Smokeless gas flares which meet the following conditions of this section are permitted by rule:
(1) design requirements. (A) The flare shall be equipped with a flare tip designed to provide good mixing with air, flame stability, and a tip velocity less than 60 feet per second (ft/sec) for gases having a lower heating value less than 1,000 British thermal units per cubic foot (Btu/ft3) or a tip velocity less than 400 ft/sec for gases having a lower heating value greater than 1,000 Btu/ft3.(B) The flare shall be equipped with a continuously burning pilot or other automatic ignition system that assures gas ignition and provides immediate notification of appropriate personnel when the ignition system ceases to function. A gas flare which emits no more than 4.0 pounds per hour (lb/hr) of reduced sulfur compounds, excluding sulfur oxides, is exempted from the immediate notification requirement, provided the emission point height meets the requirements of § 106.352(4) of this title (relating to Oil and Gas Production Facilities).(C) A flare which burns gases containing more than 24 parts per million by volume (ppmv) of sulfur, chlorine, or compounds containing either element shall be located at least 1/4 mile from any recreational area or residence or other structure not occupied or used solely by the owner or operator of the flare or the owner of the property upon which the flare is located.(D) The heat release of a flare which emits sulfur dioxide (SO2) or hydrogen chloride (HCl) shall be greater than or equal to the following values: Attached Graphic
(2) operational conditions. (A) The flare shall burn a combustible mixture of gases containing only carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, chlorine, or compounds derived from these elements. When the gas stream to be burned has a net or lower heating value of more than 200 Btu/ft3 prior to the addition of air, it may be considered combustible.(B) A flare which burns gases containing more than 24 ppmv of sulfur, chlorine, or compounds containing either element shall be registered with the commission's Office of Permitting, Remediation, and Registration in Austin using Form PI-7 prior to construction of a new flare or prior to the use of an existing flare for the new service.(C) Under no circumstances shall liquids be burned in the flare.30 Tex. Admin. Code § 106.492
The provisions of this §106.492 adopted to be effective March 14, 1997, 22 TexReg 2439; amended to be effective September 4, 2000, 25 TexReg 8653