process.
Steam is often added to the gas to increase turbulence in the gas stream. This increases the amount of air intake, which helps achieve complete combustion and smokeless burns. When you see combustion, rest assured that combustion plays a key role in keeping refineries and chemical plants operating safely.
Gas flares, also known as flare stacks, are important safety devices used in refineries and petrochemical facilities. They safely burn excess hydrocarbon gases that cannot be recovered or recycled. Excess hydrocarbon gases are burned in an environmentally sound manner in a flare system as an alternative to releasing vapors directly into the atmosphere.
During the flaring process, excess gases are combined with steam and/or air and burned off in a flare system to produce water vapor and carbon dioxide. The process of burning these excess gases is similar to burning liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which some of us use as a fuel for home cooking.
The use of flares is minimized to the extent possible. However, flaring can occur during startup and shutdown for maintenance at any of our facilities, as well as during unplanned operational interruptions such as power outages. When flaring occurs, neighboring companies and government agencies are notified promptly.
There are two types of flares that we typically use in our manufacturing facilities:
Elevated flares, where the flare head is located between 20 and 150 meters above the ground.
A ground flare, where the flare head is about 2 to 3 meters above the ground, is surrounded by a high insulated fence that also acts as a safety zone.
What can sometimes be seen or heard in a flaring situation:
Flames or glow
The public may become concerned when they see a flare and mistake it for a fire.
An elevated flare presents itself as a flame.
A ground flare is not visible during the day. At night, it may cast an orange glow in the night sky, depending on cloud cover.
Noise
A flare may produce a rumbling sound. It may sound like thunder.
This is caused by the turbulent mixing of gases, air, and steam. The sound is similar to what you hear when you blow on a campfire, with oxygen mixing with the flames.
Smoke
Sometimes, a white cloud may be observed around the flare. It is actually steam injected into the flare system to support clean combustion.
While we strive to achieve smokeless combustion, it may not always be possible in operational situations.
In some cases, a flare may emit black smoke.
Smoke, which consists primarily of carbon particles, is produced when the amount of air is insufficient to support complete combustion. This can occur when there is a sudden release of excess gas into the system and a delay in response before sufficient steam is provided to the combustion process.
Steam is often added to the gas to increase turbulence in the gas stream. This increases the amount of air intake, which helps achieve complete combustion and smokeless burns. When you see combustion, rest assured that combustion plays a key role in keeping refineries and chemical plants operating safely.