Abstract
Flare systems are critical safety components in the oil and gas industry, primarily utilized to safely combust excess flammable gases during routine operations or in emergency scenarios. Despite their importance, these systems significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, prompting strict regulatory measures aimed at minimizing flaring activities. This thesis presents the development of a pilot-scale flare system designed to replicate the environmental conditions and operational dynamics of industrial flare systems. This prototype allows for precise control over the quantity and composition of the waste gases introduced, facilitating detailed studies on various flaring conditions.The primary objectives of this research include constructing a scalable model of an industrial flare system, assessing its performance under diverse operational scenarios, and understanding the complex dynamics of the flaring process. It also paves the way for implementing innovative control schemes that might be integrated into the system, enabling automated operation and optimization of flare efficiency without manual intervention. This development serves as a foundational step towards the implementation of smart monitoring and vision-based analysis within flare system research.
The findings reveal the behavior of the flaring process based on different air assist flow rates and pressures. It was found that if the waste gas is composed of 100% propane, air assistance can totally eliminate the formation of carbon monoxide, achieving a perfect carbon conversion efficiency. Other studies were made on different compositions and will be presented in detail.
Furthermore, the project aims to generate a comprehensive dataset on flaring processes, supporting ongoing research initiatives in the field. The outcomes of this research are expected to inform new strategies for reducing flaring activities, thus contributing to the oil and gas industry’s alignment with sustainable development goals. The proposed control scheme also lays the groundwork for future studies focused on the optimization and enhanced control of flare systems.
| Date of Award | 3 Jul 2024 |
|---|---|
| Original language | American English |
| Supervisor | HAMAD KARKI (Supervisor) |
Keywords
- gas flaring
- combustion efficiency
- carbon conversion efficiency
- emissions control
- IDF burners
- combustion analyzer