Optimizing the performance of propane and butane flare blower using variable frequency drive

Subject Areas : Power Engineering and Energy Management

Davood Gogonani ¹ , Mozhde Heydarianasl ²

1 - Department of Electrical Engineering, Das.C., Islamic Azad University, Dashtestan, Iran
2 - Department of Electrical Engineering, Das.C., Islamic Azad University, Dashtestan, Iran

Received: 2025-04-03 Accepted : 2025-07-08 Published : 2025-10-13

Keywords: Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), Propane, Butane, Flare Ignition.,

Abstract :

Growth and development in human societies are directly related to increased energy production and consumption. After the start of the Industrial Revolution, there has been a rapid increase in the use of fossil fuels in industrialized countries, which has led to higher levels of environmental pollutants and greenhouse gases, and the resulting effects continue to plague human societies today. One of the most important sources of environmental pollutants in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries is the flare. In this study, strategies for reducing emissions from flares were investigated. A sample flare equipped with a two-speed blower electrofan was analyzed. Using a variable frequency drive to control the speed of the flare air blower electromotor, the combustion process of propane and butane in the flare was simulated to reduce smoke and optimize combustion. Finally, the study demonstrated the positive effects of using a variable frequency drive in achieving complete combustion and reducing flare emissions, and presented its advantages in ensuring the proper operation of the flare air blower electrofan.

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