Vol. 20 No. 2 (2023): Journal of Non Destructive Testing and Evaluation (JNDE), June 2023
Research Papers

Flare Control Based on Sound Speed Measurement by Ultrasonic Flow Meters

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  • C Tao,
  • A. Weling

Published 11-06-2023

Keywords

  • Flare control,
  • Ultrasonic flow meter,
  • Speed of sound,
  • flare gas NHV

How to Cite

C Tao, & A. Weling. (2023). Flare Control Based on Sound Speed Measurement by Ultrasonic Flow Meters . Journal of Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation (JNDE), 20(2), 50–55. Retrieved from https://jnde.isnt.in/index.php/JNDE/article/view/53

Copyright (c) 2023 Journal of Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation (JNDE)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Abstract

The molecular weight of a vent gas can be derived from an online measurement of the speed of sound (SOS) performed by an ultrasonic flow meter. The Net Heating Value (NHV) inferred from this molecular weight measurement provides critical real-time feedback for flare control.  This inferential NHV measurement overcomes latency problems caused by an online Gas Chromatograph (GC) typically used to monitor vent gas NHV.  Flare operation based on the calculated vent gas NHV can be used for real-time control of the Net Heating Value in the flare combustion zone (NHVCZ) and smokeless combustion to achieve high combustion efficiency as required by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. The working principle of this control scheme and field performance data from refinery flares equipped with online GCs, Mass Spectrometers (MS) and Calorimeters are presented in this paper

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References

  1. United State Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR parts 60 and 63, December 2015.
  2. R. H. Hammond, Ultrasonic measurement system with molecular weight determination, US Patent No. 6216091 B1, April 2001.
  3. Lynnworth, L. C., Fluid flowmeter, US Patent No. 3575050A, 1968.
  4. J.O. Hirschfelder, C.F. Curtiss, and R.B. Bird, Molecular Theory of Gases and Liquids, John Wiley and Sons 1964, p. 232.
  5. API standard 521, Guide for pressure-relieving and depressuring systems, 1997.