Method for combusting exhaust gas with oxygen feed line

Abstract

The exhaust gases stemming from an oil conveyance such as in a refinery or a chemical factory are flared with oxygen-containing gas fed into the flame, in particular with oxygen-enriched air with a high oxygen content or technically pure oxygen, so as to achieve as soot-free a combustion as possible that also generates less environmentally harmful emissions. The device for combusting exhaust gases is a combination of an exhaust gas pipe, an ignition device and an oxygen line, which is connected with an oxygen tank. The oxygen feed line is used in particular during operational malfunctions instead of a steam feed line or as an additional feed line when not enough steam is generated by the chemical plants.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . A method for combusting exhaust gases existing from an exhaust pipe, characterized in that an oxygen-containing gas with an oxygen content exceeding 22% is introduced into a flame at an outlet end of the exhaust pipe. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the exhaust gas is formed while conveying oil, in a refinery or in a chemical factory. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that oxygen-enriched air with an oxygen content exceeding 30% v/v is used as the oxygen-containing gas. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , characterized in that oxygen-enriched air with an oxygen content exceeding 50% v/v is used as the oxygen-containing gas. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , characterized in that oxygen-enriched air with an oxygen content exceeding 80% v/v is used as the oxygen-containing gas. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , characterized in that oxygen-enriched air with an oxygen content exceeding 95% v/v is used as the oxygen-containing gas. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 3 , characterized in that oxygen-enriched air with an oxygen content exceeding 99% v/v is used as the oxygen-containing gas. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the exhaust gas contains hydrocarbons or other toxic substances. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the oxygen-containing gas is introduced at a speed that measures 0.1 to 3 times the speed of sound. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the oxygen-containing gas is introduced at a speed that measures 0.5 to 2 times the speed of sound. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the oxygen-containing gas is introduced at a speed that measures 0.8 to 1.2 times the speed of sound. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the oxygen-containing gas is upwardly introduced into the flame in proximity to the outlet end of the exhaust gas pipe at an angle of 0 to 45 degrees to the vertical. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that in the event of a malfunction both the oxygen-containing gas and an additional gas are introduced into the flame. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the additional gas is steam. 
     
     
         15 . A device for combusting exhaust gases, which encompasses an exhaust pipe with an outlet end for the exhaust gas along with a feed line and ignition device, characterized in that the feed line is an oxygen feed line and connected with an oxygen tank. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , characterized in that the oxygen feed line ends in proximity to the outlet end of the exhaust gas pipe. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 16 , characterized in that the oxygen feed line exhibits an angle of 0 to 45 degrees to the vertical. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 17 , characterized in that the oxygen feed line is provided with a nozzle. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , characterized in that the nozzle is a Venturi nozzle. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 15 , characterized in that the oxygen tank is a liquid tank. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 15 , characterized in that a valve is located downstream from the oxygen tank. 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 21 , characterized in that the valve is a shutoff valve. 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 15 , characterized in that an additional feed line is provided.