Project Name :

THE GABE OIL

Project Number :
FLARE STACK USING THE SIMPLE
AND BRZUSTOWSKI'S AND Sheet No. : 2 of 31
SOMMER'S APPROACH MANUAL Rev Date By APVD
SIZING CALCULATION 24.01.25 Q.Y.A. N.H.

B&S Approach
1. PROBLEM
The objective of this calculation is to determine the optimal dimension of flare stack using
the simple approach according to API-521 as the reference.

2. PROCESS DATA
Fluid Service = Flare Gas
Fluid Flowrate F = 30000 kg/h
Fluid Flowrate F = 8,33 kg/s
Compressibility Factor Z = 1
Fluid Molecular Weight MW = 18,76
o
Flowing Temperature T = 40 C
Heat of Combustion dHc = 44000 kJ/kg
Flowing Temperature T = 313,15 K
Air Temperature Tair = 303,15 K
Pressure at Flare Tip P = 110 kPa
Wind Velocity vwind = 7 m/s
Allowable Heat Radiation K = 6,31 kW/m2
The Distance of Allowable Heat Rad. r = 20 m
Relative Humidity RH = 48,00 %
Lower Explosive Limits CL = 0,04

3. SCHEMATIC ∆

∆
Yc

Xc

d
h h'

r'
r
 Project Name :
THE GABE OIL
Project Number :
FLARE STACK USING THE SIMPLE
AND BRZUSTOWSKI'S AND Sheet No. : 2 of 31
SOMMER'S APPROACH MANUAL Rev Date By APVD
SIZING CALCULATION 24.01.25 Q.Y.A. N.H.

4. CALCULATION
4.1 Flare Diameter
Mach Number Ma = 0,45
Specific Heat Cp/Cv = 1,2

,
×
= . ×
×

Flare Inside Diameter ID = 0,283 m

Specific heat
4.2 Flame Center Location
Sonic Velocity at Isothermal Cond. c = 372,57 m/s
Thus, the Flare Tip Velocity:
= ! × "#$% &# %'

Flare Tip Velocity vj = 167,7 m/s

After determining the flare tip velocity, now we move to calculate the lower explosive limit
concentration for the Flare Gas which commonly symbolized as CL' through following formula:

+
() ′ = ()
+,%$- %!

Hence:
Lower explosive limit conc. for the Flare Gas CL' = 0,6 m/s

Then, after figuring out the C L', we need to determine the value of jet thrust and wind thrust
(dj * R) by formula below:

,
+ %!
- ·/=
+,%$- 0&#,%$1

Jet Thrust and Wind Thrust Value dj ∙ R = 29

Thus, the horizontal and vertical distances from the flare tip to the flame center can be
determined through Figure C.3 and Figure C.5.

Click to see Figure C.3 and Figure C.5.

 Project Name :
THE GABE OIL
Project Number :
FLARE STACK USING THE SIMPLE
AND BRZUSTOWSKI'S AND Sheet No. : 2 of 31
SOMMER'S APPROACH MANUAL Rev Date By APVD
SIZING CALCULATION 24.01.25 Q.Y.A. N.H.

Based on Figure C.3, we could determine the Horizontal Distance (Xc)

Horiz. Dist. from Flare Tip to Flame Center Xc = 4,0 m

Based on Figure C.5, we could determine the Vertical Distance (Yc)

Vert. Dist. from Flare Tip to Flame Center Yc = 10,3 m

4.3 Flare Stack Distance From Flame Center to Receptor Point and Height Required
The distance of flare stack from flame center to receptor point or the grade-level
boundary can be determined through:

2 ′3 where: τ : Fraction of heat intensity transmitted

=
456 F' : Fraction of Heat Radiated
Q : Heat Released
Q = 3,67E+05 kW
K : Allowable Heat Radiation Table 12

For the value of τ and the F' value is determined by using following equation:

Brzustowski and Sommer recommend the use of fraction of heat intensity transmitted (Tau) to
correct the radiation impact. This is because of the environmental also can absorb the heat
about 10% to 20% over distance of 150 meter.

: :
2 = , 78
/9

As we can see from both equations above, there's the "D" variable in the equations which then
we need change the form to be:
First, assume the value of
456 : :
D, then click the icon to
= , 78 Calculate
;3 /9 determine the real value.
The Distance between flame
D = 30 m
center to receptor point
 Project Name :
THE GABE OIL
Project Number :
FLARE STACK USING THE SIMPLE
AND BRZUSTOWSKI'S AND Sheet No. : 2 of 31
SOMMER'S APPROACH MANUAL Rev Date By APVD
SIZING CALCULATION 24.01.25 Q.Y.A. N.H.

Thus;
Fraction of Heat Intensity Transmitted τ = 0,83

; ,
= , + , × 0( ),

Where:
0 = ; ,
,
0 = ; ; < <:
0 = , :8; >:

Fraction of Heat Radiated F' = 0,2322

4.4 Flare Stack Height

At ground level, at a distance and in accordance with the layout illustrated in
Schematic, the minimum flare stack height, h, is calculated as follows:

Flare Stack Height h = 15 m

ℎ; = ℎ + CD
E ; = E − GD
H I = E ;I + ℎ;I
H I = E − GD I + ℎ + CD I
ℎ = ( H I − E − GD I J,K − CD
 Project Name :
THE GABE OIL
Project Number :
FLARE STACK USING THE SIMPLE
AND BRZUSTOWSKI'S AND Sheet No. : 2 of 31
SOMMER'S APPROACH MANUAL Rev Date By APVD
SIZING CALCULATION 24.01.25 Q.Y.A. N.H.

Simple Approach
1. PROBLEM
The objective of this calculation is to determine the optimal dimension of flare stack using
the simple approach according to API-521 as the reference.

2. PROCESS DATA
Fluid Service = Flare Gas
Fluid Flowrate F = 30000 kg/h
Fluid Flowrate F = 8,33 kg/s
Compressibility Factor Z = 1
Fluid Molecular Weight MW = 18,76
o
Flowing Temperature T = 40 C
Heat of Combustion dHc = 44000 kJ/kg
Flowing Temperature T = 313,15 K
Pressure at Flare Tip P = 101,3 kPa
Wind Velocity vwind = 7 m/s
Allowable Heat Radiation K = 6,3 kW/m2
The Distance of Allowable Heat Rad. r = 25 m

3. SCHEMATIC
 Project Name :
THE GABE OIL
Project Number :
FLARE STACK USING THE SIMPLE
AND BRZUSTOWSKI'S AND Sheet No. : 2 of 31
SOMMER'S APPROACH MANUAL Rev Date By APVD
SIZING CALCULATION 24.01.25 Q.Y.A. N.H.

4. CALCULATION
4.1 Flare Diameter
Mach Number Ma = 0,4
𝟎,𝟓
𝑭 𝒁×𝑻
𝑴𝒂 = 𝟑. 𝟐𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟓
𝑷 × 𝑰𝑫𝟐 𝑴𝑾

Flare Inside Diameter ID = 0,31 m

4.2 Flame Length

Energy of Combustion Q = 3,67E+05 kW
For the flame length, we can analyze it through Figure 5 in "Figures" sheet.
Click Here
Thus:
Flame Length L = 38 m
Vapor Volume Rate qvap = 11,40 m3/s

4.3 Flame Distortion Caused by Wind Velocity

Flare Tip Velocity vj = 148,6 m/s
Therefore; the flame distortion caused by wind can be determined through:
𝒗𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒅
𝒗𝒋

Flame Distortion = 0,05

Thus; from Figure 7.

∆𝑥/𝐿 = 0,68
∆𝑥 = 25,84 m
∆y/𝐿 = 0,58
∆y = 22,04 m

4.3 Flare Stack Distance From Flame Center to Receptor Point and Height Required
The distance of flare stack from flame center to receptor point or the grade-level
boundary can be determined through:
𝝉𝑭′𝑸
𝑫= where: τ : Fraction of heat intensity transmitted
𝟒𝝅𝑲
F' : Fraction of Heat Radiated
 Project Name :
THE GABE OIL
Project Number :
FLARE STACK USING THE SIMPLE
AND BRZUSTOWSKI'S AND Sheet No. : 2 of 31
SOMMER'S APPROACH MANUAL Rev Date By APVD
SIZING CALCULATION 24.01.25 Q.Y.A. N.H.

Q : Heat Released
K : Allowable Heat Radiation Table 12

For the value of τ, API 521 assumed it to be 1 and the F' value is determined by using
Modified Chamberlain Equation

Fraction of Heat Intensity Transmitted τ = 1

Fraction of Heat Radiated F' = 0,2399
𝑭′ = 𝟎, 𝟏𝟏 + 𝟎, 𝟐𝟏𝒆−𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟑𝟐𝟑𝒖𝒋 × 𝒇(𝑴𝑾),

Where:
𝒇 𝑴𝑾 = 𝟏; 𝑴𝑾 , 𝟐𝟏
𝟎,𝟓
𝑴𝑾
𝒇 𝑴𝑾 = 𝟏; ; 𝟐𝟏 < 𝑴𝑾 < 𝟔𝟎
𝟐𝟏
𝒇 𝑴𝑾 = 𝟏, 𝟔𝟗; 𝑴𝑾 > 𝟔𝟎

Thus;
The Distance between flame
D = 33 m
center to receptor point

Therefore; the flare stack height is calculated as follows:

𝒉′ = 𝒉 + 𝟎, 𝟓 ෍ ∆𝒚

𝒓′ = 𝒓 − 𝟎, 𝟓 ෍ ∆𝒙

The physical arrangement shown in Schematic, Then:

Horizontal Distance between flame

r' = 12 m
center and receptor point

Flame Center to Base Point Height h' = 31 m

Flare Height h = 20 m