Pyrophoric Liquid Ignition for Flare Tips in Cold Weather
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flare tips in gas combustion devices often extinguish during routine use, particularly in cold weather, and existing mechanisms struggle to reliably maintain a flame at low temperatures, leading to potential environmental hazards from unburned gases.
Innovation Solution
A flare ignition system utilizing a pyrophoric liquid, which spontaneously ignites upon exposure to air, is used to create a flame that ignites a pilot burner, ensuring the combustion of combustible waste gases, even in cold conditions, through a pyrophoric liquid storage unit, injection system, and flame monitoring detector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional lighting mechanisms are used for flare tips, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but the flame extinguishes during routine use especially in cold weather
Solution Approach 1:
The pyrophoric liquid automatically ignites upon contact with air without requiring external ignition sources, making the system self-igniting and eliminating the need for complex external lighting mechanisms while ensuring reliable flame stability even in cold weather conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing lighting mechanisms are used, then the device structure is simple, but the mechanism seizes and fails to re-light the flame in cold weather
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical ignition systems that are prone to seizing in cold weather with a chemical ignition system using pyrophoric liquid that ignites spontaneously upon air contact, eliminating mechanical components that can fail due to cold temperature effects
3Reliability
If pyrophoric liquid is used for ignition, then the flame remains stable in cold temperatures, but the system becomes more complex with additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The pyrophoric liquid system requires minimal operational intervention as it automatically ignites upon contact with air, eliminating the need for manual lighting operations and maintaining simplicity in ease of operation while achieving reliable flame stability in cold weather
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 effectively maintains a stable flame at temperatures as low as -40°C, ensuring efficient combustion of waste gases and preventing environmental pollution by reliably igniting flare tips and pilot burners, thus addressing the issue of flame extinguishment in cold temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
exposing at least one pyrophoric liquid to air to create a flame
Implementation Method 2
contacting the flame with a pilot gas in the presence of a pilot burner to thereby ignite the pilot burner
Implementation Method 3
exposing the combustible waste gas to the ignited pilot burner, thereby burning the combustible waste gas
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are methods and systems for using pyrophoric liquids to ignite combustible gas.