Landfill gas extraction flare

Abstract

A landfill methane burner flare has a methane riser within a shroud. The methane riser terminates in a series of spuds that are bent to promote turbulence and mixing in methane passing through and out of the spuds. Louvers can be positioned in the riser to selectively establish a methane gas pressure within the riser, and/or louvers can be positioned between the methane riser and shroud to selectively establish combustion air flow in the flare.

1 . A landfill gas flare, comprising: 
 a shroud;    a methane riser in the shroud and defining a methane passageway;    plural non-straight pipes mounted in communication with the methane passageway;    at least a first flow alteration assembly surrounding the methane riser to selectively establish a fluid flow through the assembly; and    a second flow alteration assembly positioned within the methane riser.    
   
   
       2 . The flare of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow alteration assembly surrounds the methane riser within the shroud to establish a combustion air flow rate in the shroud.  
   
   
       3 . The flare of  claim 1 , wherein the second flow alteration assembly is positioned within the methane riser to establish a methane gas pressure.  
   
   
       4 . (canceled).  
   
   
       5 . The flare of  claim 2 , wherein at least one flow alteration assembly includes movable louvers disposed between the shroud and the methane riser, the louvers being movable to establish a combustion air flow past the pipes.  
   
   
       6 . The flare of  claim 5 , wherein the louvers are coupled to an operating member, the operating member being manipulable in response to a computer signal to move the louvers.  
   
   
       7 . The flare of  claim 1 , comprising plural sets of pipe spuds in the flare, each set including plural spuds arranged generally in a circle, the sets being separated from each other.  
   
   
       8 . A landfill gas flare, comprising: 
 a shroud;    a methane riser in the shroud and defining a methane passageway;    plural non-straight pipes mounted in communication with the methane passageway; and    at least a first flow alteration assembly juxtaposed with the methane riser to selectively establish a fluid flow through the assembly, wherein each pipe includes a radial segment lying along a radius of the methane riser and a distal segment establishing an angle with respect to the radial segment.    
   
   
       9 . The flare of  claim 8 , wherein the angle is approximately fifty five degrees.  
   
   
       10 . The flare of  claim 8 , wherein the angle is approximately sixty degrees.  
   
   
       11 . A landfill flare, comprising: 
 a shroud defining an open top end;    a methane riser in the shroud, the methane riser terminating in at least two exhaust pipes configured for inducing turbulence in methane gas passing through the exhaust pipes; and    a movable louver assembly positioned in at least one of: the riser, and the shroud between the shroud and riser.    
   
   
       12 . The flare of  claim 11 , wherein the louver assembly can be moved to establish a methane gas pressure.  
   
   
       13 . The flare of  claim 11 , wherein the louver assembly includes an operating member, the operating member extending outside the shroud and being manipulable to move the louver assembly.  
   
   
       14 . The flare of  claim 11 , wherein each exhaust pipe includes a radial segment lying along a radius of the methane riser and a distal segment establishing an angle with respect to the radial segment.  
   
   
       15 . The flare of  claim 11 , wherein the louver assembly is movable in response to a computer signal.  
   
   
       16 . The flare of  claim 13 , wherein the operating member is manually movable.  
   
   
       17 . A landfill flare, comprising: 
 a shroud defining a wall;    a methane gas pipe in the shroud and spaced from the wall, the methane riser terminating in at least two exhaust pipes configured for inducing turbulence in methane gas passing through the exhaust pipes; and    a louver assembly disposed in at least one location selected from the group comprising: between the shroud and the methane riser, and within the riser, the louver assembly being movable.    
   
   
       18 . The flare of  claim 17 , wherein the louver assembly includes an operating member, the operating member extending outside the shroud and being manipulable by a person to move the louvers.  
   
   
       19 . The flare of  claim 17 , wherein each exhaust pipe includes a radial segment lying along a radius of the methane riser and a distal segment establishing an angle with respect to the radial segment.  
   
   
       20 . The flare of  claim 17 , wherein the louver assembly includes an operating member, the operating member extending outside the shroud and being manipulable in response to a computer signal.