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Sizing Pressure Relief Devices
Sizing Pressure Relief Devices
Sizing
Pressure-Relief Devices
Daniel A. Crowl
Michigan Technological Univ.
Scott A. Tipler
The Dow Chemical Company
Pressure Vessel
Maximum allowable
accumulation pressure,
fire sizing
121%
Maximum allowable
accumulation pressure,
multiple reliefs
116%
Maximum allowable
accumulation pressure,
non-fire sizing
110%
105%
Maximum allowable
working pressure (MAWP)
100%
90%
p Figure 1. The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII sets
out requirements for standard pressure vessels (left) and the relief valves
protecting them (right) as a percentage of the maximum allowable working
pressure (MAWP).
are required to reach full rated capacity at 10% or less overpressure. Relief valves are code-certified by the National
Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors. Code
certification involves conducting flow tests under conditions
specified in the ASME code.
The pressure vessel accumulation is the pressure increase
above the MAWP, usually expressed as a percentage of the
MAWP. When the relief device is at the MAWP, the overpressure and accumulation are equal.
Backpressure is the pressure downstream of the relief
device. It includes the constant superimposed backpressure
and the built-up backpressure due to the discharge of fluid
from the relief device through the downstream piping and/or
treatment system.
69
Back to Basics
Acquire Data
Single-Phase Flow?
Two-Phase Flow?
70
Cooling
Water
Reflux
Condenser
Relief Device
High-Pressure
Nitrogen
Cooling
Water
Cooling
Water
Cooling Coils
PositiveDisplacement
Pump
71
Back to Basics
K d 2 gc
( 2)
( )
in.2 psi Q
A=
gpm K d
( / )
ref
(3)
A=
gpm K K K
P1 P2
()
where Kw is the adjustment factor for backpressure (unitless); Kv is the adjustment factor for viscosity (unitless);
G is the specific gravity of the liquid referenced to water
at 70F, which is equal to r/ref ; P1 is the upstream relieving pressure (gage pressure), which is the set pressure plus
allowable overpressure; and P2 is the total backpressure
(gage pressure).
Copyright 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
11
0.95
0.95
0.9
0.90
0.85
0.95
0.8
0.80
Kw
(1)
0.75
0.75
0.7
0.70
0.65
0.65
0.6
0.60
0.55
0.55
0.5
0.50
00
10
10
20
20
30
30
PG = % Gauge Backpressure =
PG = % Gage Backpressure =
40
40
50
50
Backpressure, gage
100
Set Pressure, gage
1
Kv = Viscosity Correction Factor
0.90
0.80
0.70
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
10
100
1000
10,000
100,000
R = Reynolds Number
73
Back to Basics
0.4
0.4
== 1.7
1.7
== 1.5
1.5
0.2
0.2
00
00
10
10
20
20
30
30
40
40
50
50
60
60
70
70
80
80
90
90
100
100
Backpressure, abs
Pb = % Absolute Backpressure =
100
Set Pressure + Overpressure, abs
74
)( )( )
RgT +1
+1) ( 1)
(5)
where W is the mass flowrate (mass/time); Kd is the discharge coefficient (unitless); P1 is the upstream relieving
pressure for vapor service (absolute pressure); g is the heat
capacity ratio of the gas or vapor (unitless); M is the molecular weight of the gas (mass/mol); Rg is the ideal gas constant
(pressure-volume/mol-deg.); and T is the absolute temperature (deg.).
To simplify the calculation, the term C, which is a function of only the heat capacity ratio, is defined as:
Capacity
with
Capacity
withBackpressure
Back Pressure
=
KbCapacity
Rated
without
Backpressure
Rated Capacity
without
Back Pressure
== 1.1
1.1
1.0
110 psig 0 psig
Kb =
0.8
0.8
=
= 1.3
1.3
( )
11
202%
0% O
Ovverp
rprersessure
sure
%
O
ve
rp
re
ss
ur
e
10
0.9
0.9
e
ur
ss
re
rp
ve
O
Kb =
11
0.6
0.6
2
= 1.16 in.
%
10
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.7
0.6
0.6
0.5
0.5
00
55
10
10
15
15
20
20
25
25
PG = % Gage Backpressure =
30
30
35
35
40
40
45
45
50
50
Backpressure, gage
100
Set Pressure, gage
( + )( )
()
Equation 5 is modified by adding a compressibility factor, z, to account for nonideal gas behavior, and the backpressure correction, Kb, to account for backpressure. With
these adjustments, Eq. 5 can be solved for the relief area:
A=
W
CK d P1K b
(7 )
Pma =
(8)
ma
(9)
+ 14.7
( )(
Range
1.1
6690%
1.3026
1.137106
1.3
6390%
1.294
1.1703106
1.5
5690%
1.203
1.143106
1.7
5190%
1.148
1.109106
Range
10%
0.8707
4.724106
3050%
20%
0.9760
8.360107
3050%
Backpressure, abs
2 0.3
1 kg m/s 2 N
C = 1.3
= 7.32 10
(kg kg-mol K )
sN
Assuming a discharge coefficient of Kd = 0.975, the
minimum required area is determined from Eq. 7:
50 kg/s
A=
1/2
(kg kg-mol K ) 0.975 9.81105 N/m 2
7.32 10 3
( )
sN
(473 K ) (1.0)
100 kg/kg-mol
= 1.5310 2 m 2
CEP
October 2013
www.aiche.org/cep
75
Back to Basics
Wrapping it up
Relief devices are safety systems that you hope are
never activated. However, if they do activate, they must
be designed and sized properly to ensure that they
CEP
work every time.
Nomenclature
A
C
G
gc
Kb
Kd
Kv
Kw
M
P1
P2
PG
Pmax
PMAWP
Ps
P
Q
Rg
T
u
W
z
ref
76
www.aiche.org/cep
Literature Cited
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Additional Resources
American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Guidelines for Pressure Relief and Effluent Handling Systems, Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS), New York, NY (1998).
Hellemans, M., The Safety Relief Valve Handbook, Elsevier,
Oxford, U.K. (2009).
Malek, M., Pressure Relief Devices, Mc-Graw-Hill, New York,
NY (2005).