Abstract: A method and system of high speed radio frequency communication between an outside of a metallic pipeline or vessel and an interior volume contained by the metallic pipeline or vessel includes passing a high speed radio frequency signal through a communication portal having a high speed radio frequency permittive material exposed to the interior volume of the metallic pipeline and to the outside. The high speed radio frequency signal may be transmitted from the interior volume to the outside or from the outside to the interior volume. The communication portal may be a cylindrical- or planar-shaped body connected to the metallic pipeline. A tool located within the interior volume may transmit, receive, or transmit and receive the high speed radio frequency signal. The high speed radio frequency signal may be configured according to a 2.45 GHz standard protocol.

Abstract: A pig trap of this disclosure may include one or more injectors or nozzles located along a sidewall of the barrel and oriented to deliver a jet of fluid toward a back side of a vertical member of a pig or tool. The nozzle may be part of an assembly that includes a longitudinally extending pipe having a flat-profile flange at an inlet end, a curved-profile flange at the nozzle end, and a bend in between the two ends. When the assembly is installed in a sidewall opening of a pig trap, the nozzle delivers a jet of fluid toward the back side of a vertical member of the pig. A leak path may be provided through flanges or formed between the sidewall opening and a periphery of the curved-profile flange. Launch forces of more than 10 to 15 times that of a conventional launcher may be achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a gas distribution system that allows for the rapid displacement of an extraneous gas in the distribution system by a primary gas. The gas distribution system utilizes a gas accumulator to aid in the rapid displacement of the extraneous gas. In one embodiment a flare pilot system uses the inventive distribution system to allow for the rapid purge of air from the flare pilot system by a fuel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a gas distribution system that allows for the rapid displacement of an extraneous gas in the distribution system by a primary gas. The gas distribution system utilizes a gas accumulator to aid in the rapid displacement of the extraneous gas. In one embodiment a flare pilot system uses the inventive distribution system to allow for the rapid purge of air from the flare pilot system by a fuel.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace wherein the mixture is burned and flue gas having a low content of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide is formed is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace wherein the mixture is burned and flue gas having a low content of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide is formed is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace wherein the mixture is burned and flue gas having a low content of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide is formed is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace wherein the mixture is burned and flue gas having a low content of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide is formed is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: A flare apparatus for burning combustible gases. A flare tip unit comprises an inner member and an outer member defining an annulus therebetween. The annulus defines an annular gas passage through which combustible gas passes. Air moved by a motive force, preferably steam, passes through the inner member and a steam/air mixture exits an outlet of the inner member. The combustible gas and an air/steam mixture mixes in a premix zone between the inner member outlet and the exit opening of the outer member. The combustible gas/air/steam mixture is ignited for burning in the atmosphere above the exit opening. The flare apparatus may include a plurality of flare tip units.

Abstract: A flare apparatus for burning combustible gases. A flare tip unit comprises an inner member and an outer member defining an annulus therebetween. The annulus defines an annular gas passage through which combustible gas passes. Air moved by a motive force, preferably steam, passes through the inner member and a steam/air mixture exits an outlet of the inner member. The combustible gas and an air/steam mixture mixes in a premix zone between the inner member outlet and the exit opening of the outer member. The combustible gas/air/steam mixture is ignited for burning in the atmosphere above the exit opening. The flare apparatus may include a plurality of flare tip units.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace wherein the mixture is burned and flue gas having a low content of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide is formed is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides an automatic control system that includes an optical image capture device as part of an imaging system. In another aspect, the invention provides an imaging system that can control a flame generation system utilizing an optical image capture device in connection with a computer system, including software (and corresponding algorithms), and related apparatus as necessary. The system can be used to control various aspects of flame generating equipment such as flares, burners, pilots and other combustion equipment. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of flames, for example, can be carried out. In another aspect, the invention provides a specific methodology for using the inventive image sensing control system.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace wherein the mixture is burned and flue gas having a low content of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide is formed is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: A flare apparatus for discharging and burning flare gas in the atmosphere is provided. The flare tip includes a flare gas conduit having a flare gas discharge opening and a combustion air conduit having a combustion air discharge opening. All of the flare gas to be flared is discharged through the flare gas discharge opening into a unified column of air discharged through the combustion air discharge opening. The flare gas discharge opening and the combustion air discharge opening are positioned with respect to one another such that flare gas discharged from the flare gas discharge opening is discharged inwardly into combustion air that is discharged from the combustion air discharge opening and admixed therewith. Essentially all of the discharged flare gas is admixed with discharged combustion air or external atmospheric air outside of the flare apparatus thereby preventing internal burning. A method of flaring a mixture of flare gas and combustion air is also provided.

Abstract: A flare burner that is particularly suitable for use in connection with ground flares and other types of flares in which it is important to control the height of the flame envelope created by the burner is provided. The flare burner includes a pre-mix zone including a pre-mix chamber into which air is entrained. A uniform mixture of fuel and air is formed in the pre-mix zone and caused to exit an air/fuel outlet in the top of the pre-mix chamber. In one embodiment, the amount of air in the fuel/air mixture that exits the air/fuel outlet is in excess of the stoichiometric amount of air required to support combustion of the fuel in the mixture. Fuel is injected around the perimeter of the air/fuel outlet, combustion is initiated and a flame envelope is created. By injecting a mixture of fuel and air that includes excess air into the center of the flame envelope, combustion of the central portion of the flame envelope is accelerated which allows more fuel to be flared with a given flame envelope height.

Abstract: A gas burner apparatus for discharging a mixture of fuel gas, air and flue gas into a furnace space of a furnace wherein the mixture is burned and flue gas having a low content of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide is formed is provided. The burner tile includes at least one gas circulation port extending though the wall of the tile. The interior surface of the wall of the tile includes a Coanda surface. Fuel gas and/or flue gas conducted through the gas circulation port follows the path of the Coanda surface which allows more flue gas to be introduced into the stream. The exterior surface of the wall of the tile also includes a Coanda surface for facilitating the creation of a staged combustion zone. Also provided are improved burner tiles, improved gas tips and methods of burning a mixture of air, fuel gas and flue gas in a furnace space.

Abstract: Compact low NOx gas burner apparatus and methods for discharging fuel gas and air mixtures into furnace spaces wherein the mixture is burned in folded flame patterns and flue gases having low NOx content are formed are provided. A burner apparatus of the invention is basically comprised of a housing having a burner tile attached thereto and means for introducing air therein. The burner tile has an opening therein with a wall surrounding the opening which extends into a furnace space. The exterior sides of the wall are divided into sections by radially positioned baffles with alternate sections having the same or different heights and slanting towards the opening at the same or different angles. Primary fuel gas mixed with flue gases and air is discharged through the burner tile. Secondary fuel gas is discharged adjacent to the external slanted wall sections whereby the secondary fuel gas mixes with flue gases in the furnace space.

Abstract: Compact low NOx gas burner apparatus and methods for discharging fuel gas and air mixtures into furnace spaces wherein the mixture is burned in folded flame patterns and flue gases having low NOx content are formed are provided. A burner apparatus of the invention is basically comprised of a housing having a burner tile attached thereto and means for introducing air therein. The burner tile has an opening therein with a wall surrounding the opening which extends into a furnace space. The exterior sides of the wall are divided into sections by radially positioned baffles with alternate sections having the same or different heights and slanting towards the opening at the same or different angles. Primary fuel gas mixed with flue gases and air is discharged through the burner tile. Secondary fuel gas is discharged adjacent to the external slanted wall sections whereby the secondary fuel gas mixes with flue gases in the furnace space.