Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Apparatus for burning off unprocessed gas
NAME ( S ) OF INVENTOR ( S )
David Stevens
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for burning
off unprocessed gas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the oil industry, many wells produce combustible waste
gases. These gases must be disposed of in a safe manner. It
is unacceptable to vent such gases to atmosphere, as they
present a hazard to the environmental and public health. The
gases also have the potential to create an explosive mixture
with air.
When there is a continuing need for a waste gas burner,
a permanent installation is installed. Permanent installations
are expensive and are not readily moved from site to site.
Where there is a one-time or occasional need for a waste gas
burner it is necessary to use a portable waste gas burning
system.
One type of portable waste gas burning systems is a
portable flare. The combustible waste gases are vented via a
burner unit at which the gases are burned before being vented
to the atmosphere. Flares can be at any height above the
ground, but usually comprise a vertical tubular conduit, or
"stack" , at a remote end of which the burner is placed. Flares
can be mobile for movement from site to site. A mobile flare
system must be dismantled or the stack must be lowered before
the mobile flare can be relocated. One such system with a
stack that can be pivotally moved to a travelling position is
described in U.S. Patent 5,429,496, by Stephens and Duke.
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SZT1~IARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an alternative form of
apparatus for burning off unprocessed gas.
According to the present invention there is provided an
apparatus for burning off unprocessed gas which includes a body
having a first end, a second end, a top, and a bottom. An
elongate combustion chamber extends between the first end and
the second end of the body. An air inlet is provided in fluid
communication with the combustion chamber at the first end of
the body, whereby combustion air is fed into the combustion
chamber. A vapour feed conduit extends into the combustion
chamber at the f first end of the body, whereby unprocessed gases
are fed into the combustion chamber. An igniter is positioned
within the combustion chamber at the first end of the body.
The igniter is adapted to ignite a mixture of unprocessed gases
and combustion air as the unprocessed gases are fed through the
vapour feed conduit mix with combustion air fed through the air
inlet. An exhaust outlet is provided which is in fluid
communication with the combustion chamber and extends through
the top at the second end of the body.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the invention, as described above, even more beneficial
results may be obtained when there is provided an electronic
control unit. The control unit is in electronic communication
with an electronic temperature sensor within the exhaust
outlet, and an electronically operated control valve
controlling the rate of feed of fuel through a fuel feed
conduit to a burner which serves as an igniter. The rate of
feed of fuel to the burner is thereby controlled to maintain
exhaust gases flowing through the exhaust outlet at a
temperature selected to maintain efficient operation of the
apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a side view, in section, of the apparatus for
burning off unprocessed gas constructed in accordance with the
teachings of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a side view of the apparatus for burning off
unprocessed gas illustrated in FIGURE l, mounted on a trailer
bed, in a transport position.
FIGURE 3 is a side view of the apparatus for burning off
unprocessed gas shown in FIGURE 1, mounted on a trailer bed,
in an operational position.
FIGURE 4 is a detailed end view of a vapour distributor
ring from the apparatus for burning off unprocessed gas shown
in FIGURE 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, an apparatus for burning off
unprocessed gas generally identified by reference numeral 10,
will now be described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 4.
Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, apparatus 10 is intended to
be readily transportable with a vehicle 14, such as a trailer
or a motorized vehicle, upon which apparatus 10 is mounted.
Referring to FIGURE 1, apparatus 10 includes a vapour feed
system 18, a fuel feed system 20, and an exhaust system 22, all
of which will be hereinafter further described.
Apparatus 10 has a body 24 has a first end 26, a second
end 28, peripheral sidewalls 30, an outer surface 34, a top 36,
and a bottom 38. An elongate combustion chamber 31 extends
between first end 26 and second end 28. Combustion chamber 31
has an inner surface 32 that is lined with a refractory
material. A first opening 40 is at top 36 at first end 26 of
body 24. A second opening 42 is at bottom 38 at first end 26
of body 24. A third opening 44 is at top 36 at second end 28
of body 24. An air inlet 46 is in fluid communication with
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combustion chamber 31 at first end 26 of body 24. A flame
arrestor 48 is positioned in air inlet 46. A motor driven fan
50 is used to force air, as indicted by arrow 52, through air
inlet 46 past flame arrestor 48 and into combustion chamber 31.
Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, a plurality of supports 54 are
positioned on bottom 38 to support body 24. Although fan 50
is illustrated, it will be apparent that combustion air can be
provided in alternative ways. Apparatus 10 can be built in a
fashion similar to a chimney, with the flow out through exhaust
system 22 draws air into combustion chamber 31. Other means
of circulating air could also be used, such as an air
compressor.
Referring to FIGURE 1, vapour feed system 18 includes a
vapour distributor ring 56 positioned in combustion chamber 31
at first end 26 of body 24. A vapour feed conduit 58 is
provided through which vapours are fed in a direction indicated
by arrow 60 through first opening 40 to vapour distributor ring
56. A flash arrestor 62 is positioned on vapour feed conduit
58 outside body 24. A control valve (not shown) is also
provided on vapour feed conduit 58. Referring to FIGURE 4,
vapour distributor ring 56 has a thyroidal body 64 having
sidewalk 66 forming a vapour feed passage 68, and a central
passage 70. There are several outlets 72 from tubular feed
passage 68 through sidewalls 66 by which vapour is fed into
combustion chamber 31.
Referring to FIGURE l, fuel feed system 20 includes a
burner 74 and a fuel feed conduit 76. Burner 74 has a co-axial
igniter 76. Burner 74 is positioned within central passage 70
of vapour distributor ring 56. A fuel selected from
hydrocarbon fuels is fed via fuel feed conduit 76 in a
direction indicated by arrow 78 through second opening 42 to
burner 74. A control valve 80 is positioned on fuel feed
conduit 76 outside body 24. Control valve 80 has electrical
wiring 82 by means of which control valve 80 is activated by
an electrical signal.
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Exhaust system 22 includes an exhaust outlet 90 in fluid
communication with combustion chamber 31 and extending through
top 36 at second end 28 of body 24. Exhaust system 22 also
includes a tubular exhaust stack 84 having a first end 86 and
5 a second end 88 . First end 86 is open to the atmosphere .
Second end 88 is secured within third opening 44 at second end
28 of body 24. Tubular exhaust stack 84 has a first section
90 which is pivotally mounted at pivotal connection 91 to a
second section 92 forming second end 88. A spark arrestor 94
and an electronic temperature sensor 96 are both located within
tubular exhaust stack 84. First section 90 pivots relative to
second section 92 enabling tubular exhaust stack 84 to be moved
between a vertically extending an operating position,
illustrated in FIGURE 3, and a transport position, illustrated
in FIGURE 2.
A support 104 is mounted to top 36 of body 24 to support
tubular exhaust stack 84 when it is in the transport position.
Referring to FIGURE 1, an electronic temperature control
unit 106 is in electrical communication with temperature sensor
96 and control valve 80 of fuel feed system 20. The rate of
feed of fuel to burner 74 is regulated so as to maintain
exhaust gases flowing through exhaust system 22 at a
temperature selected as indicating efficient operation. A
damper 108 is provided for control of exhaust gases in exhaust
22. A rain cap 110 is provided for covering first end 86 of
tubular exhaust stack 84.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.
