7 replies to this topic

[ogpprocessing]

Dear CHE Members,

Should the flare stack be located Upwind or Downwind of the processing plant?

Best Regards

[Zauberberg]

What does your logic say? Where would you put the flare stack?

[ogpprocessing]

What does your logic say? Where would you put the flare stack?

I have seen for some of the plants the flare stack is considered upwind of the plant and for some other plants it is located downwind of the plant. In my view there should be one uniform rule for this issue to satisfy the process and safety requirements.

My personal idea is to locate the flare stack upwind of the plant because if the flare stack is located downwind any hydrocarbon gas leakage from process unit will be transfered to flare stack as a source of ignition and plant may face with fire or explosion. So if I am thinking right why in some plants the flare stack is considered downwind of the plant?

[Zauberberg]

I am not an expert on the subject, but I believe it is hard to come up with a definite design rule. There are always some peculiarities for each and every system that govern the location of flare.

Having it upwind is good for the reason you mentioned, but it's a bad solution considering heat radiation and emissions of particles, CO2, and smoke, and their effects on the plant personnel/workers. I remember RAM study for huge gas plant in Oman where the Flare Unit was located "crosswind" in a fairly distant location from the plant area in such way that both negative concerns (ignition and plant area contamination) were eliminated.

[ogpprocessing]

but it's a bad solution considering heat radiation and emissions of particles, CO2, and smoke, and their effects on the plant personnel/workers.

But in my view this concern is not valid because different kinds of radiation and dispersion studies are performed for flare stack to set the flare stack height based on the results.

[Zauberberg]

I had a chance to go through API RP14E, "Recommended Practice for Design and Installation of Offshore Production Platform Piping Systems". There is a paragraph that explains the basis for setting Offshore flare stack location. The flare should be placed downwind, and the recommendation is followed by a few guidelines on dispersion, heat radiation etc. If you have a chance to grab a copy of 14E you might find worth reading it.

[Qalander (Chem)]

I had a chance to go through API RP14E, "Recommended Practice for Design and Installation of Offshore Production Platform Piping Systems". There is a paragraph that explains the basis for setting Offshore flare stack location. The flare should be placed downwind, and the recommendation is followed by a few guidelines on dispersion, heat radiation etc. If you have a chance to grab a copy of 14E you might find worth reading it.

Dear ogpprocessing Hello/Good afternoon,
Although you have a good guidance from my friend/forum colleague "zuberberg" I add my little bit in my way.

Conceptually It is the safety of

1) Plant& personnel and

2) Near vicinity adjoining property and

3) The environment are basically governing the location of sky flare;

but definitely subject to availability of sufficient space for its location in the suitable/desired place.

Now in large refinery plants with ample space this might have been located upwind to avoid any dangers of radiations, associated Fire spill hazards to the nearby property, while simultaneously no Ill effect to the plant and personnel within the refinery premises.

For offshore though I consider this should be 'Downwind’ so as to avoid any dangers/ill-effects to plant& personnel; since chances/possibilities of nearby adjoining property at risk are 'not that great'

Hope this explains you with the design safety in ‘Up-wind’ and/or ’Down-wind’ considerations.

Additionally it is reliably known to me that

Wherever you have ample space and plenty of resources multiple sky flare(s) concept is used in some Middle East refinery/petrochemical plants

Best of luck in your Way Forward, feel free to contact if so needed!

[Qalander (Chem)]

I had a chance to go through API RP14E, "Recommended Practice for Design and Installation of Offshore Production Platform Piping Systems". There is a paragraph that explains the basis for setting Offshore flare stack location. The flare should be placed downwind, and the recommendation is followed by a few guidelines on dispersion, heat radiation etc. If you have a chance to grab a copy of 14E you might find worth reading it.

Dear ogpprocessing Hello/Good afternoon,
Although you have a good guidance from my friend/forum colleague "zuberberg" I add my little bit in my way.

Conceptually It is the safety of

1) Plant& personnel and

2) Near vicinity adjoining property and

3) The environment are basically governing the location of sky flare;

but definitely subject to availability of sufficient space for its location in the suitable/desired place.

Now in large refinery plants with ample space this might have been located upwind to avoid any dangers of radiations, associated Fire spill hazards to the nearby property, while simultaneously no Ill effect to the plant and personnel within the refinery premises.

For offshore though I consider this should be 'Downwind' so as to avoid any dangers/ill-effects to plant& personnel; since chances/possibilities of nearby adjoining property at risk are 'not that great'

Hope this explains you with the design safety in 'Up-wind' and/or 'Down-wind' considerations.

Additionally it is reliably known to me that

Wherever you have ample space and plenty of resources multiple sky flare(s) concept is used in some Middle East refinery/petrochemical plants

Best of luck in your Way Forward, feel free to contact if so needed!

Dear ogpprocessing Hello/Good Night,

I wonder that, was my response useful/helpful in any way?

No feed back, as to your problem got resolved or it was of no use at all!

Edited by Qalander (Chem), 02 May 2010 - 01:03 PM.