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Started By
Message
Let's talk about chemical plant flares
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:12 am
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:12 am
As I drove over MRB last night I couldn't help but notice the extremely large flare burning off in the distance from the direction of Dow. I know that the flares are there to burn off either excess gas or gaseous by product of their processes, but what I want to know is: on nights like tonight is the flare so large because the flammability of what is being burned off or is the flare so big because it takes an extremely large amount of fire to burn off whatever it is being burned off?
Just curious, TIA.
Just curious, TIA.
11
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:13 am to Emteein
Plant operator farted.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:17 am to Emteein
Also depends on pressure of unit that may be depressuring in an emergency shutdown situation.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:23 am to Emteein
Probably an outage, and burning off excess process gasses ...
Flare only " looks " larger at night cause it's easier to see
Flare only " looks " larger at night cause it's easier to see
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:25 am to Emteein
When there real big it's either at shutdown or start up when they are actually using the flare stack to combust gas and not just as pressure release valve
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:28 am to Emteein
Sometimes a process is down for service and they route all gas to the flare for a short period of time. Just because it looks like a large amount doesn't mean they are burning a reportable quantity of of gas. The flaring may be part of regular maintenance, startup, and shutdown activities.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:31 am to Pepe Lepew
quote:
Flare only " looks " larger at night cause it's easier to see
Yep, and the closer you are to it the larger it looks as well.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:37 am to Po Campo
quote:this was hard to read
When there real big it's either at shutdown or start up when they are actually using the flare stack to combust gas and not just as pressure release valve
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:45 am to whit
"this was hard to read"
Not sure why it's the truth
Not sure why it's the truth
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:46 am to Pepe Lepew
quote:
... Flare only " looks " larger at night cause it's easier to see
You serious Clark?
I drive over the bridge nightly, most nights you don't notice the flare in the direction of Dow. Periododically like last night, that flare turns up to 11 and burns large enough to light up the sky like the sun is rising. It most certainly didnt appear larger last night because it is night, further more you can see that flare even during the day all the way from the bridge. Not sure how many miles separate the bridge and Dow.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:46 am to whit
The plant has to buy a certain amount of fuel gas from an external company, when the plant trips" or "goes off line" the gas still needs to be used. The only way to get rid of it is to burn it.
A flare with no black smoke is a good indication that it is mostly clean burning fuel gas that is being burned.
A flare with no black smoke is a good indication that it is mostly clean burning fuel gas that is being burned.
This post was edited on 4/22/15 at 6:49 am
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:50 am to Emteein
The plant needs those flares. They pin the unit down to the ground like a rocket booster.
All seriousness aside, if the flare is much larger than normal, it means a shutdown of some level.
All seriousness aside, if the flare is much larger than normal, it means a shutdown of some level.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:51 am to Tigris
quote:
the closer you are to it the larger it looks as well.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 6:52 am to Elusiveporpi
The advocate had a blurb on the Dow flare over the weekend stating that the flaring was for shutdown operations
[quote]
LINK ]
[quote]
LINK ]
Posted on 4/22/15 at 7:01 am to Huck Finn
quote:
All seriousness aside
Posted on 4/22/15 at 7:08 am to Elusiveporpi
quote:
flare with no black smoke is a good indication that it is mostly clean burning fuel gas that is being burned
No, it means there isnt shite in it to produce black smoke like organic mass
Clean burning means the chemical combusts completely without organic residues left behind (which burn to produce black smoke)
These reactions still produce "greenhouse gasses".
Posted on 4/22/15 at 7:11 am to Emteein
quote:
You serious Clark?
yeah, I'm serious, use to work there ....
Posted on 4/22/15 at 7:13 am to Emteein
Piece of equipment probably tripped. There are automatic dump valves to the flare and they have to flare all gas in the unit until they get the piece of equipment back up and running. This obviously is a very general statement as different units vary.
Signed,
OT operator
$$$$$$$
Makin you holla for that dolla
Signed,
OT operator
$$$$$$$
Makin you holla for that dolla
Posted on 4/22/15 at 7:25 am to Emteein
Bridge is about 10 miles from Dow site
Posted on 4/22/15 at 7:27 am to Emteein
quote:
You serious Clark?
I drive over the bridge nightly, most nights you don't notice the flare in the direction of Dow. Periododically like last night, that flare turns up to 11 and burns large enough to light up the sky like the sun is rising. It most certainly didnt appear larger last night because it is night, further more you can see that flare even during the day all the way from the bridge. Not sure how many miles separate the bridge and Dow.
They do this during the day too, you know.
So yes, Clark IS serious here.
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