What is combustion efficiency?
Combustion efficiency is the amount of hydrocarbons converted to CO2 , or H2S converted to SO2 , and represented as a percentage. The more converted, the better the efficiency. Combustion efficiency is determined by many factors, including meteorological conditions, operator competency, and waste gas mixture. The ERCB has requirements for the minimum energy content of the gas mixture (20 megajoules per cubic metre), which has been shown to result in high combustion efficiencies. The ERCB has found that this generally results in combustion efficiencies of greater than 98 per cent. While unburned fuel and products of incomplete combustion may be released from properly designed and operated flares, current research indicates they are still within Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives and pose little risk to public safety. The ERCB requires flare stacks, incinerators, and associated procedures, including those for SO 2 , to be designed to comply with these objectives.
