A water seal device for a torch

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of flare systems, and specifically discloses a water seal device for a flare, comprising a tank body, one end of the tank body being connected to an air inlet pipe, the bottom end of the air inlet pipe being located below the liquid level in the tank body, and the other end of the tank body being connected to an air outlet pipe, a plurality of orifice plate groups being installed on the air inlet pipe, and the orifice plate groups being arranged in a circle with the axis of the air inlet pipe, each orifice plate group being composed of two fan-shaped porous plates hinged to each other, and a connecting sleeve being provided at the inner end of the porous plate for sliding and rotating connection therewith, the airflow being evenly dispersed into a plurality of stable airflows by the porous plate, and then being further processed by the annular orifice plate so as to disperse the airflow again, thereby ensuring the uniformity and stability of the airflow, this series of measures can effectively avoid noise problems caused by pulsed airflow impact and large airflow, thereby preventing vibration of the tank body and the pipeline and internal surge caused by fluctuations in flare gas emissions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of flare systems, and in particular to a flare water seal device. Background Art

[0002] A flare system is a combustion facility specifically designed to treat non-recyclable combustible gases emitted from internal equipment in refineries and other types of factories. This system plays a vital role in ensuring safe production in factories and reducing environmental pollution. To prevent air from infiltrating into the combustible gas exhaust system and causing explosions, to regulate gas flow, or to establish a stable backpressure environment for the exhaust system, a water seal tank is usually installed between the flare and the main pipeline of the exhaust system as an isolation measure. In the design of the water seal tank, the gas inlet must adopt an efficient gas distribution structure. This is done to prevent pulsed combustion in the flare due to fluctuations in the sealing water level, thereby ensuring the stable operation and safety of the entire system.

[0003] Chinese patent document CN113639072B discloses a graded flare gas water seal tank, comprising a horizontal cylinder with a flare gas inlet and a flare gas inlet pipe at the top of one end, a water supply port at the bottom, a flare gas outlet at the top of the other end, and low, medium, and high liquid level overflow ports at the bottom. The graded flare gas water seal tank also includes a rotation-stopping rib, a gas phase uniform distribution disk, a rectifying circular plate, a low, medium, and high liquid level overflow cylinders within the cylinder. The flare gas inlet pipe is provided with a gas phase uniform distribution disk at the bottom, a rotation-stopping rib disposed above the gas phase uniform distribution disk within the flare gas inlet pipe, and overflow cylinders arranged vertically within the cylinder in sequence according to the flow direction. This patent allows for the grading of water seal height while effectively skimming off surface liquid and preventing excessive liquid level fluctuations.

[0004] Chinese patent document CN101338897B discloses a water seal structure for a flare system, comprising: a water seal tank having an inlet and an outlet; a water seal tank disposed within the water seal tank to accommodate the water seal, the water seal tank having an opening communicating with the water seal tank; and a flare gas inlet pipe inserted through the inlet into the water seal of the water seal tank. The equivalent flow area of ​​the water seal tank is 1 to 3 times that of the flare gas inlet pipe. The pressure of a large flare gas discharge can push the water in the water seal tank through the opening into the water seal tank. The internal structure of the water seal tank eliminates the need for a valve control system, maintaining a sufficient water seal height during small discharges to prevent air backflow and facilitate gas recovery. The water seal can also be automatically removed during large discharges.

[0005] In existing technical solutions, the system dynamically adjusts the water seal height by monitoring the actual flare gas flow rate. This measure is intended to effectively prevent flashback explosions, while also safely isolating upstream equipment and ensuring pressure balance throughout the system. Furthermore, in the flare gas inlet piping design, when the system is vented and the flare gas breaches the water seal, perforated plates disperse the gas flow, creating multiple, stable, and uniform streams, thus optimizing the gas discharge to a certain extent. However, when the flare gas flow rate increases significantly, problems arise. Due to the dynamic characteristics of the airflow, large amounts of flare gas tend to rise rapidly against the outer wall of the inlet pipe during its ascent, eventually breaching the water seal. In this situation, the flare gas is concentrated in specific areas near the inlet pipe during its ascent, resulting in increased localized airflow density. This can cause pulsed airflow in the system and significant noise generated by the large airflow. These adverse factors not only cause fluctuations in the flare gas discharge process but can also cause vibrations in the tank and piping structures, and even surge within the system. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention provides a flare water seal device, which aims to solve the problem in the related art that a large amount of flare gas is concentrated in a position close to the air inlet pipe when rising, which is prone to pulsed airflow impact and noise caused by large airflow, resulting in vibration of the tank and the pipeline and internal surge caused by flare gas emission fluctuations.

[0007] A water seal device for a flare includes a tank body, one end of the tank body is connected to an air inlet pipe, the bottom end of the air inlet pipe is located below the liquid level in the tank body, and the other end of the tank body is connected to an air outlet pipe, a plurality of orifice plate groups are installed on the air inlet pipe, and the orifice plate groups are arranged in a circle with the axis of the air inlet pipe, each orifice plate group is composed of two fan-shaped porous plates hinged to each other, the inner end of the porous plate is provided with a connecting sleeve connected to it for sliding and rotation, and the connecting sleeve is hinged to the air inlet pipe, a sealing assembly is connected between every two adjacent orifice plate groups, an annular orifice plate is provided above the porous plate, the annular orifice plate is slidably installed on the air inlet pipe, a floating ring is provided at the outer ring of the annular orifice plate, so that the annular orifice plate is kept above the liquid level, and a connecting assembly is installed between the floating ring and the orifice plate group, when the liquid level rises, the floating ring pulls the middle part of the outer end of the orifice plate group to move upward through the connecting assembly, thereby reducing the angle between the two porous plates and causing the outer end of the porous plate to tilt upward.

[0008] The effect is that when the flare gas flow rate from the intake pipe is relatively low, the liquid level in the tank is regulated to an appropriate height, ensuring that the porous plate remains essentially horizontal. In this case, as the flare gas is discharged through the intake pipe, the airflow near the bottom of the pipe gradually rises to the position of the porous plate. As the flare gas passes through the porous plate, it is effectively dispersed into multiple stable airflows. These airflows then pass through the annular orifice plate, further redispersing the airflow and ensuring its uniformity and stability. When the flare gas flow rate from the intake pipe increases significantly, the system replenishes an appropriate amount of water into the tank through the water supply pipe, thereby increasing the liquid level accordingly. At the same time, the connecting assembly drives the porous plate to rotate relative to the tank, gradually reducing the angle between the porous plate and the tank body and causing the outer end of the porous plate to tilt upward. In this state, the majority of the airflow moves diagonally upward along the direction of the porous plate. As the airflow flows along the surface of the porous plate, it passes through the holes on the porous plate, thus smoothly completing the diversion process and effectively preventing the airflow from concentrating near the air inlet pipe. In this way, the airflow is evenly dispersed by the porous plate into multiple stable airflows, and then further processed by the annular orifice plate to disperse the airflow again, ensuring the uniformity and stability of the airflow. This series of measures can effectively avoid the noise problems caused by pulsed airflow impact and large airflow, and thus prevent the vibration of the tank and pipeline and internal surge caused by the fluctuation of flare gas emissions, thereby ensuring the stable operation of the entire system.

[0009] Preferably, a plurality of dividing strips are provided on the bottom surface of the porous plate along its radial direction. The provision of the dividing strips further enhances the dispersion effect of the porous plate on the flare gas. When the flare gas passes through the porous plate, the dividing strips can guide the airflow to flow along the channels between the dividing strips, making the airflow more delicate and evenly dispersed, making the discharge of the flare gas smoother. In addition, the provision of the dividing strips also helps to enhance the structural strength of the porous plate and improve its stability and durability during long-term use.

[0010] Preferably, the porous plate is provided with a vertically extending communication hole at the position of the dividing strip, with the bottom of the communication hole communicating with the space on both sides of the dividing strip. This prevents the airflow adhering to the dividing strip from continuing along the motion trajectory of the dividing strip and then passing over the outer end of the porous plate. This would prevent the airflow from being dispersed into multiple stable and uniform streams. This would not only affect the airflow distribution effect, but also may have an adverse effect on the airflow control of the entire system, preventing the airflow from being evenly distributed as expected, ultimately affecting the operating efficiency and stability of the system.

[0011] Preferably, a connecting ring is fixedly installed on the outer circumferential surface of the air inlet pipe near its bottom end, and a connecting sleeve is hinged on the connecting ring. A retaining ring with an outer diameter larger than the connecting ring is provided at the bottom of the connecting ring. The setting of the retaining ring will limit the connecting sleeve, thereby ensuring the stability and safety of the entire device. In the process of flare gas discharge, even in the face of a large airflow impact, the retaining ring will guide the airflow to the porous plate to prevent the airflow from being discharged from the gap between the connecting ring and the porous plate, thereby ensuring that the flare gas can always flow and disperse along the expected path.

[0012] Preferably, the connecting sleeve is T-shaped, the two ends of the connecting sleeve are hinged to the connecting ring, a circular hole is provided at the outer end of the connecting sleeve, and a connecting shaft that matches the circular hole is provided at the inner end of the porous plate. The matching relationship between the connecting shaft and the circular hole ensures the connection stability and flexibility between the porous plate and the connecting sleeve, so that the porous plate can be smoothly rotated and tilted when needed to meet the airflow dispersion requirements under different flare gas flow rates.

[0013] Preferably, the two porous plates in the same group are hinged via a rotating shaft.

[0014] Preferably, the sealing assembly includes an elastic cloth, with two sides of the elastic cloth connected to the edges of the two porous plates. The elastic cloth ensures a tight seal during relative rotation between the two porous plates, preventing flare gas from leaking through the gaps between the plates, thereby ensuring effective dispersion of the flare gas and stable operation of the system. Furthermore, the elastic cloth has a certain degree of elasticity, which can accommodate slight deformation of the porous plates during rotation, further enhancing the sealing effect.

[0015] Preferably, the connecting assembly includes a connecting rod, the bottom end of the connecting rod is connected to the outer end of the rotating shaft, and the other end is connected to the floating ring. The setting of the connecting rod realizes the linkage between the floating ring and the orifice plate group. When the liquid level rises, the floating ring will rise accordingly and pull the orifice plate group to rotate through the connecting rod, thereby realizing adaptive adjustment according to the flare gas flow rate. The design of the connecting rod is not only simple in structure, but also stable in connection, which can ensure that during the flare gas discharge process, the orifice plate group can rotate and tilt as expected to meet the airflow dispersion requirements under different flare gas flow rates.

[0016] Preferably, a foam collecting chamber is formed between the liquid surface, the floating ring and the annular orifice plate, and the gas in the foam collecting chamber is connected to the space above the liquid surface through the annular orifice plate. The setting of the foam collecting chamber can collect the fine foam generated when the flare gas passes through the porous plate, and gather the foam in the foam collecting chamber to prevent the foam from dispersing and affecting the uniformity and stability of the airflow. After these foams are gathered in the foam collecting chamber, the annular orifice plate will be used to defoam the foam, and the foam will be gradually released to the space above the liquid surface, mixed with the mainstream flare gas and discharged together, thereby ensuring the smooth discharge of the flare gas and the stable operation of the system.

[0017] Preferably, when the porous plate is in a horizontal state, the angle between the connecting rod and the air inlet pipe is greater than 30°, so as to prevent the air flow from diffusing outwards over the floating ring and being discharged outside the annular porous plate.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0019] 1. When the flare gas flow rate is low, the liquid level in the tank is precisely controlled to an appropriate level to ensure the perforated plate remains approximately horizontal. During this time, the flare gas is discharged from the inlet pipe, and the gas flow near the bottom gradually rises to the perforated plate. Passing through the perforated plate, the flare gas is effectively divided into multiple stable streams. These streams are then further dispersed by the annular perforated plate to ensure uniform and stable flow. When the flare gas flow rate increases significantly, the system injects an appropriate amount of water into the tank through the water supply pipe, causing the liquid level to rise accordingly. Simultaneously, the connecting assembly rotates the perforated plate relative to the tank, gradually reducing the angle between the plate and the tank and tilting the outer end of the plate upward. With this configuration, the majority of the gas flow flows diagonally upward along the perforated plate. As the gas flows along the perforated plate's surface, it is divided by the perforated plate's holes, effectively preventing concentration near the inlet pipe. In this way, the perforated plate evenly disperses the gas flow into multiple stable streams, which are then further processed by the annular perforated plate to ensure uniform and stable flow. These measures can effectively suppress noise problems caused by pulsed airflow impact and large flow rates, and prevent tank and pipeline vibration and internal surge caused by flare gas emission fluctuations, thereby ensuring the stable operation of the entire system.

[0020] 2. The angle between the connecting rod and the air inlet pipe is greater than 30°. In order to effectively prevent the airflow from passing over the floating ring during the flow process and then being discharged from the outside of the annular orifice plate, when the airflow smoothly enters the foam collecting chamber, a certain amount of foam will be generated due to the impact and mixing of the airflow. The floating ring can effectively concentrate the foam in the foam collecting chamber to prevent these foams wrapped in the flare gas from flowing out of the floating ring and bursting. If the foam bursts outside the floating ring, the airflow inside the foam will not be able to form a stable airflow, thereby affecting the combustion stability of the torch. In addition, when the foam layer gradually thickens and contacts the annular orifice plate, the annular orifice plate can not only play a role in defoaming, but also disperse the airflow into multiple stable small airflows. This dispersion effect helps to maintain the stability of the gas supply, avoids the unstable combustion of the torch caused by unstable airflow, and effectively reduces the vibration problem of the tank body caused by the impact of airflow, which can ensure the stability of the torch combustion and the safe operation of the entire device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional view of the present invention when the flare gas flow rate is low.

[0022] Figure 2 It is a cross-sectional view of the present invention when the flare gas flow rate is high.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the porous plate in the present invention when the flare gas flow rate is high.

[0024] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the enlarged structure at point A in the middle.

[0025] Figure 5 It is a top view of all the orifice plates in the present invention when combined.

[0026] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the bottom structure of the orifice plate group in the present invention.

[0027] Figure 7 It is a front view structural schematic diagram of the connecting ring in the present invention.

[0028] Reference numerals:

[0029] 1. Tank body; 2. Air inlet pipe; 21. Connecting ring; 211. Retaining ring; 22. Perforated plate; 221. Connecting shaft; 222. Connecting sleeve; 223. Elastic cloth; 224. Separating strip; 225. Connecting hole; 226. Rotating shaft; 23. Annular orifice plate; 231. Floating ring; 232. Connecting rod; 2321. Universal joint; 3. Air outlet pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to be used to explain the present invention, but should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0031] like Figure 1-Figure 7As shown, a water seal device for a flare includes a tank body 1. The tank body 1 is made of corrosion-resistant material and can effectively resist the erosion of corrosive gases generated by the combustion of the flare, thereby extending the service life of the device. A water supply pipe, a liquid level control drain valve group, a liquid level gauge, a thermometer and a pressure gauge are installed in the tank body 1 (the water supply pipe, the liquid level control drain valve group, the liquid level gauge, the thermometer and the pressure gauge are not shown in the figure). Water is supplied to the tank body 1 through the water supply pipe to ensure that a certain liquid level is always maintained in the tank body 1 to meet the sealing requirements of the flare. The water supply pipe is usually installed on the top or side of the tank body 1 for easy operation and maintenance, and the height of the liquid level in the tank body 1 is controlled by the liquid level control drain valve group. When the liquid level is too high, the valve group will automatically open to discharge excess water to keep the liquid level in the tank body 1 stable. The liquid level control drain valve group is installed on the side of the tank body 1 and cooperates with the liquid level gauge in the tank body 1 to achieve precise liquid level control. The liquid level gauge is used In order to monitor the liquid level in the tank body 1 in real time and provide the operator with intuitive liquid level information, the liquid level meter is installed on the side or top of the tank body 1 to facilitate observation and data recording. The thermometer is used to monitor the temperature in the tank body 1 in real time to ensure that the water seal tank operates within a preset temperature range. The thermometer is installed near the middle or top of the tank body 1 to obtain more accurate temperature data. The pressure gauge is used to detect the pressure in the tank body 1 in real time to prevent safety accidents caused by excessive pressure. The pressure gauge is installed on the side or top of the tank body 1. To ensure the safe operation of the device, the tank body 1 is also provided with a safety valve. The pressure gauge cooperates with the safety valve. When the pressure in the tank body 1 exceeds the set value, the safety valve automatically opens to release excess pressure and ensure the safe operation of the device. Through the coordinated work of these sensors, the key parameters in the tank body 1 can be fully and in real time to ensure the safe and stable operation of the flare water seal device.

[0032] An air inlet pipe 2 and an air outlet pipe 3 are respectively installed at both ends of the tank body 1. The air inlet pipe 2 and the air outlet pipe 3 are both arranged vertically. The bottom end of the air outlet pipe 3 is located above the liquid level, and the top end of the air outlet pipe 3 is connected to the flare device, so that the flare gas is transported from the tank body 1 to the flare device for combustion. A guide component is provided on the outside of the air inlet pipe 2 near its bottom end, and an annular orifice plate 23 is provided above the guide component. The top end of the air inlet pipe 2 extends to the top of the tank body 1, and the bottom end of the air inlet pipe 2 is located below the liquid level. When other equipment produces combustible flare gas, it enters the tank body 1 through the air inlet pipe 2. When the flare gas is discharged from the air inlet pipe 2, the flare gas rises through the guide component to form multiple stable airflows, and then passes through the annular orifice plate 23 to disperse the airflow again, thereby reducing the impact of pulsed airflow and the noise caused by large airflow.

[0033] The flow guide assembly consists of a connecting ring 21 and a plurality of orifice plates, wherein the connecting ring 21 is sleeved on the bottom of the air intake duct 2 and is tightly coupled to the bottom of the air intake duct 2 by means of bolt connection to ensure its stability. A retaining ring 211 having an outer diameter larger than that of the connecting ring 21 is fixedly connected to the bottom coaxial position of the connecting ring 21. The bottom surface of the retaining ring 211 is a conical structure to better guide the airflow. The porous plate 22 is fan-shaped, and its inner end is separated by a notch. A connecting shaft 221 along the radial direction of the porous plate 22 is fixed in the notch. A connecting sleeve 222 is sleeved on the connecting shaft 221, so that the connecting shaft 221 can not only slide but also be rotatably installed. The two ends of the connecting sleeve 222 are respectively rotatably connected to the connecting ring 21, so that The porous plates 22 can be flexibly rotated in the up and down directions. The porous plates 22 are combined in groups of two. The adjacent sides of the porous plates 22 in the same group are hinged by a rotating shaft 226 to ensure that they can be flexibly opened and closed during use. In addition, a piece of elastic cloth 223 is connected to the edge between two adjacent groups of porous plates 22. The elastic cloth 223 can limit the position between multiple groups of porous plates 22, and enhance the overall sealing of the guide assembly. It can also buffer the impact of the airflow on the porous plates 22 to a certain extent, thereby extending the service life of the assembly.

[0034] A connecting assembly is installed between the porous plate 22 and the annular orifice plate 23. The main function of this connecting assembly is to control the relative rotation between the two porous plates 22 in the same group. The connecting assembly not only ensures a stable connection between the porous plate 22 and the annular orifice plate 23, but also can adjust the angle of the porous plate 22 according to the flow rate of the flare gas. The outer ring portion of the annular orifice plate 23 is coaxially fixed with a floating ring 231. There is a height difference between the bottom end of the floating ring 231 and the bottom end of the annular orifice plate 23. The material and structural design of the floating ring 231 make its density much lower than the density of water. For example, the floating ring 231 can be made of a hollow ring structure made of plastic. Due to its low density, the floating ring 231 can float freely on the liquid surface and will not sink into the liquid. Therefore, the annular orifice plate 23, supported by the floating ring 231, can be slightly above the liquid surface, maintaining an appropriate height difference, thereby ensuring that its function and effect in practical application are optimally exerted, thereby defoaming the foam on the liquid surface.

[0035] When the flow rate of the flare gas discharged from the air inlet pipe 2 is small, the liquid level is adjusted to an appropriate height through the liquid level control drain valve group. At this time, the porous plate 22 is basically horizontal. When the flare gas is discharged from the air inlet pipe 2, the air flow near the bottom of the air inlet pipe 2 is guided by the retaining ring 211 and introduced into the porous plate 22, thereby preventing the gas from being discharged from the gap between the porous plate 22 and the connecting ring 21. After passing through the porous plate 22, the flare gas is dispersed into multiple stable air flows, and then passes through the annular orifice plate 23 to further disperse the air flow. When the flow rate of the flare gas discharged from the air inlet pipe 2 increases, water is added to the tank body 1 through the water supply pipe, and the liquid level control drain valve group increases the liquid level. At the same time, the connecting group The component causes the outer end of the connecting shaft 221 to move upward, thereby causing the porous plate 22 to rotate relative to each other, reducing the angle between the two, and causing the outer end of the porous plate 22 to tilt upward. At this time, the airflow moves obliquely upward along the direction of the porous plate 22. As the airflow flows along the porous plate 22, the airflow passes through the holes on the porous plate 22 to complete the diversion, thereby avoiding the airflow from concentrating at a position close to the air inlet pipe 2. The airflow is evenly dispersed into multiple stable airflows by the porous plate 22, and then further dispersed through the annular orifice plate 23, thereby avoiding the occurrence of pulsed airflow impact and noise caused by large airflow, resulting in vibration of the tank body 1 and the pipeline and internal surge caused by fluctuations in flare gas emissions.

[0036] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, a plurality of dividing strips 224 are arranged on the bottom surface of the porous plate 22 in its radial direction, and the dividing strips 224 are fixedly connected to the porous plate 22. The dividing strips 224 are evenly distributed to form an orderly guiding structure. On the surface of the porous plate 22, along the position direction of these dividing strips 224, a plurality of rows of connecting holes 225 that pass through the top and bottom are opened, and the bottoms of these connecting holes 225 are connected with the spaces on both sides of the dividing strips 224. When the porous plate 22 is in an inclined state, the airflow will flow smoothly along the preset direction of the dividing strip 224. This design effectively avoids the airflow from gathering at the bend of the two porous plates 22, ensuring the uniform distribution of the airflow. At the same time, in the process of the airflow flowing along the dividing strip 224, a part of the airflow will be cleverly diverted into the connecting hole 225. This diversion mechanism enables the airflow to pass through the porous plate 22 smoothly, avoiding the situation where the airflow only moves along the dividing strip 224 and passes over the outer end of the porous plate 22. This design ensures that the airflow will not be unable to be effectively dispersed due to the movement of a single path, thereby achieving the goal of dispersing the airflow into multiple stable airflows, thereby improving the uniformity and reliability of the airflow distribution.

[0037] The connecting assembly is composed of a plurality of connecting rods 232, which are evenly arranged in a circular array centered on the axis of the air intake duct 2. The top end of each connecting rod 232 is fixed to the bottom of the floating ring 231 by a hinge, while its bottom end is hinged to the outer end of the rotating shaft 226 via a universal joint 2321. The annular orifice plate 23 is supported by the floating ring 231 and suspended above the liquid surface. A foam collecting chamber is formed between the liquid surface, the floating ring 231 and the annular orifice plate 23. When the porous plate 22 is in a horizontal state, the angle between the connecting rod 232 and the air intake duct 2 is designed to be greater than 30°. This design can effectively prevent the airflow from directly passing over the floating ring 231, thereby ensuring that the airflow will not be discharged from outside the annular orifice plate 23. When airflow enters the foam collecting chamber, it produces a large amount of foam. The main function of floating ring 231 is to concentrate this foam within the foam collecting chamber, preventing the foam enveloping the flare gas from flowing outside floating ring 231 and bursting. This would prevent the airflow within from forming a stable flow, thus affecting the stable combustion of the flare. At the same time, as the foam layer gradually thickens and contacts the annular orifice plate 23, the annular orifice plate 23 acts as a defoamer, breaking up the foam and dispersing the airflow into multiple stable streams. This maintains a uniform and stable air delivery process, effectively avoiding unstable flare combustion caused by unstable airflow and the resulting vibration of the tank body 1.

[0038] Working principle:

[0039] When the flare system generates combustible flare gas, it enters the tank body 1 through the air inlet pipe 2. First, the flare gas encounters the baffle ring 211. The conical bottom surface of the baffle ring 211 guides the flare gas to the porous plate 22. When the flare gas flow rate is low, the porous plate 22 remains essentially horizontal. After passing through the porous plate 22, the flare gas is dispersed into multiple stable airflows. The dividing strips 224 and connecting holes 225 on the porous plate 22 ensure that the airflow is evenly dispersed, preventing the airflow from converging at the bend between the two porous plates 22. Subsequently, these dispersed airflows are further dispersed through the annular orifice plate 23, thereby reducing the impact of pulsed airflow and the noise caused by large airflows.

[0040] When the flare gas flow increases, the liquid level control valve assembly adjusts the liquid level, and floating ring 231 rises with the liquid. Because floating ring 231 is connected to the orifice plate assembly via a connecting assembly, the rising floating ring 231 pulls the outer center of the orifice plate assembly upward via connecting rod 232, reducing the angle between the two porous plates 22 and tilting the outer ends of the porous plates 22 upward. At this point, the airflow moves diagonally upward along the porous plates 22. As the airflow flows along the porous plates 22, it is diverted through the connecting holes 225 in the porous plates 22, preventing airflow from concentrating near the inlet pipe 2 and further reducing the impact and noise of pulsed airflow.

[0041] Furthermore, the foam collection chamber is designed to collect foam generated by the incoming airflow. The floating ring 231 concentrates the foam within the chamber, preventing it from flowing outside the floating ring 231 and rupturing, which could lead to unstable flare combustion. When the foam layer thickens and contacts the annular orifice plate 23, the plate acts to eliminate the foam while simultaneously dispersing the airflow into multiple, stable streams, maintaining a stable air delivery state.

[0042] Flare system workflow:

[0043] S1. In the process flow, the waste gas generated is first guided into the separator tank. In the separator tank, the waste gas settles by gravity, or uses the principle of cyclone separation to effectively remove the liquid hydrocarbons, water and other impurities entrained in it. The main purpose of this treatment process is to prevent these liquid impurities from entering the flare system with the gas, because the mixing of liquid may cause unstable flare combustion and even cause dangerous "fire rain" phenomenon, thereby ensuring the safe operation of the entire flare system.

[0044] S2. The gas processed by the separator has had most of its liquid impurities removed, forming a relatively pure flare gas. This flare gas then enters the water seal tank for further pretreatment. Inside the water seal tank, the flare gas enters through a dedicated air inlet pipe 2. This design effectively blocks the risk of flashback and ensures system safety. Simultaneously, the airflow moves diagonally upward along the porous plate 22 within the tank. During this process, the airflow is diverted through the small holes in the porous plate 22. This design avoids airflow concentration near the air inlet pipe 2, and instead, the porous plate 22 evenly disperses the airflow into multiple stable streams, thereby ensuring uniform and stable flare combustion.

[0045] S3. Before starting the flare system, the flare barrel and its connected pipes must be thoroughly replaced. Usually, nitrogen or steam is used as the replacement medium to replace the air in the barrel and pipes to ensure that the oxygen content is reduced to below 0.5% (volume fraction). This step is crucial because excessive oxygen content may lead to explosion risks. Through strict oxygen content control, explosion accidents can be effectively prevented and the safe operation of the entire system is guaranteed.

[0046] S4. When the exhaust gas pressure reaches a pre-set threshold, the system's PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) receives a signal from the pressure transmitter. At this point, the PLC automatically initiates the ignition sequence according to pre-set program logic. This automated control process ensures the flare system ignites at the appropriate time, allowing for timely exhaust gas processing. This avoids safety hazards caused by excessive pressure and improves system operational efficiency and safety.

[0047] S5. After the flare is ignited, the flare gas burns steadily within the flare barrel, dissipating the heat into the atmosphere through the barrel. To ensure stable flare combustion, the flare system is equipped with a flame detection device that monitors the flare's combustion status in real time. If the system detects flame extinction or unstable combustion, it immediately issues an alarm and takes appropriate emergency measures, such as automatically restarting the ignition sequence or closing the air intake valve, to prevent unburned gas from escaping into the atmosphere and potentially causing environmental pollution or safety hazards.

[0048] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it will be understood that the above embodiments are illustrative and are not to be construed as limitations on the present invention. A person skilled in the art may change, modify, replace and modify the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water seal device for a flare, comprising a tank body (1), one end of the tank body (1) being connected to an air inlet pipe (2), the bottom end of the air inlet pipe (2) being located below the liquid level in the tank body (1), and the other end of the tank body (1) being connected to an air outlet pipe (3), characterized in that: The air intake pipe (2) is provided with a plurality of orifice plate groups, and the orifice plate groups are arranged in a circular pattern around the axis of the air intake pipe (2). Each orifice plate group is composed of two fan-shaped porous plates (22) hingedly connected to each other. The inner end of the porous plate (22) is provided with a connecting sleeve (222) connected thereto in a sliding and rotatable manner, and the connecting sleeve (222) is hingedly connected to the air intake pipe (2). A sealing component is connected between each two adjacent orifice plate groups. An annular orifice plate (23) is provided above the porous plate (22). The orifice plate (23) is mounted on the air inlet pipe (2) in a manner that it slides up and down. A floating ring (231) is provided at the outer ring of the annular orifice plate (23), thereby keeping the annular orifice plate (23) above the liquid level. A connecting assembly is installed between the floating ring (231) and the orifice plate group. When the liquid level rises, the floating ring (231) pulls the middle of the outer end of the orifice plate group upward through the connecting assembly, thereby reducing the angle between the two porous plates (22) and causing the outer end of the porous plate (22) to tilt upward.

2. The torch water seal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of dividing strips (224) are provided on the bottom surface of the porous plate (22) along its radial direction.

3. The torch water seal device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A communication hole (225) extending vertically is provided on the porous plate (22) along the position of the partition bar (224), and the bottom of the communication hole (225) is connected to the space on both sides of the partition bar (224).

4. The torch water seal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A connecting ring (21) is fixedly mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the air intake pipe (2) near its bottom end, a connecting sleeve (222) is hingedly connected to the connecting ring (21), and a retaining ring (211) having an outer diameter greater than that of the connecting ring (21) is provided at the bottom of the connecting ring (21).

5. The torch water seal device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The connecting sleeve (222) is T-shaped, and both ends of the connecting sleeve (222) are hinged to the connecting ring (21). A circular hole is provided at the outer end of the connecting sleeve (222), and a connecting shaft (221) adapted to the circular hole is provided at the inner end of the porous plate (22).

6. The water seal device for a flare according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two porous plates (22) in the same group are hinged via a rotating shaft (226).

7. The torch water seal device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The sealing assembly comprises an elastic cloth (223), and two sides of the elastic cloth (223) are respectively connected to the edges of the two porous plates (22).

8. The torch water seal device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The connecting assembly comprises a connecting rod (232), the bottom end of the connecting rod (232) is connected to the outer end of the rotating shaft (226), and the other end is connected to the floating ring (231).

9. The flare water seal device according to claim 8, characterized in that: A foam collecting chamber is formed between the liquid surface, the floating ring (231) and the annular orifice plate (23), and the gas in the foam collecting chamber is communicated with the space above the liquid surface through the annular orifice plate (23).

10. The flare water seal device according to claim 8, characterized in that: When the porous plate (22) is in a horizontal state, the angle between the connecting rod (232) and the air intake pipe (2) is greater than 30°.

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