Swivel Well Test Burner for Wind-Resistant Flame Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Well test burner systems face challenges in effectively managing heat radiation back to platforms due to wind-induced fluctuations in flame direction, which can blow the flame away from heat shields and towards the platform, necessitating frequent orientation adjustments.
Innovation Solution
The well test burner system incorporates swivel joints in air and well product inlet pipes, allowing burner nozzles to pivot while maintaining a sealed air/well product mixture, along with pilot burners for cross-lighting and a heat shield system that can swivel with the nozzles to maintain efficient flame orientation and reduce heat radiation, and a linear actuator for remote control of nozzle orientation based on wind direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If heat shields are used to reduce heat radiation back to the platform, then heat radiation is reduced, but wind can blow the flame away from the heat shields towards the platform
Solution Approach 1:
The burner system is mounted on a swivel mechanism that allows dynamic repositioning of the burner assembly. The entire burner unit can rotate to face different directions, enabling the flame to be continuously oriented away from the platform while maintaining effective heat shield protection. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to adapt to wind conditions and maintain both heat radiation reduction and shielding reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates wind sensors that continuously monitor wind direction and provide feedback to the control system. Based on this feedback, the burner assembly automatically adjusts its orientation to counteract wind effects and maintain proper flame direction away from the platform. This feedback mechanism ensures that the heat shields remain effective while the flame is consistently positioned to minimize heat radiation to the platform.
2Reliability
If the well test burner system is reoriented to account for wind direction, then flame direction control is improved, but frequent shutdowns and restarts are required when wind shifts
Solution Approach 1:
The swivel-mounted burner assembly enables continuous operation by allowing the entire burner unit to rotate and adjust its orientation in real-time response to wind changes. Instead of shutting down and restarting, the system dynamically repositions the burners to maintain proper flame direction, thereby preserving both reliability and productivity simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The burner system is designed to maintain continuous burning operation through its swivel capability. When wind direction changes, the burner assembly smoothly rotates to adjust flame orientation without interrupting the combustion process. This continuous adjustment capability eliminates the need for shutdowns and restarts, ensuring uninterrupted productive operation while maintaining reliable flame direction control.
3Device complexity
If burner nozzles are fixed in orientation, then system complexity is reduced, but inability to adjust to wind changes causes heat radiation to platform
Solution Approach 1:
The burner system incorporates a swivel mechanism with relatively fixed burner nozzles that can rotate as a unit. This design adds minimal complexity compared to individually adjustable nozzles, as the entire assembly rotates together on a simple pivot. The fixed nozzle orientation within the rotating assembly maintains structural simplicity while the ability to rotate the whole unit provides the necessary adaptability to wind changes, effectively reducing heat radiation to the platform.
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 configuration ensures continuous burning with minimal heat radiation to the platform, allowing for quick adjustments to wind direction changes without interrupting the process, thereby reducing the need for frequent shutdowns and restarts and effectively mitigating heat exposure.
Implementation Method 1
swivel joints in air and well product inlet pipes, allowing burner nozzles to pivot while maintaining a sealed air/well product mixture
Implementation Method 2
pilot burners for cross-lighting
Implementation Method 3
heat shield system that can swivel with the nozzles to maintain efficient flame orientation and reduce heat radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A well test burner system has a plurality of burner nozzles supported by a support structure. Each burner nozzle has an air inlet, a well product inlet and an air/well product mixture outlet. At least one of the burner nozzles is supported to pivot relative to the support structure while the burner nozzle is operating to expel air/well product mixture.