Air-assist flare

Abstract

An air-assist flare includes a flare body, a gas feed pipe, and a pilot burner. The flare body includes a tubular body having a longitudinal axis and a fan adjacent to a proximal end of the tubular body. The fan is configured to drive a flow of air through the tubular body along the longitudinal axis. The gas feed pipe includes an output port within the tubular body. The pilot burner is configured to ignite a mixture of flammable gas discharged through the output port and the flow of air. The gas feed pipe supports at least a portion of the weight of the flare body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air-assist flare comprising:
 a flare body comprising:
 a tubular body having a longitudinal axis; and 
 a fan adjacent to a proximal end of the tubular body and configured to drive a flow of air through the tubular body along the longitudinal axis; and 
   a gas feed pipe including an output port within the tubular body; and   a pilot burner configured to ignite a mixture of flammable gas discharged through the output port and the flow of air;   wherein the gas feed pipe supports at least a portion of the weight of the flare body.   
     
     
         2 . The air-assist flare according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas feed pipe supports at least 90% of the weight of the flare body. 
     
     
         3 . The air-assist flare according to  claim 1 , wherein the fan has a larger diameter than the tubular body. 
     
     
         4 . The air-assist flare according to  claim 3 , wherein the flare body comprises a cone surrounding the fan, the cone having a distal end attached to the proximal end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         5 . The air-assist flare according to  claim 4 , wherein the cone supports the fan. 
     
     
         6 . The air-assist flare according to  claim 4 , further comprising a finger cage attached to the cone and covering an opening at a proximal end of the cone. 
     
     
         7 . The air-assist flare according to  claim 4 , wherein the gas feed pipe extends through an opening in the cone or the tubular body. 
     
     
         8 . The air-assist flare according to  claim 4 , wherein the flare body comprises a diffuser cone attached to a distal end of the tubular body, wherein the diffuser cone has a diameter that expands with distance along the longitudinal axis away from the distal end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         9 . The air-assist flare according to  claim 8 , wherein the flare body has a length of less than 8 feet. 
     
     
         10 . The air-assist flare according to  claim 1 , further comprising mixing blades positioned adjacent the output port of the gas feed pipe, the mixing blades configured to mix flammable gas output through the output port with the flow of air. 
     
     
         11 . The air-assist flare according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas feed pipe includes a section that is external to the flare body and is displaced from the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The air-assist flare according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one guide member extending between the gas feed pipe and an interior wall of the tubular body, the at least one member configured to maintain a section of the gas feed pipe extending within the tubular body in substantial coaxial alignment with the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . The air-assist flare according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas feed pipe includes a section that is exterior to the flare body and is substantially coaxial to a center of gravity of the flare body. 
     
     
         14 . The air-assist flare according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor, wherein a speed at which the fan rotates is controlled based on a signal output from the sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The air-assist flare according to  claim 1 , wherein the flare body weighs less than 180 pounds. 
     
     
         16 . An air-assist flare system comprising:
 an air assist flare comprising:
 a flare body comprising:
 a tubular body having a longitudinal axis; and 
 a fan adjacent to a proximal end of the tubular body and configured to drive a flow of air through the tubular body along the longitudinal axis; and 
 
 a gas feed pipe including a distal end having an output port within the tubular body; and 
 a pilot burner; 
   a main pipe having a distal end coupled to a proximal end of the gas feed pipe;   a source of waste gas coupled to the main pipe;   a source of pilot gas coupled to the pilot burner;   an ignition controller configured to trigger ignition of the pilot gas output through the pilot burner; and   a fan controller configured to control the fan;   wherein the gas feed pipe supports at least a portion of the weight of the flare body.   
     
     
         17 . The air-assist flare system according to  claim 16 , wherein the longitudinal axis extends through the main pipe. 
     
     
         18 . The air-assist flare system according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the air-assist flare includes a sensor; and   the fan controller controls a speed of rotation of the fan based on a signal output from the sensor.   
     
     
         19 . The air-assist flare system according to  claim 16 , wherein the flare body has a length of less than 8 feet and weighs less than 180 pounds. 
     
     
         20 . The air-assist flare system according to  claim 16 , wherein the gas feed pipe supports at least 90% of the weight of the flare body.