Pilot gas preheating for a gas flare pilot burner

A method of operating a pilot burner for use with a gas flare, the pilot burner including:

• a pilot gas supply line including a gas preheat conduit section;
• an inspirator;
• a gas feed line;
• a pilot output connected to the gas feed line;
• and
• an igniter,
• the method comprising:
• delivering a flow of pilot gas from a pilot gas source to the inspirator through the pilot gas supply line;
• mixing the flow of pilot gas with air using the inspirator to form a mixed flow of air and gas;
• discharging the mixed flow from the pilot output;
• igniting the discharged mixed flow using the igniter to form a flame at the pilot output;
• and
• heating the gas preheat conduit section of the pilot gas supply line and the flow of pilot gas traveling therethrough using the flame,
• wherein:
• the pilot burner includes a nozzle guard that surrounds a portion of the gas feed line and the pilot output;
• the gas preheat conduit section includes a coiled section that extends alongside and around the nozzle guard;
• and
• one or more thermal insulators cover a portion of the pilot gas supply line extending between the gas preheat conduit section and the inspirator and/or a portion of the gas feed line.

A gas flare comprising:

• a source of waste gas configured to supply a flow of waste gas;
• a flare body configured to receive the flow of the waste gas at a proximal end;
• a flare tip at a distal end of the flare body, through which the flow of the waste gas is discharged;
• and
• a pilot burner comprising:
• a pilot gas supply line configured to receive a flow of pilot gas from a pilot gas source;
• an inspirator configured to receive the flow of pilot gas from the pilot gas supply line and mix the flow of pilot gas with air to form a mixed flow of air and gas;
• a gas feed line configured to receive the mixed flow from the inspirator;
• a pilot output connected to the gas feed line and configured to discharge the mixed flow;
• and
• an igniter configured to ignite the mixed flow discharged through the pilot output to form a flame at the pilot output, which is configured to ignite the flow of the waste gas at the flare tip,
• wherein:
• the pilot gas supply line includes a gas preheat conduit section that is positioned adjacent to the pilot output and is configured to be heated by the flame;
• the pilot burner includes a nozzle guard that surrounds a portion of the gas feed line and the pilot output;
• the gas preheat conduit section includes a coiled section that extends alongside and around the nozzle guard;
• and
• one or more thermal insulators cover a portion of the pilot gas supply line extending between the gas preheat conduit section and the inspirator and/or a portion of the gas feed line.