STEAMIZER^® Features And Benefits

Steam/Air Tubes

Three versions of the Steamizer are available to meet the smokeless requirements of each specific application. Each type increases the quantity and/or size of the steam/air tubes to improve performance.

• Type I - Good smokeless performance
• Type II - Better smokeless performance
• Type III - Best smokeless performance

Large diameter of steam/air tubes

• Ensures maximum steam/air to gas ratio for maximum smokeless performance.
• Increased stiffness of steam/air tubes for improved structural integrity.

Upper 4 ft of steam/air tubes Sch. 10 pipe

• Extra length of heavy wall pipe is 2-times thicker and 5-times stronger than previous design.
• Welding lowered well below the heat-affected zone.

Center steam/air tube is provided

• Ensures complete mixing of air and gas to eliminate unnecessary smoking.

Quantity of steam/air tubes

• Number of tubes based on the best combination of size and quantity.

Upper Steam Ring

An upper steam ring is employed on every Steamizer. For some applications a Shepard ring is offered, and in many others a Quiet Steam ring is used.

Perimeter-control Shepard ring

• Perimeter control to ensure smoking does not occur on downwind side.
• Extend flare-tip life by eliminating flame lick on outer shell.
• Multiple angled drillings provide additional smokeless capacity.

High-smokeless Quiet Steam ring

• Provides improved smokeless performance at maximum rates.
• Superior perimeter control to ensure smoking does not occur on downwind side.
• Extend flare-tip life by eliminating flame lick on outer shell.

Muffler

Three types of mufflers are available to meet the noise requirements of a specific site. Each successive muffler type represents increased complexity and cost.

• Type I - Good noise performance
• Type II - Better noise performance
• Type III - Best noise performance, using a Shepard ring

Muffler designed to efficiently handle air flow.

• Design ensures excess air is available for steam/air mixing to ensure smokeless performance of the flare tip.
• Muffler is lined with acoustical lining for maximum noise suppression.

Myth

Fact

Upper manifold required to achieve high smokeless rates. Puts many welds in the high-temperature zone.

• In many instances John Zink uses a perimeter control Shepard ring that protects the Steamizer tip and provides additional smokeless capacity.
• When a Quiet Steam manifold is used to increase the smokeless capacity, the Steamizer design and recommended operation is such that direct flame impingement is minimal.

Inner steam tubes are rolled thin-gauge plate (stainless steel). Each tube has a longitudinal weld.

• Current John Zink designs utilize 310 SS Sch. 10 ERW pipe. This pipe has a longitudinal seam welded by the pipe supplier.
• Although Zink has successfully provided rolled 16-guage plate for many years, the Steamizer now features an increased Sch. 10 s, providing a tube that is 5 times stronger.
• Experience has shown that even in the event of a complete tube collapse, failure rarely occurs at the longitudinal seam.

No protection against tube collapse due to thermal cycling.

• John Zink's upper 4 ft of the steam/air tube is Sch. 10 s pipe. Sch. 10 s is twice as thick and 5-times stronger.
• All circumferential tube welds are removed from the heat-affected zone at the top of the flare because a weld in this area would suffer a premature failure.

Inner steam tubes have weaker, mitered elbow joints.

• John Zink has used a mitered joint for many years with no problems. Examination of flare tips after years of service does not indicate any systemic problems with the mitered joint.
• If failure of the mitered joint occurs, it is most likely because the entire tip has suffered a major failure.

The steam ring and pilot gas supports are attached with fillet welds, rather than plug welds.

• John Zink uses fillet welds because they enable us to maximize the linear inches of weld, which yields greater weld strength.
• There is no mechanical advantage to using a plug weld over a fillet weld. In fact, with a plug weld you have less welding and less strength.

No method of reducing flame lick at low flaring rates

• John Zink uses either a Shepard or Quiet Steam ring, both of which minimize flame lick at low flaring rates.
• Our Shepard ring is designed to use sufficient steam to ensure that perimeter control is maintained.

Threaded steam connections weaken the pipe wall causing a common failure point.

• John Zink uses a welded steam connection for super-sonic nozzles.

Center steam is located near the top of the flare tip where it can cause recirculating combustion.

• John Zink's center steam is near the bottom of the flare tip. The position, which is based on extensive testing, ensures steam flow is fully developed throughout the cross section of the tip.

Upper steam ring required for maximum smokeless flow. An additional steam control valve must be installed.

• John Zink uses the steam/air tubes for the majority of the smokeless capacity. In some instances, upper steam is used to provide incremental smokeless capacity.
• Independent control of the upper steam is recommended, because it provides for optimal operation. Without this flexibility either smokeless performance or tip life is compromised.

Steam tube inlet has small radius inlet bell.

• Through research and testing, a well rounded bell was developed to provide efficient air entrainment while achieving steam conservation. Sufficient consideration has also been taken to ensure that unnecessary pressure drop does not occur through the bell.

Noise muffler restricts air flow into steam/air tubes reducing smokeless capacity.

• John Zink recognizes that the "one size fits all" approach does not provide adequate air handling.
• John Zink takes a flexible approach to muffler design, to ensure the right muffler is used for each flare. We have adapted Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling to develop our muffler design.

No center steam/air tube is provided.

• John Zink uses a center steam/air tube on all designs.

Upper steam manifold increases noise emissions.

• A Quiet Steam manifold is not used on every design. However, when used, the Quiet Steam manifold is intended to provide smokeless performance at high flow rates. Consequently, it is at minimal flow rates 99 percent of the time.