Application of High Integrity Pressure Protection Systems (HIPPS) for Flare Load Reduction in Jam Gas Refinery

Flare loading is the most important parameter which affects the flare network design and influences the size of flare system components. Usually, an existing flare system is not able to handle the flaring load resulting from a new process unit or an expanded one. The cost of a flare system expansion is very high, since the flare header and stack would need to be replaced or doubled. Therefore, finding a reliable solution which is also economically viable and considering safety and environmental aspects at the same time is worth the time and effort Jam Gas Refinery is the largest gas refinery in Iran. The feed of Jam refinery was approximately sweet and because of that, the main inlet Pressure Safety Valves (PSVs) which are activated in case of blocked outlet of refinery, vent to atmosphere. recently, the source of feed of refinery has been changed and sulfur content increased. According to the environmental regulations, purge of sour gas to the atmosphere is not allowable. In this paper, dynamic operation of Jam refinery flare is simulated and possibility of omitting PSV’s action has been thoroughly investigated by OLGA software. High Integrity Pressure Protection Systems (HIPPS) is utilized to reduce flaring load