September 2020
Heat Transfer
Good, bad and ugly process burner flames
As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) maximum achievable control technology (MACT) fired heater inspection program, the authors’ company has inspected nearly 1,000 heaters since the program started in 2015. These inspections have revealed all types of flames—the good, bad and ugly. Here, good is defined as no changes are needed; bad is defined as changes are needed where the conditions are not likely dangerous; and ugly is defined as immediate changes are needed because the conditions are potentially dangerous.
The Authors
Chuck Baukal is the Director of the John Zink Institute, part of John Zink Hamworthy Combustion, where he has been since 1998. Dr. Baukal is the author/editor of 13 books on industrial combustion, including The John Zink Hamworthy Combustion Handbook.
Bill Weimer joined John Zink Hamworthy Combustion in 2012 as Turnaround Manager and Regional Customer Advisor. He has more than 45 yr of industry experience, and previously worked for ExxonMobil in operations, technical service, and in various roles ranging from first line supervisor to manager.
Mike Pappe has been with John Zink Hamworthy Combustion for 29 yr and is part of the Customer Support Solutions group. He is involved in commissioning, startup and training of fired equipment in refineries. He is a co-author of several articles on industrial burners and chapters in the John Zink Hamworthy Combustion Handbook.
John Mcguire joined John Zink Hamworthy Combustion in 1988 and is part of the Customer Support Solutions group. He is a Qualified PHAST Specialist and is a subject matter expert in burners, flares and thermal oxidizers, including assembly, installation and operation. Mr. McGuire is an instructor for the John Zink Institute and has co-authored many publications.
Bill Johnson provides technical support for the Customer Support Solutions group at John Zink Hamworthy Combustion, where he has worked since 1977. He has been an instructor for the John Zink Institute for more than 35 yr. Mr. Johnson has co-authored numerous technical papers for the HCPI industry and is the lead author on several chapters in The John Zink Hamworthy Combustion Handbook.
Robert Luginbill has been at John Zink Hamworthy Combustion since 1992 and is part of the Customer Support Solutions group. He has more than 35 yr of industry experience and many certifications. His areas of expertise include fired heater operations, troubleshooting and inspections.
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