SMECWhat is the need for flare ignition systems in...

What is the need for flare ignition systems in the oil and gas sector?

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What is a flare boom ignition system?

A flare ignition system in oil and gas removes the excess gas and liquids. A flare system is the safest way to get rid of this. During the extraction of the crude oil in case if there is a quick increase in pressure then it can cause a huge explosion. So this excess pressure or gas can be removed using the flare ignition system. This type of explosion can cause long-lasting fires and it will be really difficult to contain these fires. This type of explosion can also cause several environmental problems. A flare ignition system in an oil rig is to prevent this explosion in an oil rig or other industrial sectors.

Most oil fields are located in remote areas. To ensure that the burning is safely done booms are installed in the drilling platform. These booms will be useful during changes in the wind direction. The flame height will be depended on the amount of the released gas and also the color of the flame will be based on the composition of the air, gas, etc.

Flare boom ignition system
What is the need for flare ignition systems in the oil and gas sector? 3

What is gas flaring and flare offshore?

Gas flaring can be described as the controlled burning of natural gas. The natural gas which is to be burned in the oil rigs or the chemical plant can’t be used for another purpose because of several reasons. Mostly these gases will be waste gases created in the plant during the operation. A flare system will be composed of several flares and this is to handle different types of waste.

A flare system is composed of pipes and several pieces of equipment which is capable of collecting gas such as hydrocarbons through several valves. These gases will be disposed of in a remote location. So in an oil refinery, the flare ignition system will be placed away from all the equipment and devices. The excess pressure should be removed by burning the gas.

When should we do the flaring in an oil rig?

  • Flaring will be done in case of a pool fire below the vessel
  • Flaring is done before the compressor operation
  • Depressurization is done in case of any emergency
  • In case of purging and entry, depressurization must be done

What are high-pressure and low-pressure flares?

These flares are mostly used for venting or blowdown purposes. The equipment that has a design pressure that is more than 10 barges will be connected to the HP flare system. The high-pressure flare system will have high allowable back pressure. HP system has high allowable back pressure and also it has a lower header size. The equipment with a barge pressure of less than 10 will be connected to the LP flare system. The LP system has low allowable back pressure and also it has more header size.

What are the things that should be considered while choosing the flare ignition system?

  • Temperature
  • Back pressure
  • Fuel gas system
  • Ignition system
  • Location
  • Gas dispersion
  • Size of the header
  • Protection of the flashback
  • Operation smoke

What are the major components of a flare ignition system?

  • There will be several valves such as pressure safety valves, blowdown valves
  • Tail pumps
  • Flare headers
  • Knockout drums in the flare area
  • Gas purge system
  • Flare risers such as ignition systems, fuel gas, and stem
  • Safety systems such as infrared monitors

What is the difference between offshore and onshore flare ignition systems?

We can see the gas flaring system onshore and offshore. In the onshore production fields gas flaring system is used and this will ensure the safety of the production field. In the offshore sector, the gas flaring system will be used in port facilities, storage tanks, etc. Mostly the equipment for the offshore and the onshore flare ignition system will be the same. The major difference between the onshore and offshore flare ignition systems is their installation. In the offshore system, the flare ignition system will be placed near the operation site due to space constraints.

In the case of the onshore the ignition system will be installed away from the operation process because there won’t be any space constraints. In the offshore system, the operating personnel will be exposed to radiation and noise because the space will be really low compared to the onshore structure.

flare boom ignition system
What is the need for flare ignition systems in the oil and gas sector? 4

What are the major requirements of the flare system?

A flare system is used for the safe disposal of gaseous waste. This disposal must be done by considering the surrounding. Venting of the excess process gas must be carefully done. The flare system should be capable of extensive venting during the startup and shutdown. This system must be able to handle the emergency releases from the blow-down valves.

How does a flare ignition system operate?

The flare ignition system will mostly have a launching section which will have an ignition pellet, tube, and also collector. So when the pellet leaves the guide tube then the fuse will be released. Pellet will explode when the fuse is released and this will create a spark over the flare tip and also in the flare burners and thus the gas will be lighted.

What are the different types of flare systems?

Sonic flares

Sonic flares are mostly used for high-pressure systems, the emissivity of the sonic flare is in the range of 0.07 to 0.15. The range of heat is generated at the tip of the flare. These are mostly multipoint flares and it has good performance such as less noise and smoke-less operation etc. These flares are mostly placed vertically.

Single point flares

These flares are mostly placed vertically, and they are connected to the end of the flare. These are pipe-type flares and they are mostly used for low-power systems.

Coanda flares

This type of flare is mostly designed to occupy a large volume of air into it and thus it will develop a single burning compact flame. These flares are also considered single-point flares. The flare system should be chosen according to the requirement.

What are the major applications of flare ignition systems?

  • Petroleum refineries
  • Chemical industry
  • Natural gas processing plant
  • Oil and gas production plant
  • Offshore oil and gas rigs
  • Transport ships
  • Port facilities
  • Oil and gas extraction sites

Author – Ashlin A J

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