Subject : Ground-Level Concentration of Unburned Flammable Gas

Author : Ankur Srivastava (Chemical Engineer) ankur_2061@hotmail.com

Checked : JoeWong webwormcpt.wwcpt@gmail.com
Reference : Section 15.11, Handbook of Chemical Engineering Calculations, 3rd Edition, Nicholas P. Chopey
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Ground-Level Concentration of Unburned Flammable Gas
Momentum Plume Rise (Plume rise due to gas exit velocity), H
Maximum Ground-Level Concentration
where: Inputs
H = Plume rise due to gas exit velocity, m Mass flow of gas release through flare, Q 90720 kg/h
d = flare tip diameter, m Height of flare stack, H 61 m
V
ex
= Exit velocity from flare tip, m/s Diameter of flare tip, d 0.46 m
U = Wind Speed, m/s Exit velocity from flare tip, V
ex
83.8 m/s
Wind Speed, U 3.1 m/s
Effective Flare Stack Height, H' Molecular weight of the gas 54
Calculations
where: Mass flow of gas release, Q 25200.0 g/s
H' = effective flare stack height, m Momentum plume rise, H 37.3 m
H = flare stack height, m Effective flare stack height, H' 98.3 m
H = Plume rise due to gas exit velocity, m Max. ground level concentration, C 0.193 g/m
3
193 mg/m
3
Maximum Ground Level Concentration, C Max. ground level concentration, C in ppm 87.6 ppm
where:
C = max. ground level concentration, g/m
3
Q = Mass flow of gas release, g/s
U = wind speed, m/s
H' = effective flare stack height, m
Converting mg/m
3
to ppm
where:
MW = molecular weight of the gas
Disclaimer : The information and methods included within this spreadsheet are presented for common sharing and
intended to be used by technically skilled persons at their own discretion. I do not warrant the suitability or accuracy of
these methods.
U
V d
H
ex

= A
3
H H H A + = '
2
'
23 . 0
H U
Q
C

=
|
.
|

\
|
=
MW
m mg ppm
45 . 24
/
3