Flare Header Sweep Gas Flow Calculator | API Based

Piping Engineering Tools

Flare Header Sweep Gas Flowrate Calculator

Calculates continuous sweep gas flow to maintain a minimum velocity in the flare header to reduce air ingress / stagnant pockets. This is different from flare tip purge. Final sweep gas requirements should be validated with your flare system design basis and vendor.

Sweep Gas Inputs (Header)

Actions

Sweep Gas Results

Selected Vmin (applied): - m/s
Internal Diameter (D): - m
Area (A = π·DΒ²/4): - mΒ²
Sweep Flow (Actual) Qact: - mΒ³/h
Sweep Flow (Standard) Qstd: - NmΒ³/h
Sweep Flow (SCFM): - scfm
Mass Flow (ṁ): - kg/h
Resulting Velocity at ID: - m/s
Gas Density (ρ, at P,T,Z): - kg/m³
Reynolds Number (informational): -

Formulas Used (engineering)

1) Area: A = π·DΒ²/4

2) Sweep gas volumetric flow (velocity criterion): Qact = VminΒ·A

3) Actual β†’ Standard conversion (ideal-gas with Z correction): Qstd = QactΒ·(Pabs/Pstd)Β·(Tstd/Tabs)Β·(Zstd/Z), where Pstd=101.325 kPa, Tstd=288.15 K (15Β°C), Zstd=1

4) Molar & mass flow: ṅ = (Pabs·Qact)/(Z·R·Tabs), ṁ = ṅ·MW, with R = 8.314 kPa·m³/(kmol·K)

5) Density (for Re/information): ρ = (PabsΒ·MW)/(ZΒ·RΜ„Β·Tabs), with consistent units

Notes: Sweep gas targets are project/vendor dependent and depend on header geometry, dead-legs, injection location(s), and operating philosophy. Use for screening and documentation; confirm with flare vendor and facility flare philosophy.

Good practice reminders: Ensure sweep gas reaches potential stagnant pockets (dead-legs/low points), consider check valves and injection location, and evaluate oxygen ingress risks during low/no-flow conditions.
πŸͺ We use cookies to improve your experience. Learn more