Thermo-structural analysis of a flare burner

Abstract

Flares are essential equipment for the safety of industrial plants. Failures in these devices are critical due to their continuous operation. A fluid-structure coupling model was developed for thermo-structural analysis of the influence of assist gas injection on cooling and ensuring the integrity of a burner. Stress and thermal gradient analyses were performed. The results show that, although beneficial, the assist gas at the considered flow rates is not sufficient to ensure the integrity of the equipment. It is suggested to modify the geometry of the burner to allow differential expansion between its parts and reduce stress levels.