| Description |
A major ethylene plant underconstruction in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia found itself under pressure from neighboring facilities and regulatory agencies to reduce flare emissions, flame visibility, and noise. Plant personnel contacted a company that had pioneered and commercialized a grade mounted, multipoint flare burner system that eliminates the need for an elevated flare which historically contributes to increased noise levels, inhibited efficiency, limited service life, increased flame visibility, and increased smoke formation. Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulation of the flare system was used to aid in the design of the flare system by predicting fence temperature, grade temperature, air flow to the burners, and flame and radiation characteristics of the flare system. Installed during the plant's 2004 startup, the flare burners were designed, fabricated, and tested on a fast track schedule. Production tests and operating data show that the flare burners achieve the predicted CFD results and the required increased smokeless capacity, reduction in noise levels, decreased visibility of the flames and enhanced operational efficiency, while simultaneously resisting the failures typically associated with elevated flares. |
