Concentration Reduction of Gas Flaring Emissions Using Deflector Structures: A Case Study of Yadavaran Oil Field

• Published in: International Journal of Environmental Research 2022-04, Vol.16 (2), Article 22
• Main Authors: Yazdian, Fatemeh, Shamsoddini, Rahim, Nazarpour, Hadi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accumulation; Advection; Air pollution; Carbon dioxide; Chemical reactions; Computer applications; Contamination; Earth and Environmental Science; Emission analysis; Emissions; Environment; Environmental conditions; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental Management; Finite element method; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Geoecology/Natural Processes; Landscape/Regional and Urban Planning; Mathematical models; Natural Hazards; Numerical analysis; Numerical methods; Oil and gas fields; Oil fields; Pollutants; Pollution control; Research Paper; Turbulent flow; Walls
• ISSN: 1735-6865; 2008-2304
• DOI: 10.1007/s41742-022-00398-6

Adverse effects of gas flaring emissions in oil regions are among the environmental challenges on national and regional scales. Flaring accounts for a significant share of air pollution in downstream areas. In the present study, the advection direction is changed to deflect pollutants away from the target point by numerically examining flaring emission rate in the case of using flow deflector walls in five various positions. For this purpose, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) numerical method and an advanced honeycomb mesh are applied. In addition, turbulent flow is considered. Fluid dynamic equations as well as equation of concentration based on the chemical reaction of combustion are solved. The numerical method is first examined in terms of mesh independence. After determining the independent mesh, the solution results are compared with the field results. CO 2 and CO concentration fields are investigated as pollutants. The pollutant emission model along with deflector walls indicate the presence of such barriers on the advection path of contamination plume reduces accumulation of pollutants at the receiving point to an acceptable level, which ultimately decreases pollution concentration and improves environmental condition. Placement of deflector walls at a distance of 15 m of gas flare showed the highest reduction of pollutants at the target point compared to other scenarios. Graphical Abstract Article Highlights Deflector structures are used to change the advection direction of the plume from a gas flare. CFD numerical method and an advanced honeycomb mesh are applied for distribution modeling. Results show a significant reduction in accumulation of pollutants at the receiving point. Using deflector structures in front of gas flares decreases pollution concentration and improves environmental condition.