Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from Stationary Combustion Sources Numerical Modeling Capabilities

A collaborative research program has been initiated to study the emissions of a wide variety of chemical species from stationary combustion systems. These product species have been included in the Clean Air act legislation and their emissions must be rigidly controlled, but there is a need for much better understanding of the physical and chemical mechanisms that produce and consume them. We are using numerical modeling techniques to study the chemical reactions and fluid mechanical factors that occur in industrial processes: we are examining systems including premixed and diffusion flames, stirred reactors and plug flow reactors in these modeling studies to establish the major factors leading to emissions of these chemicals. In addition, we are applying advanced laser diagnostic techniques to validate the model predictions and to study the possibilities of developing sophisticated sensors to detect emissions of undesirable species in real time. This paper will discuss the organization of this collaborative effort and its results to date

Combustion efficiency of industrial flares revisited the current status of this multivariate, multiphysics, multichemistry morass and what to do about it

Last year, with its focus on "Industrial Flaring," TOTeM361 was the first in the IFRF TOTeM series to tap into an area which has been explored in AFRC Symposia for many years.2 Taking place 30 September - 1 October at the Sheraton Maui immediately following the AFRC 2010 Pacific Rim Combustion Symposium, TOTeM36 generated a great deal of interest.3 After a series of nine Distinguished Lectures and follow-up discussions, TOTeM36 delegates and distinguished lecturers engaged in a round table discussion during which it was unanimously suggested to have a flare session at AFRC meetings every year. Not only that, although industrial participation at TOTeM36 was significant, it was suggested that a meeting in the continental United States should help attract a stronger attendance from industrial members and, perhaps, regulators and non-governmental-organizations as well. My reaction? "We've been doing that for a decade or more so shut-up, wise-up, join-up, show-up and pay attention!" Or words to that effect. Somewhat unkind, I know. But that's just the way I am. In any event, that is exactly what we are up to beginning this morning at this edition of the AFRC Industrial Flares Colloquium held in conjunction with the AFRC Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas, September 18-21 2011. This paper together with its accompanying presentation is intended to be a sort of keynote "challenge" and erstwhile theme of a sequence of industrial flare sessions that will carry on through the length of the 2½-day meeting. Making reference to the archival mid-80s study and subsequent ones in which the flare emissions researcher's "Holy Grail," the magic universal all-encompassing correlating parameter for combustion efficiency was diligently sought but not found even unto this day, this keynote challenge will not, I hope, be so much an argumentative challenge as it is a factual failure theme that I hope others will want to take up, expand on, modify and take issue with

Peer review of a report by U.S. EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) "Parameters for Properly Designed and Operated Flares"

In the United States, alleged wind-induced combustion efficiency ("CE") degradation in the operation of real industrial flares in the field has become a big issue amongst environmental activists in consequence of which the United States Environmental Protection Agency is considering regulations related to wind effects. While it is true that wind effects have been reported in model-scale (typically ≤3"D and often «3"D, soda-straw like) tests in wind tunnels, there is no evidence whatsoever in recent and extensive in situ full-scale (typically »18"D) remote-sensing field testing of any significant wind-induced CE-degradation

Combustion R&D Needs in the Petroleum Refining Industry

Fuel consumption dominates the annual operating cost of today's refinery and the petroleum industry alone accounts for 60 percent of the fuel used in industrial furnaces and boilers. Economic and environmental pressures are forcing greater emphasis on the traditional gaseous fuels and fuel use in the petroleum industry is not going to change much in the foreseeable future. Rather, the trend will be toward better utilization of the traditional gaseous fuels. We need to know how to burn today's fuels "better" -- with greater efficiency and less pollution. We will discuss combustion R&D needs in low NOx burners, "ultra" low NOx burners, stack waste heat recovery, combustion aerodynamics, low Btu gas and waste incineration

Combustion efficiency of industrial flares revisited the current status of this multivariate, multiphysics, multichemistry morass and what to do about it

presentationLast year, with its focus on "Industrial Flaring," TOTeM361 was the first in the IFRF TOTeM series to tap into an area which has been explored in AFRC Symposia for many years.2 Taking place 30 September - 1 October at the Sheraton Maui immediately following the AFRC 2010 Pacific Rim Combustion Symposium, TOTeM36 generated a great deal of interest.3 After a series of nine Distinguished Lectures and follow-up discussions, TOTeM36 delegates and distinguished lecturers engaged in a round table discussion during which it was unanimously suggested to have a flare session at AFRC meetings every year. Not only that, although industrial participation at TOTeM36 was significant, it was suggested that a meeting in the continental United States should help attract a stronger attendance from industrial members and, perhaps, regulators and non-governmental-organizations as well. My reaction? "We've been doing that for a decade or more so shut-up, wise-up, join-up, show-up and pay attention!" Or words to that effect. Somewhat unkind, I know. But that's just the way I am. In any event, that is exactly what we are up to beginning this morning at this edition of the AFRC Industrial Flares Colloquium held in conjunction with the AFRC Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas, September 18-21 2011. This paper together with its accompanying presentation is intended to be a sort of keynote "challenge" and erstwhile theme of a sequence of industrial flare sessions that will carry on through the length of the 2½-day meeting. Making reference to the archival mid-80s study and subsequent ones in which the flare emissions researcher's "Holy Grail," the magic universal all-encompassing correlating parameter for combustion efficiency was diligently sought but not found even unto this day, this keynote challenge will not, I hope, be so much an argumentative challenge as it is a factual failure theme that I hope others will want to take up, expand on, modify and take issue with

Reaction efficiency of industrial flares the perspective of the past

Dahm, Werner J. A. (2007). Scaling relations for flare interactions, flame lengths, and crosslighting requirements in large flare. American Flame Research Committee (AFRC)

Looking Forward to the Impact of the 1990 CAAA-Mandated MACT Regulations on Air Toxics from Heaters and Boilers

Petroleum industry heaters and boilers emit hazardous air pollutants that will be regulated under the MACT and residual risk mandates of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990. Thus, it is clear that refiners will be obliged to install MACT or more stringent technology to control air toxics from petroleum industry heaters and boilers. Refiners will, therefore, by force of events if for no other reason, utilize and benefit from the technology advancements, more economical approaches, and rational science- and risk-based regulations that arise from the collaborative R&D program that Petroleum Environmental Research Forum (PERF) Project No. 92-19 seeks to establish with the cooperation of the U.S. Department of Energy

Reaction efficiency of industrial flares the perspective of the past

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