Flare Stack

The disposal of flare hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from desulfurization units is a
the past practise has been to burn the hydrogen sulfide and convert it to non-combustia
Many public health deparmentnow requires that this burning takes place at a sufficient e
Equations for determining the height of stack that will give ground level concentrations

Effective height that will result in ground contamination level not exceeding a given max
HE
Symbol

Item

Co , Max.
G

Maximum ground level concetration for a particular wind velocity

Gradient of potential Atmospheric Temperature

g
He
Hs
Ht
Htx
Hv
Hvx
J
P
q

Accelaration
Effective Stack Height
Actual Stack Height
Maximum height due to thermal rise
Thermal rise at X feet from stack
Maximum height due to velocity rise
Velocity rise at X feet from stack
Parameter to compute thermal rise
Bosanquet diffusion coefficient
Bosanquet diffusion coefficient

Q
Qt1
T
T1
U
Vs
X
x
Y
Z
Am
Cz
Cy
N

Emission rate of gas contaminant at atmospheric Temperatu

(use 70 Deg F if Un known)

Total stack gas emission rate at temperature, (T1 use atmosphe

stack gas composition is unknown)
Atmospheric Temperature
Temperature at which stack gas density equals that of atmosphere
Wind speed
Stack gas exit velocity
Thermal rise parameter
Downwind diatance from source
Crosswind distance from stackat X feet downwind
Thermal rise parameter
Stack temperature minus T1
Equals to Cz/Cy (Sutton Only)
Diffusion factor in z direction (sutton only)
Diffusion factor in y direction (sutton only)
Turbulance factor (sutton only)

Constants Used in sutton method

Miles/ hour
U , ft/sec

5
7.34

10
14.67

15
22

20
29.34

25
36.67

53.88

215.21

484

860.84

1344.69

U
Cz/Cy = Am
Am/U
G, Deg F

395.48
0.5
0.0681
0.0108

3157.13
0.5
0.0341
0.0072

10648
0.25
0.0114
0.0054

25257
0.15
0.0051
0.0018

49310
0.15
0.0041
0.001

0.43/(gG)1/2

0.729

0.893

1.031

1.786

2.396

U2
3

Sutton Equation

Effective Height that will result in ground contamination level not exceeding a given ma
a

HE

b.

((2.35 X 105) *Q/Co max))*(am/U))^0.5

Height Attributed to thermal rise

HT

(6.37*q*(Q+1))
T1

Hv

Height attributed to exit velocity

4.33

1+0.43
Hs +0.75*(HT+Hv)
(U/Vs)

HE

Constants Calculations

(Qt1Vs)^0.5
U

ln(j^2) +(2/J)-2

U2
(Qt1 *Vs)^0.5

T1

Mol. Wt. of stack gas

0.43 T1
gG

(T+460)

(0.28*Vs*T1/g)

29

ulfurization units is a problem in populated areas.

rt it to non-combustiable sulfur dioxide.Though thia eliminates the problem of combustion ,it does not elimin
place at a sufficient elevation so that at ground level a maximum concentration will not be exceeded.

level concentrations of SO2 not in excess of maximum permitted have been formulated by Bosanquet and P

xceeding a given maximum.

rticular wind velocity

mospheric Temperature
known)

Units
PPM by volume
Deg F
32.2 ft / Sec
Feet
Feet
Feet
Feet
Feet
Feet
None
None
None

cfs

ure, (T1 use atmospheric temperature if

ion is unknown)

cfs
Deg F
als that of atmosphere(For dilute gases T1 Deg F
ft/sec
ft/sec
None
Feet
Feet
None
Deg F
None
None
None
None

exceeding a given maximum.

Z
U^
3

0.28*Vs*T1/g)

0.5

ion ,it does not eliminate the health hazordous,since sulfur dioxide is hazardous material as H2S.
ot be exceeded.

d by Bosanquet and Pearson and by sutton.

al as H2S.

A "Q" -pak reactor is to be used to flare 317900SCFH of waste gas containing

The maximum allowable ground concentrations is 0.15 PPM by volume.The a
Find the minimum stack height to provide this concentration
Actual Gas volume
Actual Gas volume
Contaminant Volume
Stack Temperature
Ambient Temp.
Since the Mol. Wt. of flare is not given use T1=T
T1
Temperature at which stack gas densityequals that of atmosphere (for dilute
T1

If a "Q"pak reactor is used ,the Vs

Gravitional Constany

Hand Calculation Method

Qt X Vs
(Qt X Vs)^0.5
(0.28 X Vs X T1)/ (g X
0.43/Vs
6.37 X g X Qt1 X
T1
(T1)^0.5
Co, Max
2.315 X10^5 X Q / Co , Max.

Miles Per Hour

u^2
u^2/(Qt x Vs)^0.5
0.43 / (g X G)^0.5
G , Deg F
0.43/(g X G)^0.5 (T1)^0.5 =
(0.43/ (g x G) ^0.5)) X 23.94
0.43/(g X G)^0.5 (T1)^0.5 (0.28 X Vs X T1)/ (g X

0.43/(g X G)^0.5 (T1)^0.5 (0.28 X Vs X T1)/ (g X

u^2/(Qt x Vs)^0.5 = J-1
J = (J-1) + 1
2/J
Log10 J
Ln(J2) = 4.605log10J
Z=ln(J2)+ (2/J )-2
U3
Z/U3
6.37 X gX Qt1 X

X(Z/u 3) = HT

T1
U , ft/sec
(Qt X Vs)^0.5 /u = 164.3 / u
(0.43/Vs) u =0.0014 X u
(0.43/Vs) u+1
4.77/((1+(0.43/Vs) u))
Hv = 4.77/((1+(0.43/Vs) u)) X (Qt X Vs)^0.5 /u
Am/U
((2.35 X 105) *Q/Co max))*(am/U))
He =((2.35 X 105) *Q/Co max))*(am/U))^0.5
HT+Hv
0.75 X HT+Hv
Hs =He - 0.75 X (HT+Hv)

Hv

He

Hs

of waste gas containing 10% sulfur dioxide as the contaminant.

15 PPM by volume.The average atmospheric temperature can be assumed to be 70 Deg F .The flare gas leav

Qt1
Qt1
Q
Ts
T

317900 SCFH
90.00374 CFS
9.000374 CFS
3070 Deg F
70 Deg F

530 Deg R
f atmosphere (for dilute gases T1=T.)
573 Deg R
3000 Deg R
300 ft/Sec
32.2

27001.12
164.3202
0.498261
0.001433
96654.59

23.93742
0.15
14100586

10

15

20

25

53.88
215.21
484
860.84 1344.69
0.327896 1.309699 2.945469 5.238797 8.183353
0.729
0.8931
1.031
1.786
2.396
0.0108
0.0072
0.0054
0.0018
0.001
17.45038 21.37851 24.67948 42.75223 57.35405
16.95212 20.88025 24.18122 42.25397 56.85579

5.558539 27.34684 71.22503 221.3599 465.271

6.558539 28.34684 72.22503 222.3599 466.271
0.304946 0.070555 0.027691 0.008994 0.004289
0.816807 1.452505 1.858688 2.347057 2.668638
3.761397 6.688784 8.559257

10.8082 12.28908

2.066343 4.759339 6.586948

8.81719 10.29337

395.48

3157.13

10648

25257

49310

0.005225 0.001507 0.000619 0.000349 0.000209

505.0104 145.7057

7.34
22.3842
0.010521
1.010521
4.720339
105.661
0.0681
960249.9
979.9234

14.67
11.19973
0.021027
1.021027
4.671767
52.32251
0.0341
480830
693.419

59.7914 33.74201 20.17646

22
7.468182
0.031533
1.031533
4.624184
34.53425
0.0114
160746.7
400.9323

29.34
5.599864
0.042054
1.042054
4.577498
25.63336
0.0051
71912.99
268.166

36.67
4.480502
0.05256
1.05256
4.531807
20.30477
0.0041
57812.4
240.4421

610.6714 198.0282 94.32564 59.37537 40.48123

458.0035 148.5212 70.74423 44.53153 30.36092
521.9199 544.8979

330.188 223.6344 210.0812

508.8889

g F .The flare gas leaves the top of the stack at a temperature of 3070 Deg F.