Flare System Inspection

When evaluating the safety and environmental aspects in olefins facility one must surely consider the flare. The flare is responsible for combusting enormous amounts of flammable material during plant upsets.   Not only is the flare responsible for combusting these materials but it also must perform its designed function in an environmentally acceptable manner. Damaged flares typically do not perform to the design criteria. This paper highlights components of a good flare system inspection. The paper will address two basic types of inspection: in-service and shutdown inspection. Each one of these types of inspection has their own challenges and applicability.