The steam issue in the torch
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The refinery’s venting equipment – the flare – has upper and lower steam inlets in the burner section; what is the purpose of introducing steam there? Just to eliminate opium? And why are there two streams of steam? Is the steam flowing continuously?
The effect of diluting flammable gases and reducing smoke. I also want to know why two strands are added specifically.
PS: Why is steam used to remove smoke? Couldn’t air be used simply to ensure complete combustion? I don’t understand~
Steam is mainly used for smoke elimination, ensuring complete combustion； Steam primarily serves to cool down and reduce thermal radiation.
The functions of steam are as follows: it dilutes the smoke generated by incomplete combustion, preventing the formation of black smoke. Another function is to purge the gases, ensuring that they rise upward rather than accumulating at the bottom. Your two steam pipelines may be due to different combustion levels; for energy-saving reasons, the amount of steam required for combustion varies depending on the level. It’s also possible that the materials you use tend to liquefy, and steam is used for heating in order to prevent this liquefaction. If steam is used for purging, it doesn’t need to be kept on continuously – it’s only turned on after combustion takes place.
5# wang*nhua77020, quite careful, thank you
I used to supervise torch installations; without seeing your drawings, I can’t draw any conclusions. Torch steam is mainly used for purging and smoke suppression. But I heard that it’s used to shut down the engine in extreme situations (to be confirmed)
7# b85174 It turns out it can indeed be used for fire extinguishing; thank you!
When the amount of gas being released gradually decreases until release stops, natural steam will blow out the remaining embers, thereby extinguishing the fire; however, the main function of steam is to reduce smoke and support the fire.
It is equipped with a smoke-removing steam ring tube assembly at the top, and features steam nozzles of different designs that allow the steam to be ejected in various flow patterns. Its main functions are to draw in the surrounding air, improve the combustion efficiency of the flare gas, and reduce smoke formation. Additionally, it lifts and stirs the area around the flare, providing some cooling effect on the flare head thereby extending its service life. The central steam pipe is located inside the flare tip, where it sprays steam toward the center of the flame. By premixing a small amount of steam, this helps to promote diffused combustion of the flare gas, reduces smoke formation, shortens the flame length, raises the flame to a certain extent, lowers the temperature at the head of the flare burner, and extends the service life of the flare tip. The main function of the flame stabilizer is to maintain the flame at a certain level when the flow rate of the flare gas is below the minimum combustion speed allowed by the flare tip; it also prevents air from flowing down along the walls of the flare tube due to the wall-attachment effect, when the flare gas flow rate is at its maximum.