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Show If a flare cannot be ignited reliably and a stable flame maintained at all times to burn the waste gas, we do not have a flare. What we have is a vent pipe - where unburned heavy hydrocarbons or other combustible gases can descend to grade level and become ignited to produce a flashback, a fire, and possibly a catastrophic explosion. Flare Pilot Design Vicente A. Mendoza, P.E. Vadim G. Smolensky, PhD. John F. Straitz III, P.E. NAO Inc. Enforcement of more stringent environmental regulations for vapor collection and control has increased the need for ultra-safe and extremely reliable control of waste gases and offgases from energy exploration and production, petroleum refining and chemical/petrochemical, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, and other process industries. Due to downsizings, deferred maintenance and other corporate cost-cutting measures, major corporations worldwide are insisting on more reliable products, systems and services, including state-of-art designs for flare pilots and flare systems that combine long, dependable service lives with minimal maintenance. Flare technology and manufacturing practices of the 1940s, '50s and '60s are maintenance-prone, obsolete and unsafe. To protect the global environment, plant personnel and surrounding communities, flares and their essential components must be designed, manufactured, tested, installed and serviced to ISO- 9001 quality standards. The four most critical components of a flare are: o flare burner tip o flare seal o flare pilot burner(s) o flare ignition system A wide range of considerations must be addressed to design a safe flare system. Dependable ignition, flame stability and complete combustion are the keys to safe flare operation. If a flare cannot be ignited reliably and a stable flame |