Integrated Dynamic Flare Analysis brings Relief

Flare and Relief systems are part of every onshore or offshore installation in the energy industry.

Whether a grass roots design or revamp of an existing facility full analysis of the various parts or whole Flare and Relief system must be undertaken.

Starting with the process evaluation, relief load generation, hydraulic header design and finalising with the Flare Stack and Radiation analysis.

Historically steady state analysis proved adequate but, as we have seen in recent years, complex or borderline designs require dynamic analysis to ensure a safe and cost- effective solution.

Often Flare analysis is undertaken by various groups in the company, each undertaking a specific task in the overall process. Changes, whether client driven or by necessity due to perceived design problems, result in time consuming rework of some or all of the aspects. This is often repeated and becomes an unwelcomed time-consuming design loop in the project.

This paper presents an update on tool-availability for engineers to undertake such analysis, benefitting from the seamless integration of process, hydraulic and Radiation simulation software commonly used in the industry.

Two examples will be presented showing the analysis and solution of:
i) A low temperature penetration relief case and
ii) Depressurisation of process units in operational upsets