US3891847A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for controlling the addition of a combustion assisting fluid to a flare
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1974-02-13
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Granted: 1975-06-24
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Expires: 1994-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for controlling the flow of a combustion assisting fluid to a flare stack by detecting the radiation emitted by the flare and using the resulting signal to control the flow.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas R Schmidt
- 👤 Gary B Schinman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:01
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J5/00; G01J5/60; G01J5/602; F; F23; F23N; F23N5/00; F23N5/02; F23N5/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
A method for controlling steam flow to a flare stack for improving combustion comprising: detecting the radiation existing at the base of the flare while substantially discriminating against reflected light; producing a signal proportional to said detected radiation; and controlling the steam flow in response to said signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
48 words
A method for controlling steam flow to a flare stack for improving combustion comprising: detecting the radiation existing at the base of the flare while substantially discriminating against reflected light; producing a signal proportional to said detected radiation; and controlling the steam flow in response to said signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 in which the detected radiation originates at the top of the stack and the bottom of the flare.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 in which the radiation is predominantly in the infrared region.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for controlling the steam flow to a flare stack comprising: a housing; a photocell device, said device being mounted in said housing; an optical system having a restricted field of view, said optical system being mounted in said housing to restrict the field of view of said photocell device to the top portion of the flare stack and the bottom portion of the flare; a controller having a set point, said photocell device being coupled to said controller; and valve means disposed to control the flow of steam to the flare, said controller being coupled to said valve means to position the valve means in response to the signal from the photocell device.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for controlling the steam flow to a flare stack comprising: a housing; a photocell device, said device being mounted in said housing; an optical system having a restricted field of view, said optical system being mounted in said housing to restrict the field of view of said photocell device to the top portion of the flare stack and the bottom portion of the flare; a controller having a set point, said photocell device being coupled to said controller; and valve means disposed to control the flow of steam to the flare, said controller being coupled to said valve means to position the valve means in response to the signal from the photocell device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said housing is an elongated tubular structure disposed to exclude light from sources outside the field of view of the optical system from falling on said photocell device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said housing is disposed at ground level and aimed so that the field of view of the optical system includes the top portion of the stack and the bottom portion of the flare.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said optical system limits the field of view to bottom one third of the flare.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said optical system includes a filter to limit the light falling on the photocell device to the infrared wavelengths.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said photocell device is self-generating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the photocell device is silicon photocell.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3499154A
Cited
US3517190A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-23 | 1978-12-23 | 1979-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-23 | 1982-12-23 | 1983-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-23 | 1986-12-23 | 1987-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |