Patent US2443061A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3667408A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flare stack
Assignee: Polysar Ltd
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Filing: 1970-08-04
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Granted: 1972-06-06
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Expires: 1990-08-04
Abstract
Abstract Flare stack smoke is reduced or eliminated by controlling the temperature of the flare. Said temperature is sensed by a sensing element e.g. one or more thermocouples connected in parallel and located in the vicinity of the flare; the sensing element produces a signal which directly or indirectly activates steam control valve to adjust the flow of steam to the tip of the flare stack so as to raise or lower the flare temperature to the temperature of optimum combustion of flare stack effluent.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor Jasinsky
- 👤 Ambrose T Upfold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:56
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23D; F23D14/00; F23G; F23G7/00; F23G7/06; F23G7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for controlling flare stack smoke which comprises: 1. a steam line leading to the flare, 2. a flow control means in said line, 3. a sensing element in the vicinity of the flare, said element consisting of at least three thermocouples and being capable of producing a signal proportional to the temperature of said flare, and 4. a transducer between flow control means (2) and sensing element (3), said transducer being capable of converting said signal to a force acting upon said flow control means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for controlling flare stack smoke which comprises: 1. a steam line leading to the flare, 2. a flow control means in said line, 3. a sensing element in the vicinity of the flare, said element consisting of at least three thermocouples and being capable of producing a signal proportional to the temperature of said flare, and 4. a transducer between flow control means (2) and sensing element (3), said transducer being capable of converting said signal to a force acting upon said flow control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
7 words
a flow control means in said line,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
7 words
a flow control means in said line,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 in which the thermocouples are uniformly distributed around the flare.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 in which the thermocouples are substantially equidistant from the flare at a distance of 0 to 25 feet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
a sensing element in the vicinity of the flare, said element consisting of at least three thermocouples and being capable of producing a signal proportional to the temperature of said flare, and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
a sensing element in the vicinity of the flare, said element consisting of at least three thermocouples and being capable of producing a signal proportional to the temperature of said flare, and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
a transducer between flow control means (2) and sensing element (3), said transducer being capable of converting said signal to a force acting upon said flow control means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
a transducer between flow control means (2) and sensing element (3), said transducer being capable of converting said signal to a force acting upon said flow control means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 in which all thermocouples are connected so as to produce a single electrical signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 in which there is an additional thermocouple capable of producing a signAl proportional to ambient temperature and counteracting the single signal from the flare thermocouples.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A process of controlling flare stack smoke which comprises: a. sensing and averaging the radiant heat in at least three directions equidistantly from the flare, said heat being proportional to the temperature of the flare, b. producing a signal, said signal being proportional to the averaged radiant heat, and c. adjusting steam flow to the flare stack, the adjustment being proportional to said signal, whereby the averaged radiant heat is caused to correspond to the predetermined value and the combustion of flare stack effluent is improved.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
A process of controlling flare stack smoke which comprises: a. sensing and averaging the radiant heat in at least three directions equidistantly from the flare, said heat being proportional to the temperature of the flare, b. producing a signal, said signal being proportional to the averaged radiant heat, and c. adjusting steam flow to the flare stack, the adjustment being proportional to said signal, whereby the averaged radiant heat is caused to correspond to the predetermined value and the combustion of flare stack effluent is improved.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 6 in which the signal is an electric signal corrected for the effect of variable ambient temperature.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-06 | 1975-12-06 | 1976-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-06 | 1979-12-06 | 1980-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-06 | 1983-12-06 | 1984-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |