A properly installed and maintained landfill gas flare can be expected to last 10 to 20 years. It needs quarterly service visits, routine checks by site staff and a planned overhaul about every five years. Its main running cost is the electric motor on the gas booster, which for a 1,000 m³/h unit absorbs roughly 13.5 kW. This post explains what sits behind those figures, using a budget enquiry from an engineering consultant.
The challenge: a consultant needs whole-life numbers
A consultancy was assessing a landfill gas scheme and asked a straightforward set of questions. What will the flare cost to run? How often does it need servicing? How long will it last? Does it provide the negative pressure needed at the wellheads?
These are the right questions. Capital price is only part of a flare’s cost, and an estimate that ignores power, servicing and overhaul will understate the budget.
The approach: a 1,000 m³/h elevated flare with an integral booster
Suction at the wellheads comes with the package
The flare quoted was an AC Range unit, an elevated flare with a minimum combustion temperature of 850°C, sized for 1,000 m³/h. It includes an electric-motor-driven gas booster. The booster draws gas from the field, so the negative pressure needed at the wellheads is provided without extra equipment.
Power
The motor is rated at 15 kW and absorbs about 13.5 kW in use. Running continuously, that is around 324 kWh a day. Multiply by your own electricity tariff for a site-specific figure. Because the booster is the main electrical load, a flare that runs at part load or only intermittently will use proportionally less.
Servicing
The recommended pattern has three layers:
- Weekly or monthly: site staff check operating conditions. Training for these checks can be included with the flare.
- Quarterly: a service visit by the manufacturer’s engineers.
- Every five years: a programmed overhaul.
The overhaul interval is worth building into the whole-life budget from the start, not discovering in year five.
Lifespan
A life of 10 to 20 years is reasonable for a properly installed and maintained flare. The range is wide on purpose. It depends on the level of service and on site conditions, in particular the corrosiveness of the gas and the condensate it carries.
Why it works: the trade-off between elevated and ground flares
The consultant was also told that a higher-specification option exists. A high-temperature ground flare has two main advantages over an elevated one:
- Better control of exhaust emissions, because the combustion air is tightly controlled to hold a higher temperature.
- An invisible flame, because the flame is inside an enclosed shroud.
An elevated flare suits remote sites where meeting tight emission limits is not a requirement. If a site is close to housing, or the regulator expects enclosed flaring, a ground flare is the better route. The Environment Agency’s guidance on managing landfill gas sets out what operators are expected to do and is the place to check what your permit will require.
What to consider for your own project
- Budget by whole life, not purchase price. Add electricity, a service contract and a five-year overhaul to the capital cost.
- Check the booster is included. Some quotes leave the gas mover out. If your wellheads need suction, you need it.
- Match the flare to the location. Visibility and emission control may matter more than the saving from a simpler flare.
- Plan for training. Weekly checks by trained site staff catch faults between visits.
- Treat the quote as a budget. A budget figure depends on the final scope of supply, which should be confirmed before you commit.
FAQ
How long does a landfill gas flare last?
Ten to twenty years is a reasonable expectation for a properly installed and maintained unit, depending on service level and site conditions.
How often should a landfill gas flare be serviced?
Quarterly by specialist engineers, with weekly or monthly operating checks by site staff and a programmed overhaul about every five years.
How much power does a flare use?
The gas booster is the main load. For a 1,000 m³/h unit with a 15 kW motor, absorbed power is about 13.5 kW when running.
Does the flare create the vacuum needed at the wellheads?
Yes, if it includes an electric-motor-driven booster. That is standard on most packaged flares.
Planning a flare budget?
Tell us the gas flow and the site constraints and our engineers will outline the options, including service and overhaul planning.