Abstract: Stable burning of waste combustible gases is assured even in a strong wind by using an improved ground flare stack. The stack, which is a cylinder containing burner nozzles therein, is provided with a fence surrounding the lower part of the stack, a roof extending outwardly from the stack above the fence, a louver at the opening between the fence and the roof for directing the air stream to the roof, and a circumferential baffle installed at the circumference of the bottom part of the stack. A preferable shape of the baffle is a truncated cone. Preferably, the stack has a fluidic diode, at the inside top thereof.

Abstract: Pilots for waste gas flare stacks are disclosed suitable for use with stacks having natural draft or forced draft in which the pilot burner head to which a combustible gas-air mixture is supplied is at the upper end of a tube carried by the stack for supplying additional air to the pilot burner head, the pilot burner head being located close to the outlets for the waste combustible gas to be burned, and preferably close to the center of the stack, provisions being made to ignite the gas-air mixture at the pilot burner head. A thermocouple may also be carried in the pilot burner head to provide information at a remote location as to pilot burner operation.

Abstract: An ignitor is provided for offshore-subsea flares in which a flare, floating or fixed, is provided separated from an offshore drilling platform but connected by a subsea conduit or connection, preferably flexible, through which fuel gas is delivered to the flare for pilots and for ignitor gas for the pilots and which has provisions for insulated conductors for control of the pilot gas, the ignitor gas and for the ignition of the ignitor gas and indication of operating conditions.

Abstract: A portable safety flare for combustion of waste gases is disclosed for the combustion of combustible gas from oil wells, combustible waste gas from oil refineries and chemical plants, and particularly where it is not desired to go to the expense of installing a flare stack or for use in exploratory operations close to residential areas, or where the flare stack is not functional so that shut-down of the refinery would be required until the flare stack is repaired, and which preferably includes a vehicular trailer body with a floor and having stabilizing supports and side walls movable from closed positions for transport to elevated and heat shielding positions for use, and with provisions for noise suppression, the floor having waste gas burners thereabove with pilots and ignitors for staged combustion of the gas, the floor and walls being protected against the heat generated by the combustion, the trailer having sources of pressure fluid for operating various components and a source of igniting gas, and a mo

Abstract: A flare for waste gas disposal by combustion is disclosed particularly suited for use in remote areas such as deserts, where space is not limited and in which the portions of the flare exposed to radiation are of heat resistant material, the remainder of the flare and its supply connections being covered for protection against deleterious radiation effects thereon, provisions being made for protection of the waste gas supply line, pilot gas supply line and the ignitor supply line to minimize problems of expansion and contraction and to avoid erosion of the protective provisions.

Abstract: Liquid burnpits are described comprising elongated rectangular earthen or refractory side and end dike walls for the disposal of liquid and hydrocarbon streams from oil/gas exploration, production, transportation and/or refining. Provisions are made for disposal by combustion of liquid only, gas only, or of liquid and gas, with ignition pilots and with distribution of the flame within the pit for effective combustion with substantial smoke reduction, the supply pipes for the pilots, the ignition for the pilots, and the combustible supply pipes being protected from the high temperatures and radiation from the combustion. The coverings for the dike walls, floor and exterior portions of the supply pipes can be varied to accommodate different operating conditions.

Abstract: Burner heads for incinerating waste combustible gas from refineries and the like are disclosed, for use in flare gas burners wherein a plurality of waste gas burner heads are provided for simultaneous operation at the same level, which heads may be utilized in a ground flare, or utilized in an elevated version of a ground flare burner. The burner heads provide for efficient admixture of gas with air, do not plug up, have a low pressure drop, burn both low and high BTU gases, and provide for smokeless combustion.

Abstract: An igniter for flares is disclosed which includes one or more spark electrode carriers movable by a cable toward and away from the top of the flare stack and with indicating and control apparatus preferably near or remote from the base of the flare stack controlling the energization of the electrodes when they are at the top of the flare stack by temperature sensing elements on the electrode carriers, the sensing elements indicating presence or absence of flame at the top of the stack and with indicators of spark failure. Provisions for reset of the timers is also provided.

Abstract: Waste gas dispersion stacks are described, suitable for use on-shore and off-shore, for disposal of combustible gas without combustion by rapid dispersion into the atmosphere to reduce the waste gas concentration to below combustible or explosive levels, provisions being made to avoid ignition due to static electricity generation and to extinguish the flame by controlled utilization of an extinguishing medium if ignition should occur due to lightning or other causes. The stacks include single and multiple discharge pipes with diffuser or discharge heads for good mixing with air to provide a lean gas-air mixture.

Abstract: A ground flare stack is described having a plurality of stages for combustion to accommodate various quantities of combustible waste gas, the stack having a dished base of gravel with a central combustion chamber with an enlarged opening at the bottom for entrance of air to support combustion, the central combustion chamber having an enlargement at its upper end with a converging discharge, a plurality of stages of combustion being provided within the chamber, the central combustion chamber being surrounded by a stack in spaced relation with a converging portion disposed around the combustion chamber enlargement and a cylindrical stack thereabove, with a diode to prevent downflow through the cylindrical stack, an acoustical and wind shielding fence being around the bottom of the stack permitting air to be supplied to the bottom of the stack and of the combustion chamber, additional stages of combustion being provided outwardly of the upper end of the central combustion chamber.

Abstract: A purge control system for flare gas stacks is described in which provisions are made for start up, steady state or transient purge gas control, and for failure of the purge gas supply, and also takes into account variable windspeed at or near the top of the stack, flow or non-flow of purge gas and waste gas in the stack, ambient temperature and temperature of the advancing gaseous medium in the stack, oxygen content of the gas at a predetermined location in the stack, the system including provisions for pilot burner gas supply and ignition with protection against pilot burner operation under undesired conditions, an indicating panel being employed to advise the operator of the prevailing operating conditions so that, if desired, appropriate action can be taken by the operator.

Abstract: A flare burner is described having a central combustion chamber which is open at the top for discharge of combustion products and elevated and open at the bottom for entrance of air for combustion, the central combustion chamber being surrounded by a cylindrical enclosure which is open at the top for the discharge of combustion products and elevated and open at the bottom for entrance of air for combustion in the central combustion chamber and which also provides a combustion chamber outside the central combustion chamber, a plurality of stages of combustion are provided one in the central combustion chamber and another in the cylindrical enclosure. An acoustical and wind shielding fence is provided outside the bottom of the cylindrical enclosure over which air passes to enter the bottom of the enclosure.

Abstract: A thermocouple is disclosed carried by and enclosed within a tubular holder which protects the thermocouple wires but provides for limited exposure of the thermocouple tip through an opening in the tube and preferably with a back-up reflector plate.

Abstract: A flare stack gas burner for waste combustible gas from oil refineries, chemical plants, oil production rigs, LPG and other marketing terminals, pipe lines and the like is disclosed which includes a stack for waste gas delivery with an air delivery pipe therein with a plurality of outwardly extending hollow vanes at the top with fixed inclined nozzles along the tops of the vanes for discharge of air into the combustible gas advancing in the stack in a plurality of flat inclined streams at an inclination from the horizontal in a hollow frustoconical vortex combustion path, the inclined streams contacting combustible gas on each face and into the vortex path and around the exterior for completing combustion.

Abstract: An ignition system for combustible waste gas flares is described in which pilots and pilot igniters are employed, the air to gas ratio for pilot ignition being controlled to compensate for the combustible content of the pilot igniter gas, the pilot operation being sensed to control the ratio, controlled intermittent ignition of the pilot igniter gas being provided, with a repetitive cycle in the event of failure of ignition of the pilot igniter gas and of the pilot gas, the operating conditions being visually indicated at a control panel.

Abstract: An ignition system for flares is described particularly suitable for use in remote areas with limited facilities and which includes as components a power source and specifically storage batteries with a solar battery for recharging and having an associated gasoline engine driven blower for supplying air for ignition, together with an ignition panel adapted for ready connection to a source of fuel gas, to the blower, to the power source, to the stack pilot, to the pilot ignitor and if desired to the flare header for purge gas supply. The panel preferably includes a manually oprable push button for an ignition spark plug, has indicators of pilot operation and has manual control of the delivery of fuel gas for ignition, for use as pilot gas and for use as purge gas. A thermocouple is provided at the pilot for control of indicating lamps indicative of pilot operation or non-operation as well as purge failure.

Abstract: A flame retention apparatus for flare stacks for waste combustible gases is provided which includes fixed mounted guide vanes mounted at the top of the tubular stack and preferably spaced around the interior of the stack, the guide vanes having inclined or tilted terminal ends to impart a swirling or vortex action to a substantial portion of the waste gas exiting from the stack, and preferably with one or more teeth to impart added turbulence to the swirling portion of the waste gas.

Abstract: A flare gas stack is described with a purge gas conservation system adapted to control the flow of purge gas in accordance with the specific gravity of the purge gas, and prevailing conditions including cutting off the purge gas flow when conditions of waste gas flow and wind speed near the top of the stack permit. Provisions are made for visual observation of the waste gas flow, purge gas flow and purge failure.

Abstract: A pilot gas conservation system for flare stacks is provided in which the activation and control of the pilot gas burners is determined by the wind conditions so that if no flare gas is flowing the pilot burners are shut down and with moderate and minor wind conditions the supply of pilot gas is maintained at a lower level than that required for higher wind velocities. A flow responsive switch is provided to determine the flow of waste combustible gas to the stack so that, if required, the effect of the wind speed determines the pilot gas flow.

Abstract: A fluidic seal is provided for vent stacks which comprises a plurality of spaced frusto-conical concentric baffles with aligned central openings permitting free outward delivery of gas for discharge but providing an obstruction to reverse or return flow within the stack, the baffles at their openings being provided with static electricity preventing rings. Protection is afforded by the baffles against initiation of combustion due to static electricity and in the event of combustion of the discharging gas initiated by lightening preventing backflow in the stack.