Portable Mobile Flare

A portable mobile flare makes sense when the flaring need is temporary, intermittent or spread across several locations, such as well testing, pipeline tie-ins, plant turnarounds, commissioning and remote operations where a permanent flare is hard to justify for the duration of use. It also covers emergency duty while a permanent flare is offline, and multi-site programmes where one unit moves between locations. For continuous service at a fixed site a permanent flare gives better lifecycle economics and integration with plant utilities. CRA supplies portable flares as trailer-mounted or skid-mounted units for outright purchase.

A portable flare needs a clear, level pad with anchoring points, a gas tie-in with an isolation valve at the flare inlet, a pilot fuel supply from the process gas or an integrated propane tank, and an electrical connection for the control panel, with the exclusion zone around the unit set from the radiation assessment. Trailer-mounted units are positioned and anchored without a crane, while skid-mounted units are lifted into position and may need a foundation. Once in position the work is piping connection, pilot ignition, control system checks and a function test. Preparing the pad and tie-ins before the unit arrives shortens the time on site.

Portable flares handle hydrocarbon vent and purge gases, biogas, low calorific streams, off-spec gas and emergency relief, and are built in several sizes to match the duty. Flow capacity ranges from a few hundred kilograms per hour on small units used for well testing and biogas plant commissioning, through medium units for pipeline tie-ins and small turnarounds, to large units of 50,000 kg/h and more for major plant turnarounds and emergency replacement of permanent flares. Sour gas, acid gas and high-pressure streams call for upgraded materials and pilot systems. CRA sizes the tip and stack for the actual gas composition and flow profile.

Both configurations include the flare stack and tip, pilot system, ignition, flame detection, control panel, pilot fuel supply, gas inlet flange and structural anchoring points. The difference is the base. A trailer-mounted unit rolls on wheels for road transport, keeps the stack height typically below 15 metres and suits short jobs and frequent relocation. A skid-mounted unit sits on a structural skid, is lifted into position by crane, allows taller stacks of 15 to 30 metres or more and gives higher peak flow capacity for mid to long deployments. CRA recommends between the two on duration, peak flow, crane access and how often the unit will move.

Yes. CRA designs portable flares to the same standards as permanent units, API 537 for the flare and EPA 40 CFR 60.18 for control device performance, together with the local emission limits that apply at the site. The tip is designed for stable, smokeless combustion within the design flow range, the pilot is monitored continuously with a redundant ignition system, and the control panel logs operating parameters for emissions reporting. For sour or acid service the tip materials are upgraded to suit the gas composition. The mobile form carries the same tip, pilot and control logic requirements as a permanent flare.