Flaring in Petroleum Refinery Operations
The flaring process in oil refineries refers to the controlled and safe burning of the excess gases that are produced during various refining processes.
Flare System Design and Use
The flare system is designed to provide safe receipt and disposal of combustible, harmful gases and vapors released from process equipment during normal operation and during upset conditions. The stack is located remote enough from operating units to provide safety for operating personnel and equipment.
In petroleum refineries, the released gases and liquids are routed through large piping systems to a vertical elevated flare. The released gases are burned as they exit the flare stacks. To keep the flare system functional, a small amount of gas is continuously burned, like a pilot light, so that the system is always ready for its primary purpose as an over-pressure safety system. In addition, fuel gas is also injected into the flare header from individual process units to keep the header alive and slightly pressurized to avoid air ingress into the system.
Types of Flaring
There are three types of gas flaring in the petroleum industry; (i) Routine Faring which is carried out to keep the flare and flare header alive; (ii) Safety Flaring is the result of discharges from pressure safety valves; and (iii) Non-routine Flaring arises due to plant emergency situations and handover of process equipment for maintenance.