Floating flare system

Abstract

The present invention provides a floating flare system. A floating flare system capable of receiving and burning a combustion target from one or more marine structures may include a floating body provided as a structure floating on the sea; and a flare tower installed on the floating body.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a floating flare system, and more specifically, to a floating flare system installed at sea. Background Technology

[0002] Flare systems are installed on offshore structures such as FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) or FLNG (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas).

[0003] A flare system refers to a series of large-scale facilities that collect combustible material through a flare line and burn it at the flare tip at the top of a flare tower to release it into the atmosphere. A flare tower is a structure that supports the flare line.

[0004] Flare systems require designs that ensure the safety of workers within offshore structures, such as installing them on the outer perimeter of the structure and manufacturing them above a certain height. Flare systems can also affect the overall structure of the offshore structure, which causes the design and manufacturing periods of the offshore structure to increase.

[0005] In addition, since each offshore structure is equipped with a flare system, there is a problem that individual design of the flare system tailored to the structure of the offshore structure is required and reuse is difficult. The problem to be solved

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the aforementioned problem and has one objective of providing a floating flare system comprising a floating flare tower that can be connected to a plurality of marine structures.

[0007] In addition, the present invention has the objective of providing a floating flare system that can increase facility safety by installing the flare tower separately from the marine structure without installing it on the marine structure.

[0008] In addition, the present invention has one objective of providing a floating flare system comprising a floating flare tower that is easy to install and move and is reusable.

[0009] The objectives of the present invention are not limited thereto, and other unmentioned objectives will be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0010] The present invention provides a floating flare system. A floating flare system capable of receiving and burning a combustion target from one or more marine structures may include a floating body provided as a structure floating on the sea; and a flare tower installed on the floating body.

[0011] In one embodiment, the flare tower comprises: a flare tip provided at the top of the flare tower to burn the target for combustion; a flare line for transporting the target for combustion to the flare tip; and a gas control unit installed on the supply path of the target for combustion to regulate the selective transport of the target for combustion to the flare line; wherein the gas control unit comprises one or more flow paths for transporting the target for combustion through different supply paths and may be configured to selectively block the transport of the target for combustion to the flare line.

[0012] In one embodiment, the gas control unit includes an opening / closing means capable of opening and closing the flow path, and by opening and closing the flow path, the flow path and the flare line can be selectively connected.

[0013] In one embodiment, the gas control unit can operate to selectively open or close the flow path by detecting the flow rate or pressure of the combustion target on the flow path.

[0014] In one embodiment, the flow paths are provided in plurality, and the gas control unit may operate to sequentially open the flow path with the highest flow rate or pressure of the combustion target among the plurality of flow paths when the combustion target is supplied to the plurality of flow paths simultaneously.

[0015] In one embodiment, the diameter of the passage of the flare line may be provided to be larger than the diameter of the passage of the flow path. Effects of the invention

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by providing a flare system that can be connected to a plurality of marine structures, the marine structure facilities can be simplified and the construction period shortened.

[0017] In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the flare tower is installed separately from the marine structure rather than on the marine structure, thereby increasing the safety of the facility.

[0018] In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a flare tower that is easy to install and move and is reusable can be provided.

[0019] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above. Unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the accompanying drawings. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a floating flare system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the flare tower of Figure 1. FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment in which the gas control unit of FIG. 2 operates. The various features and benefits of the non-limiting embodiments of this specification may become more apparent from a review of the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the claims. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the accompanying drawings are not to be drawn to scale. For clarity, various dimensions in the drawings may be exaggerated. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0021] Other advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will become clear by referring to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Even if not defined, all terms used herein (including technical or scientific terms) have the same meaning as generally accepted by the general art in the prior art to which this invention belongs. General descriptions of known configurations may be omitted to avoid obscuring the essence of the present invention. In the drawings of the present invention, identical or corresponding configurations are given the same reference numerals whenever possible. To aid in understanding the present invention, some configurations in the drawings may be depicted in a somewhat exaggerated or reduced manner.

[0022] The present invention relates to a floating flare system comprising a floating flare tower capable of receiving combustion targets from a plurality of marine structures and performing flaring. The present invention provides a floating flare system that enables the safety and simplification of facilities for marine structures and flare towers by allowing a plurality of marine structures to share a single floating flare tower installed separately from the marine structures. Furthermore, the present invention provides a floating flare system comprising a floating flare tower that is convenient for installation and movement and is reusable.

[0023] A flare tip is provided at the top of the flare line. An ignition source for ignition is installed around the flare tip. The ignition source operates frequently to facilitate the smooth combustion of flammable materials.

[0024] Hereinafter, a floating flare system (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a floating flare system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] The floating flare system (10) includes a floating flare tower (100). The floating flare tower (100) can be connected from an offshore structure (200) via a gas supply line (210) described later.

[0027] The offshore structure (200) may be a facility located offshore that drills and produces crude oil or gas buried on the seabed. The offshore structure (200) may include, for example, a drilling vessel, a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO), etc.

[0028] The marine structure (200) includes a gas supply line (210). The gas supply line (210) is connected to a flare tower (120) via a Euro (144) described later, and can supply a combustion target to the flare tower (120). The flare tower (120) can be connected to a plurality of marine structures (200). Each of the plurality of marine structures (200) can deliver a combustion target to the flare tower (120) via the gas supply line (210).

[0029] A floating flare tower (100) can incinerate a combustion target received from an offshore structure (200) through a gas supply line (210). The floating flare tower (100) can be positioned near an offshore structure (200) so as to receive a combustion target from the offshore structure (200) through the gas supply line (210). For example, if multiple offshore structures (200) are provided, the floating flare tower (100) can be positioned at a location where the total length of the gas supply line (210) is minimized by considering the total length of the gas supply line (210) connected to each of the multiple offshore structures (200).

[0030] A floating flare tower (100) includes a floating body (110) and a flare tower (120). The floating body (110) is a structure that supports the flare tower (120). The floating body (110) may be a structure that has buoyancy to float on the sea. The upper surface of the floating body (110) may be provided flat so that the flare tower (120) can be installed. The floating body (110) may include a mooring system (112) that can moor the floating body (110) by restricting movement or fixing its position. The mooring system (112) may use, for example, a driven pile, a suction pile, a drag anchor, a drop anchor, or a torpedo anchor. The floating body (110) may be connected to the seabed through the mooring system (112).

[0031] The flare tower (120) burns the combustion target. The combustion target may be a gaseous, liquid, or gaseous-liquid mixture. For example, the combustion target may be low-marketability natural gas, low-marketability crude oil, or by-products generated during the process of refining natural gas or crude oil.

[0032] The flare tower (120) includes a body (130) and a gas control unit (140).

[0033] The body (130) forms the frame of the flare tower (120). Inside the body (130), a flare line (132) is provided to transport a combustion target to a flare tip (134) at the top of the flare tower (120) (opposite side of the floating body (110)). Although not shown in the drawing, the body (130) may further include a truss structure, etc., on the outside of the flare line (132) to reinforce structural strength. The combustion target is transported to the top of the flare tower (120) via the flare line (132) by the pressure of the combustion target supplied to the flare tower (120) from the outside of the flare tower (120), and then combusted at the flare tip (134) at the top of the flare tower (120). The body (130) may be equipped with a device such as a burner that combusts gas released into the atmosphere. The process of gas combustion at the flare tip (134) at the top of the flare tower (120) and the related configuration are well known technologies, so a detailed description is omitted.

[0034] A gas control unit (140) is installed on the supply path of a combustion target and selectively transfers the supplied combustion target to the flare line (132). The gas control unit (140) can selectively open and close the supply path of the combustion target to control the selective transfer of the combustion target to the flare line (132). For example, the gas control unit (140) is connected to the gas supply line (210) and the flare line (132) of the marine structure (200) to transfer the combustion target supplied through the gas supply line (210) to the flare line (132). The gas control unit (140) is installed on the path through which the combustion target supplied from the gas supply line (210) moves to the flare line (132). The gas control unit (140) is positioned upstream of the flare line (132) along the supply path of the combustion target. The gas control unit (140) can control the opening and closing of the supply path between the gas supply line (210) and the flare line (132) so that a specific gas supply line (210) among a plurality of gas supply lines (210) connected to the gas control unit (140) can deliver a combustion target to the flare line (132).

[0035] Although not shown in the drawing, the floating flare system (10) includes a controller that controls the configuration of the flare tower (120). The controller may be provided with a process controller consisting of a microprocessor (computer) that executes the control of the flare tower (120), and a memory unit that stores a control program for executing processing in the flare tower (120) under the control of the process controller, or a program for executing processing in each configuration of the flare tower (120) according to various data and processing conditions.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the flare tower of FIG. 1. With further reference to FIG. 2, the gas control unit (140) will be described in detail.

[0037] The gas control unit (140) includes a connection part (142), a flow path (144), and an opening / closing means (146). The connection part (142) and the flow path (144) are provided as passages through which a combustion target moves. The combustion target is transferred from the gas supply line (210) through the flow path (144) and the connection part (142) sequentially to the flare line (132), and can be transferred to the flare tip (134) through the flare line (132) to be combusted.

[0038] The connecting part (142) can connect the Euro (144) and the flare line (132). The Euro (144) is connected to one end of the connecting part (142), and the flare line (132) is connected to the other end. The connecting part (142) and the Euro (144) are separated by an opening / closing means (146).

[0039] The Euro (144) receives a combustion target through a supply path connected to a gas supply line (210) and transports the received combustion target to a connection part (142) and a flare line (132). One end of the Euro (144) is connected to the connection part (142), and the other end of the Euro (144) is connected to the gas supply line (210) of the marine structure (200). The Euro (144) may be provided in multiple numbers. Multiple Euros (144) may receive a combustion target through different supply paths. For example, multiple Euros (144) may each be provided to correspond to one gas supply line (210) and may receive a combustion target from the marine structure (200) and transport it to the connection part (142) and the flare line (132). An opening / closing means (146) for opening and closing the passage of the flow path (144) is installed on the flow path (144) so ​​that the combustion target supplied to the flow path (144) can be selectively blocked from being transferred to the connecting part (142) and the flare line (132). The opening / closing means (146) can selectively connect the flow path (144) and the flare line (132) by opening and closing the flow path (144). The opening / closing means (146) may be a known configuration capable of selectively opening and closing the flow path, such as a valve, a damper, or a shutter.

[0040] For convenience of explanation, FIG. 2 is illustrated as having a gas control unit (140) that includes four flow paths (144a, 144b, 144c, 144d), and the four flow paths (144a, 144b, 144c, 144d) are referred to as the first flow path (144a), the second flow path (144b), the third flow path (144c), and the fourth flow path (144d), respectively. Four flow paths (144a, 144b, 144c, 144d) are illustrated as being connected to gas supply lines (210a, 210b, 210c, 210d), and each gas supply line (210a, 210b, 210c, 210d) is referred to for convenience as the first gas supply line (210a), the second gas supply line (210b), the third gas supply line (210c), and the fourth gas supply line (210d). However, this is not limited thereto, and the number of flow paths (144) of the gas control unit (140) and the number of gas supply lines (210) connected thereto may be freely changed.

[0041] The opening / closing means (146) can selectively open or close the flow path (144) according to the flow rate or pressure of the combustion target passing through the flow path (144). A sensing means (not shown), such as a sensor capable of detecting the flow rate or pressure of the combustion target passing through the flow path (144), may be installed in the flow path (144).

[0042] Apart from the opening and closing of the flow path (144) in the gas control unit (140) using the opening and closing means (146), each gas supply line (210) further includes a valve (212) to control the flow rate of the combustion target supplied to the flow path (144).

[0043] Since the flare tower (120) has an upper limit on the throughput or pressure of the combustion target that can be processed per unit time, when the combustion target is transported simultaneously through multiple flow paths (144), it is necessary to adjust the flow rate or pressure of the combustion target delivered to the flare line (132).

[0044] The opening / closing means (146) detects the flow rate or pressure of the combustion target on the flow path (144) and selectively opens / closes the flow path (144).

[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 2, an opening / closing means (146) for opening / closing the flow path (144) is provided, and each opening / closing means (146) detects the flow rate or pressure of the combustion target supplied to the flow path (144) and selectively opens / closes the flow path (144), thereby allowing the flare line (132) and the flare tip (134) to be selectively connected to the gas supply line (210) and the flow rate or pressure of the combustion target transported to the flare line (132) and the flare tip (134) to be controlled. That is, the gas control unit (140) can selectively connect the flare line (132) and the gas supply line (210) through the opening / closing means (146).

[0046] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, when a combustion target is supplied simultaneously through a first flow path (144a) and a third flow path (144c), the gas control unit (140) detects at least one of the flow rate or pressure of the combustion target within the corresponding first flow path (144a) and third flow path (144c) through a sensing means (not shown), and can open one flow path (144), such as the first flow path (144a), which has the largest flow rate or pressure, to transfer the combustion target supplied to the first flow path (144a) to the flare tip (134). At this time, the third flow path (144c) may be closed.

[0047] When combustion targets are transported simultaneously through the Euro (144), if the sum of the flow rate or pressure of the combustion targets supplied from the plurality of Euros (144) is within the upper limit of the throughput or pressure limit of the combustion targets that the flare tower (120) can process (incinerate) per unit time, then combustion targets can be supplied simultaneously from the plurality of Euros (144) to the flare tip (134) through the flare line (132).

[0048] If the sum of the flow rate or pressure of the combustion target supplied from the plurality of flow paths (144) exceeds the upper limit of the processing volume or pressure of the combustion target that the flare tower (120) can process (incinerate) per unit time, only some of the flow paths (144) among the plurality of flow paths (144) may be opened and some of the flow paths (144) may be closed. For example, when combustion targets are simultaneously supplied from the plurality of gas supply lines (210) to the flare tower (120), the opening / closing means (146) is operated to open the flow path (144) with the highest flow rate or pressure of the combustion target among the plurality of gas supply lines (210) and to close the remaining flow paths (144). The gas control unit (140) may operate each opening / closing means (146) to sequentially open the flow paths (144) in order of the highest flow rate or pressure of the combustion target among the plurality of gas supply lines (210). At this time, if the flow rate or pressure of the combustion target supplied to the plurality of flow paths (144) is the same, the plurality of flow paths (144) can be opened simultaneously, and the combustion target can be transported simultaneously to the flare line (132) from the gas supply line (210) connected to each of the plurality of flow paths (144).

[0049] Even if combustion targets are simultaneously supplied to the flare line (132) from multiple Euros (144), the diameter (D1) of the passage of the flare line (132) can be provided to be larger than the diameter (D2) of the passage of the Euro (144) so ​​that the combustion targets can be transported to the flare tip (134).

[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment in which the gas control unit of FIG. 2 operates. Referring further to FIG. 3, when a combustion target is supplied simultaneously through the first flow path (144a) and the third flow path (144c), the gas control unit (140) can operate by simultaneously opening the first flow path (144a) and the third flow path (144c) so that the combustion target is supplied simultaneously from the first flow path (144a) and the third flow path (144c) to the flare line (132).

[0051] A floating flare tower (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention is a separate structure capable of receiving and incinerating a combustion target from an offshore structure (200) through a gas supply line (210). Therefore, unlike a conventional flare tower installed on an offshore structure (200), the flare tower (120) is not installed on the offshore structure (200) but is installed on a floating body (110) separated from the offshore structure (200), thereby increasing the safety of the equipment of the offshore structure (200).

[0052] In addition, the floating flare system (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to include a plurality of channels (144) so ​​that one floating flare tower (100) can be connected to a plurality of marine structures (200), and is arranged to incinerate combustion targets generated from a plurality of marine structures (200). Therefore, as one floating flare tower (100) is installed, the installation of flare towers in a plurality of marine structures (200) becomes unnecessary, thereby simplifying the marine structures (200) facilities and shortening the design and construction periods.

[0053] In addition, since the flare tower (120) is installed on the floating body (110) separately from the marine structure (200), there is no need to design the marine structure (200) with consideration for the safety environment of workers, such as placing the flare tower on the outer edge of the marine structure (200). Furthermore, since the flare tower (120) exists independently and the frequency of workers approaching nearby is reduced, the height of the flare tower (120) can be manufactured low, thereby simplifying the equipment and shortening the design and construction periods.

[0054] In addition, the floating flare tower (100) is configured to float on the sea and its position is fixed by a mooring system (112), so unlike a flare tower installed on a conventional offshore structure (200), it has the advantage of being easy to install and move and reusable.

[0055] The above embodiments are provided to aid in understanding the present invention and do not limit the scope of the invention; it should be understood that various modified embodiments derived therefrom also fall within the scope of the present invention. The technical scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the technical concept of the patent claims, and it should be understood that the technical scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the literal description of the patent claims themselves, but extends substantially to inventions of equivalent technical value. Explanation of the symbols

[0056] 10: Floating Flare System 100: Floating Flare Tower 110: Floating Body 120: Flare Tower 130: Body 132: Flare line 134: Flare tip 140: Gas control unit 142: Connection 144: Euro 146: Opening and closing means

Claims

Claim 1 A floating flare system capable of receiving and burning a combustion target from one or more marine structures, comprising: a floating body provided as a structure floating on the sea; and a flare tower installed on the floating body. Claim 2 A floating flare system according to claim 1, wherein the flare tower comprises: a flare tip provided at the top of the flare tower for burning the combustion target; a flare line for transporting the combustion target to the flare tip; and a gas control unit installed on the supply path of the combustion target to regulate the selective transport of the combustion target to the flare line; wherein the gas control unit comprises one or more flow paths for transporting the combustion target through different supply paths and is configured to selectively block the transport of the combustion target to the flare line. Claim 3 In paragraph 2, the gas control unit includes an opening / closing means capable of opening / closing the flow path, and selectively connects the flow path and the flare line by opening / closing the flow path, a floating flare system. Claim 4 In paragraph 3, the gas control unit is a floating flare system that operates to selectively open or close the flow path by detecting the flow rate or pressure of the combustion target on the flow path. Claim 5 In paragraph 4, the above-mentioned flow paths are provided in plurality, and the gas control unit is a floating flare system that operates to sequentially open the flow path with the highest flow rate or pressure of the combustion target among the plurality of flow paths when the combustion target is supplied simultaneously to the plurality of flow paths. Claim 6 In paragraph 2, a floating flare system, wherein the diameter of the passage of the flare line is provided to be larger than the diameter of the passage of the flow path.

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