Multiphase flare for effluent flow

Abstract

A waste effluent flare may include a flare body having a streamlined exterior surface to produce a flow path that closely adheres to the exterior surface. The flare body may include an annular bulge extending circumferentially around and projecting outwardly from an exterior surface, and that is substantially axially aligned with an annular gap through which effluent is directed toward the flare body. Apertures may communicate relatively warm air from inside a body chamber to an area immediately downstream of the bulge. The head may include an initial portion substantially axially aligned with the gap that extends at a relatively small deflection angle. An atomization tube may be coupled to the flare body stem and have an inlet end fluidly communicating with the supply pipe and an outlet end disposed in a body chamber defined by the flare body, wherein the outlet end defines a discharge orifice.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A waste effluent flare for combusting waste effluent from a reservoir, the waste effluent flare comprising:
 a supply pipe configured to fluidly communicate with the reservoir so that a flow of waste effluent travels through the supply pipe, the supply pipe including a supply pipe inner surface and a supply pipe discharge end; and   a flare body extending along a flare body axis, the flare body including:
 a stem disposed within the supply pipe and extending substantially coaxially along the flare body axis, the stem having a stem outer surface spaced from the supply pipe inner surface to define an annular gap therebetween; and 
 a head having a shaped exterior surface, the head including a transition section coupled to the stem and including an annular bulge extending circumferentially around and projecting outwardly from a transition section exterior surface, wherein the bulge is substantially axially aligned with the annular gap. 
   
     
     
         2 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 1 , in which the annular bulge includes a ramp surface positioned proximally to and extending outwardly from the stem, and a relief surface positioned distally from the stem and extending inwardly from the ramp surface. 
     
     
         3 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 2 , in which the ramp surface has a frustoconical shape and is oriented at a deflection angle relative to the flare body axis, wherein the deflection angle is approximately 40 to 70 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 2 , in which the ramp surface has a frustoconical shape and is oriented at a deflection angle relative to the flare body axis, wherein the deflection angle is approximately 50 to 60 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 2 , in which the ramp surface has a frustoconical shape and is oriented at a deflection angle relative to the flare body axis, wherein the deflection angle is approximately 55 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 1 , in which the flare body further includes a body interior surface defining a body chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 6 , in which a plurality of apertures are formed through the transition section, wherein each aperture fluidly communicates between the body chamber and an exterior surface of the transition section. 
     
     
         8 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 7 , in which the plurality of apertures includes at least two concentric bands of apertures. 
     
     
         9 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 7 , in which each aperture has a diameter of approximately 2 to 5 millimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 6 , further comprising an atomization tube coupled to the flare body stem and having an inlet end fluidly communicating with the supply pipe and an outlet end disposed in the body chamber, the outlet end defining a discharge orifice. 
     
     
         11 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 1 , in which the flare body head includes a circumferential groove substantially coaxial with the flare body axis. 
     
     
         12 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 1 , in which the flare body head defines a head discharge end, and a plurality of head projections extend from the head discharge end. 
     
     
         13 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of supply pipe projections extending from the supply pipe discharge end. 
     
     
         14 . A waste effluent flare for combusting waste effluent from a reservoir, the waste effluent flare comprising:
 a supply pipe configured to fluidly communicate with the reservoir so that a flow of waste effluent travels through the supply pipe, the supply pipe including a supply pipe inner surface and a supply pipe discharge end; and   a flare body extending along a flare body axis, the flare body including:   a stem disposed within the supply pipe and extending substantially coaxially along the flare body axis, the stem having a stem outer surface spaced from the supply pipe inner surface to define an annular gap therebetween; and   a head having a streamlined shaped exterior surface and a transition section coupled to the stem, the transition section having a transition section exterior surface with an initial portion substantially axially aligned with the gap, the initial portion extending at a deflection angle relative to the flare body axis, wherein the deflection angle is approximately 40 to 70 degrees.   
     
     
         15 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 14 , in which the transition section includes an annular bulge extending circumferentially around and projecting outwardly from the transition section exterior surface, wherein the bulge is substantially axially aligned with the annular gap. 
     
     
         16 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 14 , in which the bulge includes a ramp surface positioned proximally to and extending outwardly from the stem, and a relief surface positioned distally from the stem and extending inwardly from the ramp surface, and in which the initial portion of the transition section exterior surface comprises the ramp surface. 
     
     
         17 . A waste effluent flare for combusting waste effluent from a reservoir, the waste effluent flare comprising:
 a supply pipe configured to fluidly communicate with the reservoir so that a flow of waste effluent travels through the supply pipe, the supply pipe including a supply pipe inner surface and a supply pipe discharge end;   a flare body extending along a flare body axis and including a body interior surface defining a body chamber, the flare body including:
 a stem disposed within the supply pipe and extending substantially coaxially along the flare body axis, the stem having a stem outer surface spaced from the supply pipe inner surface to define an annular gap therebetween; and 
 a head having a shaped exterior surface and a transition section coupled to the stem; and 
   an atomization tube coupled to the flare body stem and having an inlet end fluidly communicating with the supply pipe and an outlet end disposed in the body chamber, the outlet end defining a discharge orifice.   
     
     
         18 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 17 , in which the transition section includes an annular bulge extending circumferentially around and projecting outwardly from a transition section exterior surface, wherein the bulge is substantially axially aligned with the annular gap. 
     
     
         19 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 18 , in which the annular bulge includes a ramp surface positioned proximally to and extending outwardly from the stem, and a relief surface positioned distally from the stem and extending inwardly from the ramp surface, the ramp surface having a frustoconical shape oriented at a deflection angle relative to the flare body axis, wherein the deflection angle is approximately 40 to 70 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The waste effluent flare of  claim 17 , in which a plurality of apertures is formed through the transition section, wherein each aperture fluidly communicates between the body chamber and an exterior surface of the transition section.