Assessing Flare Combustion Efficiency using Imaging Fourier Transform Spectroscopy

Quantifying flare combustion efficiency using an imaging Fourier transform spectrometer

“…Following the work of Miguel et al [18], and Grauer et al [17], we assume Gaussian profiles inside the plume along the LOS, which are appropriate for free turbulent plumes, and constant values for the atmospheric layer between the plume and the camera aperture: where  = k or T, p is the characteristic plume thickness, and spc is the location of the plume center. The ambient concentrations and temperature may be derived from meteorological data, or determined by examining the spectra from a pixel outside of the flare plume, e.g., the flare stack.…”

“…In their work, the plume temperature and species concentrations are assumed to be homogeneous along each LOS in order to simplify the spectroscopic model. However, Grauer et al [17] and Miguel et al [18] used CFD simulations to demonstrate that Gaussian distributions are more appropriate in the case of flare plumes. Miguel et al [18] also conducted several proof-of-concept measurements on lab scale heated vents and a lab-scale steam and air-assist flare.…”

“…However, Grauer et al [17] and Miguel et al [18] used CFD simulations to demonstrate that Gaussian distributions are more appropriate in the case of flare plumes. Miguel et al [18] also conducted several proof-of-concept measurements on lab scale heated vents and a lab-scale steam and air-assist flare. This work applies the technique developed by Grauer et al [17] and Miguel et al [18] to conduct benchmarking experiments on a heated vent under conditions representative of a flare plume, and then measure the combustion efficiency of a portable combustor (enclosed flare) operating at as known firing rate and a steam-assisted flare at an oil refinery burning an unspecified fuel at an unknown rate.…”

“…Miguel et al [18] also conducted several proof-of-concept measurements on lab scale heated vents and a lab-scale steam and air-assist flare. This work applies the technique developed by Grauer et al [17] and Miguel et al [18] to conduct benchmarking experiments on a heated vent under conditions representative of a flare plume, and then measure the combustion efficiency of a portable combustor (enclosed flare) operating at as known firing rate and a steam-assisted flare at an oil refinery burning an unspecified fuel at an unknown rate. In the case of the combustor, the carbon mass flow rate in the plume is consistent with the estimated fuel supply rate, and the overall combustion efficiency is nearly 100%.…”

A Bayesian error model for quantifying methane and carbon dioxide column densities from hyperspectral measurements

“…750 Hz in this work), capable of capturing the plume's turbulent dynamic [5] and, in turn, infer the gas intensity-weighted velocity field. Combining the gas velocities with the species column densities, several studies worked on the quantification of species mass flow rates [16,17], and process combustion efficiency [18].…”