Cold Venting As API 521 To Discharge HC
Cold Venting As API 521 To Discharge HC
Cold Venting As API 521 To Discharge HC
Need to design a new waste gas disposal for our releases that are in fact
only generated in emergencies.
Assumption that a Flare Stack might be the only option is in a way
stringent, recently more close attention to item 4 of API-521 shows that
cold vent stacks could also be an option and, in most cases, even more
appropriated.
Decision to opt for (cold stack or flare stack) and why.
The streams with high BlowDown concentrations to be vented to Flare.
Given the human health issues with (Chemicals), I would never consider
a cold atmospheric vent.
I fully agree with your understanding that streams with butadiene must
be sent to the flare stack to be destroyed to avoid Butadiene emissions to
atmosphere, concerning enviroment and health issues. Our plant, though,
is located in a country where this emissions are still not estabilished by
law.
Instead, our flare will bring us some problems related to NOx emissions
related to purge and pilot natural gas continous burning that are
restricted here by law.
That is why we are evaluating the cold stack, but I tend to use as design
basis the explosive limits in our fence to calculate the height of the cold
stack.
As you mentioned health issues, could you please tell me what criteria
should I adopt in my fence limits?
I think that cold vents should be considered for all applications, where
sufficient distance to the vent is not a problem.
It should always be in combination with a flare - e.g. a ground flare for
use when a planned blow down is required e.g. for maintenance.
Now I can do my calculation (stack height) using the following three
criteria:
5.3.9 Gas Flaring 5.3.9.1 Gas flaring is prohibited. However, should the
licensee/operator be constrained to flare gas due to operational
exigencies such as:- a) Planned operational flaring due to scheduled
maintenance, equipment shutdown, well completions, work-overs,
combustion of gas to maintain flare pilot, etc.; b) Unplanned operational
flaring due to mechanical equipment failures, instrument failures and
difficulty restarting well production. c) Safety flaring to purge flare lines
with hydrocarbon gas for safety purposes. d) Etc,