Methods to deal with black smoke from torches
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When the flare at our plant emits black smoke, we usually increase the amount of steam used to reduce smoke, thereby turning the color of the smoke to white. However, I think black smoke is mainly caused by a large amount of elemental carbon present in it. Why can steam change the color of the smoke? And can using steam help reduce environmental pollution? I sincerely seek advice!
Suggestions: 1. Install a flare gas recovery system, such as a gas holder for recovering flare gas, to fundamentally solve the problem of flare gas emissions； 2. Torch gas is generally divided into emissions during normal production and those during abnormal production; there is little to say about emissions during abnormal production. During normal production, it includes hydrogen, non-condensable gases resulting from pressure control in towers and tanks, excess dry gas, and emissions generated during large-scale purging operations in coking units, among others, and its composition is relatively complex ； 3. The combustion of hydrogen is not visible during the day; it emits blue light only at night ； Dry gas combustion emits a red light without any black smoke ； Only when there are large amounts of components above C3 does the flare emit black smoke; in such cases, misting steam is introduced to ensure complete combustion, thereby reducing black smoke and pollution ；
We also need to check whether there are any leaks in the safety valves; this has happened in our facility before, as internal leaks in some of the safety valves caused an increase in the amount of fuel burned in the flare
Black smoke is produced because the smoke contains elemental carbon; the principle behind using steam to eliminate this smoke is based on the following reaction: H2O + C → CO + H2. CO and H2 then react further with oxygen to produce CO2 and H2O, thereby eliminating the black smoke. Furthermore, when smoke-suppressing steam is injected, it carries air into the combustion zone, increasing the oxygen content there and thus promoting combustion.