Flares are generally categorized in two ways: (1) by the height of the flare tip (i.e., ground or elevated), and (2) by the method of enhancing mixing at the flare tip (i.e., steam-assisted, airassisted, pressure-assisted, or non-assisted). Elevating the flare can prevent potentially dangerous conditions at ground level where the open flame (i.e., an ignition source) is located near a process unit. Further, the products of combustion can be dispersed above working areas to reduce the effects of noise, heat, smoke, and objectionable odors. In most flares, combustion occurs by means of a diffusion flame. A diffusion flame is one in which air diffuses across the boundary of the fuel/combustion product stream toward the center of the fuel flow, forming the envelope of a combustible gas mixture around a core of fuel gas. This mixture, on ignition, establishes a stable flame zone around the gas core above the burner tip. This inner gas core is heated by diffusion of hot combustion products from the flame zone. Cracking can occur with the formation of small hot particles of carbon that give the flame its characteristic luminosity. If there is an oxygen deficiency and if the carbon particles are cooled to below their ignition temperature, smoking occurs. In large diffusion flames, combustion product vortices can form around burning portions of the gas and shut off the supply of oxygen. This localized instability causes flame flickering, which can be accompanied by soot formation. As in all combustion processes, an adequate air supply and good mixing are required to complete combustion and minimize smoke.

Steam-Assisted Flares

Steam-assisted flares are single burner tips, elevated above ground level for safety reasons, that burn the vented gas in essentially a diffusion flame. They reportedly account for the majority of the flares installed and are the predominant flare type found in refineries and chemical plants. To ensure an adequate air supply and good mixing, this type of flare system injects steam into the combustion zone to promote turbulence for mixing and to induce air into the flame.

Air-Assisted Flares

Some flares use forced air to provide the combustion air and the mixing required for smokeless operation. These flares are built with a spider-shaped burner (with many small gas orifices) located inside but near the top of a steel cylinder two feet or more in diameter. Combustion air is provided by a fan in the bottom of the cylinder. The amount of combustion air can be varied by varying the fan speed. The principal advantage of the air-assisted flares is that they can be used where steam is not available. Although air assist is not usually used on large flares (because it is generally not economical when the gas volume is large) the number of large airassisted flares being built is increasing.

Non-Assisted Flares

The non-assisted flare is just a flare tip without any auxiliary provision for enhancing the mixing of air into its flame. Its use is limited essentially to gas streams that have a low heat content and a low carbon/hydrogen ratio that burn readily without producing smoke. These streams require less air for complete combustion, have lower combustion temperatures that minimize cracking reactions, and are more resistant to cracking.

Pressure-Assisted Flares

Pressure-assisted flares use the vent stream pressure to promote mixing at the burner tip. Several vendors now market proprietary, high pressure drop burner tip designs. If sufficient vent stream pressure is available, these flares can be applied to streams previously requiring steam or air assist for smokeless operation. Pressure-assisted flares generally (but not necessarily) have the burner arrangement at ground level, and consequently, must be located in a remote area of the plant where there is plenty of space available. They have multiple burner heads that are staged to operate based on the quantity of gas being released

Enclosed Ground Flares

An enclosed flare's burner heads are inside a shell that is internally insulated. This shell reduces noise, luminosity, and heat radiation and provides wind protection. A high nozzle pressure drop is usually adequate to provide the mixing necessary for smokeless operation and air or steam assist is not required. In this context, enclosed flares can be considered a special class of pressure-assisted or non-assisted flares. The height must be adequate for creating enough draft to supply sufficient air for smokeless combustion and for dispersion of the thermal plume. These flares are always at ground level. Enclosed flares generally have less capacity than open flares and are used to combust continuous, constant flow vent streams, although reliable and efficient operation can be attained over a wide range of design capacity. Stable combustion can be obtained with lower Btu content vent gases than is possible with open flare designs (50 to 60 Btu/scf has been reported), probably due to their isolation from wind effects. Enclosed flares are typically found at landfills.