Sky-scattered solar radiation based plume transmissivity measurements

Sky-Scattered Solar Radiation Based Plume Transmissivity Measurement to Quantify Soot Emissions from Flares

“…Although flares burning large amounts of methane will produce significant water vapor in the combustion products, the existence of condensed phase water in flare plumes is not expected, and to the authors’ knowledge has not been observed in available literature (e.g., − ). This is consistent with calculations of water vapor saturation pressure as a function of heat release, radiative heat transfer, and convective cooling and mixing with ambient air over a wide range of potential scenarios which show that near-field condensation will not occur . Depending on flare gas composition, some flares also emit gas-phase sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, which could potentially transform in the atmosphere to secondary particulate in the form of sulfate and nitrate aerosols .…”

“…Depending on flare gas composition, some flares also emit gas-phase sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, which could potentially transform in the atmosphere to secondary particulate in the form of sulfate and nitrate aerosols (23). However, the mechanisms and time scales of the conversion pathways are such that these secondary aerosols should not be a concern for measurements made in a plume immediately downstream of a flame (22). Thus, for near-field measurements in flare plumes, visible light optical attenuation measurements should be sensitive to the presence of soot only.…”