Flare tip having internal spin vanes

Abstract

A flare tip for the burning and disposal of combustible waste gases including internal spin vanes is provided. By providing a plurality of internal spin vanes within the waste gas inlet of a flare tip, the efficiency of combustion of waste gas can be increased.

1 . A flare apparatus for burning and disposal of combustible waste gases, the flare apparatus comprising:
 a flare tip comprising a waste gas conduit having a base portion defining a waste gas inlet and an upper portion defining a waste gas outlet, the base portion having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the upper portion; and   a plurality of spin vanes for inducing a spin on the waste gas entering the flare tip disposed within the base portion, the spin vanes disposed at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the flare tip.   
     
     
         2 . The flare apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of combustion air conduits for supplying combustion air disposed within and in fluid communication with the upper portion of the flare tip. 
     
     
         3 . The flare apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an outer shell defining a plenum surrounding the flare tip. 
     
     
         4 . The flare apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the flare tip is coupled to and in fluid communication with a flare stack. 
     
     
         5 . The flare apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell has a generally cylindrical lower portion and a frustoconical upper portion defining an opening wherein the opening of the upper portion of the outer shell is elevated relative to the waste gas outlet defined by the upper portion of the flare tip. 
     
     
         6 . The flare apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle of the spin vanes relative to the longitudinal axis of the flare tip ranges is less than about 60°. 
     
     
         7 . The flare apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle of the spin vanes relative to the longitudinal axis of the flare tip ranges from about 20° to about 60°. 
     
     
         8 . The flare apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle of the spin vanes relative to the longitudinal axis of the flare tip is about 30°. 
     
     
         9 . The flare apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spin vanes comprises 2 to 36 spin vanes. 
     
     
         10 . The flare apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spin vanes comprises 24 to 36 spin vanes. 
     
     
         11 . The flare apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spin vanes comprises 12 to 24 spin vanes. 
     
     
         12 . The flare apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spin vanes comprises 2 to 12 spin vanes. 
     
     
         13 . The flare apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a width of the spin vanes ranges from about 8 inches to about 18 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The flare apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a width of each of the spin vanes ranges from about 4 inches to about 8 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The flare apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a width of each of the spin vanes ranges from about 1 inch to about 4 inches. 
     
     
         16 . A flare apparatus having a flare tip and a number of distributing features for distributing a waste gas stream in the flare tip. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 receiving a waste gas flow;   distributing the waste gas flow within a flare tip.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the distributing step includes inducing a spin in the waste gas flow.