Integrated smoke monitoring and control system for flaring operations

Abstract

A flare monitoring and control system monitors parameters that affect the amount of smoke generated during a flaring operation. The system receives data relating to the parameters, and analyzes the data relating to the parameters. The system predicts an impending increase in the amount of smoke generated during the flaring operation, and varies a value of one or more parameters to prevent the impending increase in the amount of smoke generated during the flaring operation.

1 . A flare monitoring and control system comprising:
 a computer processor operable to:
 monitor a plurality of parameters, the parameters affecting an amount of smoke generated during a flaring operation; 
 receive data relating to the plurality of parameters; 
 analyze the data relating to the plurality of parameters; 
 predict an impending increase in the amount of smoke generated during the flaring operation; and 
 vary a value of one or more parameters to prevent the impending increase in the amount of smoke generated during the flaring operation. 
   
     
     
         2 . The flare monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer processor is operable to suggest preventative actions to eradicate or decrease the impending increase in the amount of smoke generated during the flaring operation. 
     
     
         3 . The flare monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the prediction of the impending increase in the amount of smoke generated during the flaring operation is based on an identification of a valve failure, a compressor problem, or a suboptimal gas composition with respect to combustibility. 
     
     
         4 . The flare monitoring and control system of  claim 3 , wherein the identification of the compressor problem comprises one or more of a shaft failure, a bearing failure, a blade failure, a surge failure, a motor failure, and a gear failure. 
     
     
         5 . The flare monitoring and control system of  claim 4 , wherein the compressor problem comprises a time lag between the compressor problem and starting a standby compressor, and wherein the computer processor is configured to cause the standby compressor to start immediately after the identification of the compressor problem. 
     
     
         6 . The flare monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the system monitors and controls an industrial plant. 
     
     
         7 . The flare monitoring and control system of  claim 6 , wherein the industrial plant comprises an oil or gas refinery or an oil or gas separation plant. 
     
     
         8 . The flare monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of the plurality of parameters comprises monitoring a composition of a flare gas, and wherein the computer processor is configured to inject one or more gases into the flare gas to modify the composition of the flare gas. 
     
     
         9 . The flare monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of the plurality of parameters comprises monitoring steam/air injection quantity and quality, and wherein the computer processor is configured to modify the steam/air injection quantity. 
     
     
         10 . The flare monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of the plurality of parameters comprises a first monitoring of a flare image, a temperature at a liquid propane gas (LPG) discharge, a LPG flow rate, an air/steam injection rate, an air/steam quality, and a steam temperature; and wherein the computer processor is configured to modify one or more of the LPG flow rate, the air/steam injection rate, and the air/steam quality as a function of the first monitoring. 
     
     
         11 . The flare monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of the plurality of parameters comprises a second monitoring of a compressor; and wherein the second monitoring of the compressor involves one or more of vibration, noise, current, speed, radar signal, flow, discharge pressure, ambient pressure, discharge temperature, and ambient temperature; and wherein the computer processor is configured to modify one or more of a compressor inlet guide vane (IGV) angle, a compressor bleeding, and a compressor motor speed or frequency as a function of the second monitoring. 
     
     
         12 . A flare monitoring and control process comprising:
 monitoring a plurality of parameters, the parameters affecting an amount of smoke generated during a flaring operation;   receiving data relating to the plurality of parameters;   analyzing the data relating to the plurality of parameters;   predicting an impending increase in the amount of smoke generated during the flaring operation; and   varying a value of one or more parameters to prevent the impending increase in the amount of smoke generated during the flaring operation.   
     
     
         13 . The flare monitoring and control process of  claim 12 , comprising suggesting preventative actions to eradicate or decrease the impending increase in the amount of smoke generated during the flaring operation. 
     
     
         14 . The flare monitoring and control process of  claim 12 , wherein the predicting the impending increase in the amount of smoke generated during the flaring operation is based on an identification of a valve failure, a compressor problem, or a suboptimal gas composition with respect to combustibility; wherein the identification of the compressor problem comprises one or more of a shaft failure, a bearing failure, a blade failure, a surge failure, a motor failure, and a gear failure; and wherein the compressor problem comprises a time lag between the compressor problem and starting a standby compressor, and wherein the computer processor is configured to cause the standby compressor to start immediately after the identification of the compressor problem. 
     
     
         15 . The flare monitoring and control process of  claim 12 , comprising monitoring and controlling an industrial plant; wherein the industrial plant comprises an oil or gas refinery or an oil or gas separation plant. 
     
     
         16 . The flare monitoring and control process of  claim 12 , wherein the monitoring of the plurality of parameters comprises monitoring a composition of a flare gas, and comprising injecting one or more gases into the flare gas to modify the composition of the flare gas. 
     
     
         17 . A computer readable medium comprising instructions to execute a flare monitoring and control process comprising:
 monitoring a plurality of parameters, the parameters affecting an amount of smoke generated during a flaring operation;   receiving data relating to the plurality of parameters;   analyzing the data relating to the plurality of parameters;   predicting an impending increase in the amount of smoke generated during the flaring operation; and   varying a value of one or more parameters to prevent the impending increase in the amount of smoke generated during the flaring operation.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , comprising monitoring steam/air injection quantity and quality; and modifying the steam/air injection quantity. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the monitoring of the plurality of parameters comprises a first monitoring of a flare image, a temperature at a liquid propane gas (LPG) discharge, a LPG flow rate, an air/steam injection rate, an air/steam quality, and a steam temperature; and modifying one or more of the LPG flow rate, the air/steam injection rate, and the air/steam quality as a function of the first monitoring. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the monitoring of the plurality of parameters comprises a second monitoring of a compressor; and wherein the second monitoring of the compressor involves one or more of vibration, noise, current, speed, radar signal, flow, discharge pressure, ambient pressure, discharge temperature, and ambient temperature; and modifying one or more of a compressor inlet guide vane (IGV) angle, a compressor bleeding, and a compressor motor speed or frequency as a function of the second monitoring.