US3771940A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Smokeless gas flare with specific gravity gas analyzer for reducing noise
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-27
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Granted: 1973-11-13
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Expires: 1992-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and at least one gas flare for carrying out or practicing the method are disclosed for smokeless burning of undesired gas. Combined with a steam aspirating gas flare having a steam flow controller responsive to a gas flow detector to provide a combustible material is a specific gravity analyzer for controlling the steam flow controller further in relation to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned for providing a smokeless air-to-gas burning mixture in the flare with less steam usage and reduced noise.
Inventors
- 👤 J Stranahan
- 👤 J Hollier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:14
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23G; F23G7/00; F23G7/06; F23G7/08; F23L; F23L7/00; F23L7/002; F23L7/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for smokelessly burning gas with less noise in a steam aspirating flare having means for controlling the amount of steam to the flare for controlling the amount of air drawn in for mixing with the gas for burning, comprising the steps of, a. determining the specific gravity of the gas being burned, and b. varying the amount of steam to the flare relative to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned for providing a smokeless air-to-gas burning mixture in the flare with less steam usage and reduced noise.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for smokelessly burning gas with less noise in a steam aspirating flare having means for controlling the amount of steam to the flare for controlling the amount of air drawn in for mixing with the gas for burning, comprising the steps of, a. determining the specific gravity of the gas being burned, and b. varying the amount of steam to the flare relative to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned for providing a smokeless air-to-gas burning mixture in the flare with less steam usage and reduced noise.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method as recited in claim 1 including the additional steps of, a. varying the amount of steam relative to the amount of gas flowing to the flare, and b. varying the first amount of steam to a second amount of steam relative to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned for providing a smokeless air-to-gas burning mixture in the flare with less steam usage and reduced noise.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the second step comprises further, a. determining the amount of steam required to maintain a desired steam-to-gas ratio for the flare for the particular amount of gas flow, and b. multiplying the amount of steam supplied by a factor relative to the specific gravity of the gas for providing the smokeless air-to-gas burning mixture in the flare with less noise.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the second step comprises further, a. determining the amount of steam required to maintain a desired steam-to-gas ratio for the flare gas flow, and b. varying the steam-to-gas ratio relatively to the specific gravity of the gas for providing a smokeless air-to-gas burning mixture in the flare with less noise.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for smokelessly burning gas with less noise in a high pressure gas aspirating flare having means for controlling the amount of high pressure gas to the aspirating flare for controlling the amount of air drawn in for mixing with the gas to be burned, comprising the steps of, a. determining the specific gravity of the gas to be burned, and b. varying the amount of high pressure aspirating gas to the flare relative to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned for providing a smokeless air-to-gas burning mixture in the flare with less high pressure gas usage and reduced noise.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for smokelessly burning gas with less noise in a high pressure gas aspirating flare having means for controlling the amount of high pressure gas to the aspirating flare for controlling the amount of air drawn in for mixing with the gas to be burned, comprising the steps of, a. determining the specific gravity of the gas to be burned, and b. varying the amount of high pressure aspirating gas to the flare relative to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned for providing a smokeless air-to-gas burning mixture in the flare with less high pressure gas usage and reduced noise.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for smokelessly burning gas with less noise in a steam aspirating flare having means for controlling the steam-to-gas ratio in the flare comprising the steps of, a. determining a first steam-to-gas ratio relative to the amount of gas flow to the flare, b. determining the specific gravity of the gas to be Burned, and c. varying the first steam-to-gas ratio relative to the specific gravity of the gas to provide a smokeless air-to-gas burning mixture in the flare with less steam usage and reduced noise.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for smokelessly burning gas with less noise in a steam aspirating flare having means for controlling the steam-to-gas ratio in the flare comprising the steps of, a. determining a first steam-to-gas ratio relative to the amount of gas flow to the flare, b. determining the specific gravity of the gas to be Burned, and c. varying the first steam-to-gas ratio relative to the specific gravity of the gas to provide a smokeless air-to-gas burning mixture in the flare with less steam usage and reduced noise.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the last step comprises further, a. varying the amount of steam in the steam-to-gas ratio in relation to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the last step comprises further, a. varying the amount of steam in the steam-to-gas ratio in proportion to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the last step comprises further, a. varying the amount of steam in the steam-to-gas ratio in substantially direct proportion to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
A steam aspirating gas flare for smokeless burning with less noise of undesired gas comprising, a. specific gravity analyzer means for determining the specific gravity of the gas to be burned, b. steam flow controller means for controlling the steam-to-gas mixture supplied to the flare, and c. said steam flow controller means being responsive to said specific gravity analyzer means for varying the steam relative to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned for providing a smokeless air-to-gas burning mixture in the flare with less steam usage and reduced noise.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
A steam aspirating gas flare for smokeless burning with less noise of undesired gas comprising, a. specific gravity analyzer means for determining the specific gravity of the gas to be burned, b. steam flow controller means for controlling the steam-to-gas mixture supplied to the flare, and c. said steam flow controller means being responsive to said specific gravity analyzer means for varying the steam relative to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned for providing a smokeless air-to-gas burning mixture in the flare with less steam usage and reduced noise.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A flare as recited in claim 10 wherein, a. said specific gravity analyzer means comprises means for continuously analyzing the gas prior to being supplied to the flare for burning.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A flare as recited in claim 10 wherein the gas is supplied to the flare through a main line and wherein, a. said specific gravity analyzer means comprises a specific gravity analyzer connected to the main line for continuously circulating the gas from the main line, through the specific gravity analyzer, and back to the main line for continuous analyzing of the gas prior to being burned in the flare.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
A flare as recited in claim 10 including further, a. ratio varying means for varying the steam-to-gas mixture output of said steam flow controller, and b. said ratio varying means being responsive to said gas specific gravity analyzer means for controlling said steam flow controller means for controlling the steam-to-gas mixture relative to the specific gravity of the gas being burned.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
A flare as recited in claim 10 wherein, a. said steam flow controller means has a first output steam-to-gas mixture ratio relative to the amount of gas flow to the flare, and b. said steam flow controller means is responsive to said specific gravity analyzer means for varying said first output by varying the steam relative to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
A flare as recited in claim 10 wherein, a. said steam flow controller means has a first steam output relative to the amount of gas flow to the flare, and b. said steam flow controller means is responsive to said specific gravity analyzer means for further varying said first output relative to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A flare as recited in claim 15 wherein, a. said steam flow controller means is responsive to said specific gravity analyzer means for varying said first output in proportion to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
A flare as recited in claim 15 wherein, a. said steam flow controller means is responsive to said specific gravity analyzer means for varying said first output in direct proportion to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
A flare as recited in claim 15 wherein, a. said flare has steam multiplier means, and b. said steam flow controller means is responsive to said steam multiplier means for multiplying the steam first output by a factor relative to the specific gravity of the gas to be burned.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
126 words
A steam aspirating gas flare for burning undeSired gas having a steam flow controller comprising, a. a main gas line connected to the flare, b. a specific gravity analyzer connected to said main gas line having an output, c. a gas flow detector connected between said main gas line and a steam flow controller having an output signal for controlling the steam flow relative to the gas flow, d. a variable ratio controller connected between said gas flow detector and the steam flow controller, and e. said variable ratio controller being responsive to said specific gravity analyzer output for modifying said gas flow detector control signal to said steam flow controller for ensuring smokeless burning of the undesired gas with less steam usage and reduced noise.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
126 words
A steam aspirating gas flare for burning undeSired gas having a steam flow controller comprising, a. a main gas line connected to the flare, b. a specific gravity analyzer connected to said main gas line having an output, c. a gas flow detector connected between said main gas line and a steam flow controller having an output signal for controlling the steam flow relative to the gas flow, d. a variable ratio controller connected between said gas flow detector and the steam flow controller, and e. said variable ratio controller being responsive to said specific gravity analyzer output for modifying said gas flow detector control signal to said steam flow controller for ensuring smokeless burning of the undesired gas with less steam usage and reduced noise.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
A flare as recited in claim 19 wherein, a. said variable ratio controller multiplies said gas flow detector output by the specific gravity analyzer output for ensuring smokeless burning of the undesired gas with less noise.
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) | 1976-11-12 | 1977-05-14 | 1977-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-12 | 1981-05-14 | 1981-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-12 | 1985-05-14 | 1985-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |