F,  Process & Operational Term

Flare (Process)

A safety and environmental device used in refineries and petrochemical facilities to safely burn excess hydrocarbon gases that cannot be recovered or recycled. Excess hydrocarbon gases are burned in the flare systems in an environmentally sound manner, as opposed to releasing gas vapors directly into the atmosphere. During flaring, excess hydrocarbon gases are combined with steam and/or air and burned in a flare stack where water vapor and carbon dioxide are produced.

Also known as Gas Flare.

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