4. Conclusion

The purpose of this document is to present the physical phenomenon of flare fires, and the various methods used to represent and estimate their effects.

Various models can be used to characterize torch fires. From the simplest, such as the empirical API RP 521 model, which gives an order of magnitude for flame length, to the most complex, such as Shell's models, which tend to define flame geometry, taking into account various parameters such as wind direction and speed, and leak position and inclination. Wind has an impact on the geometry of the flare and, more specifically, on its inclination and length. The geometry of the flame and its location in space can then be used to assess the radiative and convective fluxes emitted into the environment.

The use of empirical or semi-empirical models is a low-cost way of predicting the effects of...