Rapid Gas Exchange System for Flare Pilot Purging

Solution Overview

Problem

Current pilot systems for flare stacks face inefficiencies in rapidly displacing air with a gaseous fuel, leading to prolonged operational costs and environmental impact due to continuous operation, as traditional purging methods are slow and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that introduce a primary gas at a higher pressure than the extraneous gas into the distribution system, utilizing a gas accumulator to segregate and purge the extraneous gas, allowing for rapid displacement and efficient fuel delivery to the pilot system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pilot is continuously operated to maintain readiness, then the ability to quickly combust waste fluid streams is ensured, but operational costs and carbon dioxide generation increase substantially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereadiness to combust waste fluid streamsVSAvoidfuel consumption and carbon dioxide generation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-filling the distribution system and gas accumulator with fuel gas before shutdown. When the pilot needs to be relit, the fuel is already in place and only needs to be pressurized and delivered, eliminating the need for continuous operation while maintaining rapid readiness capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from continuous operation to periodic action by shutting down the pilot during periods when waste fluid streams are not being discharged. The pilot is only activated when needed, and the rapid fuel delivery system ensures it can be relit quickly, converting continuous fuel consumption into periodic operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If traditional purging methods are used to displace air from the pilot system, then the pilot can be prepared for combustion, but the process is slow and cannot meet quick combustion demands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepilot readiness for combustionVSAvoidpurge speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-filling the distribution system and gas accumulator with fuel gas before shutdown. When the pilot needs to be relit, the fuel is already in place and only needs to be pressurized and delivered, eliminating the need for continuous operation while maintaining rapid readiness capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses pneumatic pressure differentials to achieve rapid fuel delivery. By introducing fuel at a second pressure greater than the first pressure (atmospheric pressure), the system creates a pressure-driven flow that rapidly displaces air from the distribution system and delivers fuel to the pilot almost instantaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Loss of energy

If the pilot is shut down to reduce operational costs, then fuel consumption decreases, but the pilot cannot be rapidly relit when waste fluid streams need combustion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidability to quickly combust waste fluid streams

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-filling the distribution system and gas accumulator with fuel gas before shutdown. When the pilot needs to be relit, the fuel is already in place and only needs to be pressurized and delivered, eliminating the need for continuous operation while maintaining rapid readiness capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The gas accumulator acts as an intermediary storage device that decouples the fuel supply from the pilot operation. It stores fuel gas and provides rapid delivery when needed, enabling the pilot to be shut down during normal operation while maintaining the ability to be quickly relit when waste fluid streams require combustion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This approach enables rapid purging of air from the pilot system, reducing operational costs and environmental impact by allowing intermittent operation of flare stack pilots, ensuring quick ignition of flammable fluids when needed.

Implementation Method 1

introducing the primary gas into the distribution system at a second pressure greater than the first pressure; displacing the extraneous gas by the introduction of the primary gas so that at least a portion of the extraneous gas is displaced into a gas accumulation zone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS9915398B2Rapid gas exchange and delivery system

Publication Date: 2018.03.13 JOHN ZINK CO LLC

AI summary

An apparatus and method are provided for a gas distribution system that allows for the rapid displacement of an extraneous gas in the distribution system by a primary gas. The gas distribution system utilizes a gas accumulator to aid in the rapid displacement of the extraneous gas. In one embodiment a flare pilot system uses the inventive distribution system to allow for the rapid purge of air from the flare pilot system by a fuel.