Enclosed Flare Design

Enclosed flares, also called ground flares, populated area combustors or thermal oxidizer flares, offer many advantages in comparison to elevated open flares.

The principal advantages are:

• no smoke
• no steam
• no visible flame
• no thermal radiatioin
• no odor
• very low noise levels

Enclosed flare design and operation are discussed in this 6 page color reprint. (RP96-12)

All types of enclosed flare applications are reviewed- from flaring of heavy hydrocarbons without smoke and without using steam to low energy inerted waste gas streams. A comparison chart of 4 common types enclosed flares shows key design factors. The report also contains several examples of special enclosed flares, and a low cost earthen-enclosed pit design.

NAO Inc., 1299 East Sedgley Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19134. Tel: 800-328-7637 or 215-743-5300. Fax: 215-743-3018.