Liquid Flare Burner Fallout Measurement for Near- and Far-Field Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tools for combustion efficiency monitoring are inadequate for open-atmosphere flare burners, and prior implementations struggle with measuring near-field and far-field fallout from liquid flare burners, especially during transition intervals, leading to inaccurate pollution measurements.

Innovation Solution

A fallout controller system that includes heat-resistant and non-heat-resistant measurement surfaces in designated regions to capture near-field and far-field fallout, using control valves and actuators to isolate hydrocarbon sources during transition intervals, and calculates fallout efficiency to adjust burner configurations for improved combustion efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional tools are used for combustion efficiency monitoring, then the monitoring process is simple, but the measurement accuracy of near-field and far-field fallout is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefallout measurement accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system is segmented into multiple specialized components: near-field fallout collectors positioned close to the burner, far-field fallout collectors positioned at distance, control valves for fluid isolation, and actuators for transition interval management. Each segment performs a specific measurement function, collectively achieving comprehensive fallout measurement accuracy while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If measurement surfaces are continuously exposed to capture fallout, then fallout measurement completeness is improved, but contamination during transition intervals increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefallout measurement completenessVSAvoidcontamination during transition intervals

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Control valves are activated before transition intervals begin to isolate measurement surfaces from the burner outlet. This preliminary action prevents test fluids and unburned hydrocarbons from contaminating the measurement surfaces during transition operations, ensuring that subsequent fallout measurements reflect only actual combustion performance rather than transition interval artifacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses actuators to monitor burner state and provide feedback control for valve actuation. When transition intervals are detected or initiated, the feedback mechanism triggers valve closure to protect measurement surfaces, and subsequently triggers valve opening when normal operation resumes, ensuring measurement surfaces are exposed only during relevant combustion phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If test fluids are used during transition intervals, then burner stability is improved, but fallout measurement accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveburner stability during transitionVSAvoidfallout measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts test fluid fallout from the measurement process by using control valves to isolate measurement surfaces during transition intervals when test fluids are introduced. This separation allows test fluids to be used for burner stabilization without their fallout contaminating the measurement surfaces, thereby maintaining both burner stability during transitions and measurement accuracy during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system provides accurate measurements of near-field and far-field fallout, reducing pollution by adjusting flare burner configurations based on efficiency thresholds, enhancing combustion efficiency and minimizing unburned droplet fallout.

Implementation Method 1

first measurement surfaces in a first measurement region and second measurement surfaces in a second measurement region, a parameter calculator to calculate a first fallout volume associated with the unburned fallout droplets captured by the first measurement surfaces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeposition: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12461006B2Apparatus and method to measure flare burner fallout

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to measure fallout from a liquid flare burner. An example apparatus includes a device configurator to invoke a first control valve to isolate the liquid flare burner from a test fluid source, and invoke a second control valve to fluidly couple the liquid flare burner to a hydrocarbon source to generate unburned fallout droplets to be captured by first and second measurement surfaces in first and second measurement regions, a parameter calculator to calculate first and second fallout volumes associated with the unburned fallout droplets captured by the first and second measurement surfaces, and determine a fallout efficiency of the liquid flare burner based on the first and second fallout volumes, and a burner configurator to, in response to the fallout efficiency not satisfying a fallout efficiency threshold, adjust a configuration of the liquid flare burner based on the fallout efficiency.