Live measurement of combustion efficiency

Industry context

The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA)recognises that flare combustion efficiency plays akey role in minimising greenhouse gas emissionsresulting from flare activity. The regulator requiresthat “Operators should meter, monitor and managetheir flare gas composition and flare combustionefficiency to ensure minimum greenhouse gasemissions resulting from flare activity”.​

​​Combustion efficiency is assumed to be in the region of 98% for a properly operated flare system however there is presently no direct method of measuring flare combustion efficiency, and subsequently, no information which may be used for plant control and flare optimisation.

Project overview

Accord ESL offers a solution with its ‘combustor’ concept, integrating a dynamic process simulation model and academic research to enable direct, live measurement of combustion efficiency. This system provides real-time feedback for combustion optimisation, addressing the current limitation of retrospective, uncertain efficiency calculations that cannot adapt dynamically to changing plant conditions or environmental factors.​

It provides minute-by-minute calculations of CO2, CH4,CO2e flow rates and cumulative totals with liveuncertainty reporting for combustion efficiency. Wherepossible it can identify and optimise CO2e performanceand post process data for mismeasurement events whichcan be updated to study, inform and incorporate futureplant changes, pre- and post-combustion compositionalinformation.​

​It is integrated with the CHARM process modelling software. Portable and efficient, it is deployed in the cloud in a secure and controlled software environment.

Outcome

Response time from the cloud is typically 0.5 secs​

Significantly reduces emissions of CO2, methane, CO, NOx and SO2. A basin-wide saving of 1.4m tonnes of CO2e could be achieved

Dynamic management of flare operations in real-time could lead to substantial cost savings in fuel usage and penalties. ​

Timeline to finalise simulation models is efficient at between 2-4 weeks ​

Response time from the cloud is typically 0.5 secs​

Significantly reduces emissions of CO2, methane, CO, NOx and SO2. A basin-wide saving of 1.4m tonnes of CO2e could be achieved

Dynamic management of flare operations in real-time could lead to substantial cost savings in fuel usage and penalties. ​

Timeline to finalise simulation models is efficient at between 2-4 weeks ​