01.13.21 -- API Supports Maintaining Strong Air Quality Standards

Flare systems are used as a last line of defense against dangerous hydrocarbon pollutants entering the atmosphere. Various technologies have been used to monitor the flares, but they can be ineffective at minimizing smoke from the stake combustion, which is an important indicator of the burn efficiency. Thermal imaging can “see” through smoke, enabling inspectors to make quick spot check or continually monitor.

Legionnaires’ disease first garnered public attention in 1976. After attending an American Legion convention at a Philadelphia hotel, 221 people became ill, with 34 dying of a mysterious illness. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a major investigation, and in 1977 identified the responsible bacterium, naming it Legionella.

Back in 2012, a large oil refinery in Singapore — one of the largest in Asia — was experiencing premature failures of its splitter air-fin coolers, resulting in emergency shutdowns and lost revenue.