THERMAL RADIATION SHIELD AND COMBUSTION AIR CONTROLLED ENCLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR A GROUND FLARE
A thermal radiation shield and combustion air controlled enclosure assembly. The assembly encloses a ground flare or flares and includes a plurality of structural supports at an obtuse angle to grade. Panels extend between the structural supports surrounding the ground flare wherein the panels are at an obtuse angle to grade.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a thermal radiation shield and combustion air control enclosure assembly for a ground flare or flares. In particular, the present invention is directed to a thermal radiation shield and combustion air control enclosure assembly which limits infra-red radiation while allowing sufficient air flow for combustion and while controlling wind flow against interference.
2. Related Art
Flare systems are used in various industries to provide safe disposal of flammable liquids or gases. Flare systems are combustion mechanisms to burn off flammable liquids or gases. By way of example, flare systems may be used in industrial plants to burn off flammable gases released by pressure relief valves. Various types of flares exist, including elevated flares and flares that operate near grade. Near-grade level flares are often called ground flares.
Large ground flares are often surrounded by an opaque or semi-opaque enclosure. This is enclosure is often referred to as a ground flare “fence” or “wall”. This fence serves multiple purposes. The fence serves to reduce the amount of light emitted by the flares. The fence also serves to limit the amount of infra-red radiation from the flares, protecting personnel and equipment at grade. In addition, the fence serves to reduce the amount of noise from the flare by reflecting the noise. At the same time, the fence must allow sufficient air flow through the fence to maintain fence temperatures within design limits and to provide air flow for combustion. The fence must also control the wind flow so that high winds do not interfere with flare operation.
A typical ground flare fence is shaped like a polygon. It consists of vertical structural steel support beams and attached horizontal fence panels. Many different types of materials suitable for elevated temperatures can be used for the fence panels and beams. Galvanized carbon steel is the most common material.
Prior flare enclosures may be seen in Hamazaki et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,233) which discloses a ground flare stack with a fence 3 concentrically surrounding a lower part of the stack, a roof 4 extending radially outward fro the stack, and a louver 5 installed at the opening between the fence and the roof. The fence 3 is perpendicular to grade.
Yokohama et al. (U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0318697) discloses a prior art ground flare stack configuration having a windbreak 40 with windbreak openings 41 in a variety of configurations.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, there remains a need to develop a thermal radiation shield and combustion air controlled ground flare enclosure assembly which will reduce flame distortion of the ground flare or flares.
There also remains a need to develop a thermal radiation shield and combustion air controlled enclosure assembly which will reflect or deflect noise from the ground flare or flares.
There also remains a need to develop a thermal radiation shield and combustion air control enclosure assembly which will reduce the temperature of the enclosure assembly.
There also remains a need to develop a thermal radiation shield and combustion air controlled enclosure assembly which will extend the life of the enclosure assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a thermal radiation shield and combustion air control enclosure assembly for a ground flare or flares. The present invention provides structural supports and accompanying panels that slope outwards from the combustion section of the ground flare or flares. By sloping the support beams outward at an obtuse angle to grade, several benefits are shown.
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- 1) The top section of the enclosure assembly tends to be the hottest location on the enclosure assembly. By moving the top of the enclosure assembly outward, the distance between the fence and the combustion section of the flare is increased, thus reducing fence temperature.
- 2) When wind blows over the top of a vertical structure, a vortex tends to be formed on the downwind side. This may be caused by force of ambient crosswinds or by force of winds drawn in by flames. If a large vortex is formed inside the flare enclosure assembly, the vortex can distort the flame shape and force the flame towards grade. Forcing the flame downwards increases the operating temperature of the equipment which is detrimental. Sloping the enclosure assembly away from the combustion zone moves the vortex away from the combustion zone, reducing flame distortion.
- 3) With some variations of the enclosure assembly design, the panels are sloped outwards with the structural supports. Sloping the panels outward results in a more advantageous angle of reflection. This results in more of the noise and infra-red. radiation being reflected upwards away from grade, resulting in lower noise and potentially cooler enclosure assembly temperatures.
The panels in the present invention are designed to survive in the heat generated by the flare. There are many different configurations possible for the panels. Several configurations are described in detail herein, but the scope of the present invention is not intended to limit the possible panel configurations.
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- 1) The most basic preferred configuration for the enclosure assembly has the panels side-by-side on the combustion side of the structural supports. This blocks radiation and visible light, but limits the amount of air flow through the fence.
- 2) Another preferred configuration has panels staggered on either side of the structural supports. By staggering the panels, air flow is allowed to pass through the assembly while still blocking light and infra-red radiation.
- 3) A third preferred configuration has louvered-style fence panels. The panels would be mounted at an angle different than that of the structural supports, The angle of the panels could be adjusted to optimize the amount of air flow through the fence.
- 4) Double-layered panels of different configurations are sometimes used to provide additional protection to sensitive locations.
For large ground flares, the bottom of the main enclosure is often open on one or more sides to allow combustion air flow through the enclosure. When the bottom of the enclosure is open, a secondary fence may be installed some distance from the main panels. By installing the secondary fence some distance from the main panels, the primary functions of the main panels such as blocking visible light and infra-red radiation are preserved white allowing additional combustion air flow under the enclosure.
A secondary fence for the present invention may include many of the design features of the main enclosure, The secondary fence can be mounted on the same structure as the main enclosure or can be mounted on a separate structure.
The embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use the invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the instant invention.
While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be made in the details of the invention's construction and the arrangement of its components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification.
Referring to the drawings in detail,
As will be described in detail herein, the enclosure assembly 10 includes a plurality of structural supports 20 at an obtuse angle to grade 16.
The enclosure assembly 10 completely surrounds and circumnavigates the ground flares 14. the embodiment shown, the enclosure assembly forms a polygon although other forms, such as a circle or oval, are possible.
Each of the structural supports 20 is arranged at an obtuse angle to grade 16 as illustrated by arrow 30. In a preferred orientation, the obtuse angle may range from between 110 to 120 degrees.
The structural supports 20 may be retained in place by vertical bracing 40 substantially perpendicular to grade 16 and by cross bracing 44 extending between the structural supports 20 and the vertical bracing 40. Brackets may be utilized to facilitate connections. The vertical bracing 40 is connected at ground or grade by concrete footings 46 or the like.
In the first preferred embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
A secondary enclosure 66 is spaced from the vertical bracing 40 and surrounds the ground flare or flares as well as the vertical bracing and structural supports. A plurality of vertical supports 68 vertical to grade 16 are spaced from the vertical bracing 40 which may be connected at ground or grade by concrete footings 72. The vertical supports 68 have a plurality of contiguous panels 70 extending between adjacent supports.
The present invention provides a thermal radiation shield and combustion air controlled enclosure assembly which will reduce flame distortion while providing adequate air flow for combustion.
Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.
Claims
1. A thermal radiation shield and combustion air control enclosure assembly for a ground flare, which assembly comprises;
- a plurality of structural supports at an obtuse angle to grade; and
- at least one panel extending between said structural supports surrounding said ground flare wherein said panel is at an obtuse angle to said grade.
2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said obtuse angle of said at least one panel is the same as said obtuse angle of said structural supports.
3. The assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said obtuse angle of said at least one panel and said obtuse angle of said structural supports ranges between 110 and 120 degrees.
4. The assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a plurality of said panels contiguous with each other.
5. The assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a plurality of said panels wherein said panels are spaced from and parallel to each other.
6. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said obtuse angle of said at least one panel is different from said obtuse angle of said structural supports.
7. The assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said obtuse angle of said structural supports ranges between 110 and 120 degrees.
8. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a secondary enclosure spaced from said at least one panel.
9. The assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said secondary enclosure is vertical to grade.
10. The assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said secondary enclosure is at an obtuse angle to grade.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 8, 2013
Publication Date: Apr 9, 2015
Applicant: UOP LLC (Des Plaines, IL)
Inventors: Bryan Beck (Tulsa, OK), Matthew Martin (Tulsa, OK), Donnie Dee McClain (Tulsa, OK)
Application Number: 14/048,623
International Classification: F23G 7/08 (20060101);