Peer review of a report by U.S. EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) "Parameters for Properly Designed and Operated Flares"

In the United States, alleged wind-induced combustion efficiency ("CE") degradation in the operation of real industrial flares in the field has become a big issue amongst environmental activists in consequence of which the United States Environmental Protection Agency is considering regulations related to wind effects. While it is true that wind effects have been reported in model-scale (typically ≤3"D and often «3"D, soda-straw like) tests in wind tunnels, there is no evidence whatsoever in recent and extensive in situ full-scale (typically »18"D) remote-sensing field testing of any significant wind-induced CE-degradation.