flare ignition system

[gesstav]

Hello,
I am currently looking for flare ignition system advancements/best techniques.
Any help appreciated.
George

 

[Flareman]

Gesstav
Conventional Flare Ignition falls into a number of possible groupings noted below (with my supplementary comments).

A - Assumes constant pilot burners which need to be ignited.
A1 - Remote flame front - uses a gas air mixture piped to the pilot and then ignited at a remote location. Flame eats its way through the pipe to the pilot (or flare tip)
A1.1 - Forced draught - uses pressurized air and gas. (pipe runs normally up to 1500 ft but as much as 5000 ft have been used)
A1.2 - Natural draught - uses venturi to inspirate the air (distances and pipe runs are limited).

A2 - Direct pilot ignition - uses an electrical device in the pilot to ignite the pilot flame
A2.1 - High tension plug - like an auto spark plug
A2.2 - High energy plug - like a jet engine plug (much better)

A3 - any of the above may be automated to operate on the loss of flame by incorporating thermocouples in the pilots (if you want to monitor by the pilot) or using an optical monitor located remotely (if you only want to monitor by the main flame)

A4 - Some Manufacturer's Pilot flames are very suspect to being extinguished by high wind or rain, or by high inert gas purge flows in "dormant" flares. If you have High Inert look for an inert-atmosphere-resistant pilot.

All option A choices are not mutually exclusive

B - Direct ignition of gas stream
B1.1 - High tension electrodes (rather like A2.1)
B1.2 - High Energy Ignitor (like A2.2)

Some manufacturers are unable to leave the electrodes in a potentially exposed location and need a separate mechanism to move the electrode away from the flame after it has performed. This raises the term "retractable".

B2 - Pellet ignition - uses a chemical pellet which is propelled along a guide tube from "somewhere" to the tip, where it hits a target plate and generates a shower of sparks to ignite the flared stream, (like a flintlock musket ??)


David

 

[CJKruger]

gesstav,

We have had good success with the Stackmatch system/company.