Design Class Detail

Utilities Instrument Air and Nitrogen

Systems

PROJECT

Date

Capacity
Design
Item

Design Class
Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

Instrument air
capacity

Instrument air demand

(all consumers including
intermittent users)

Instrument air demand (all

consumers including
intermittent users) + 30%
margin

Instrument air demand

(all consumers including
intermittent users) + 30%
margin

Compressor sparing

No spares

Sparing= N+1

Sparing=N+2

Instrument air dryer

Instrument air demand

(all consumers including
intermittent users)
No spares

Instrument air demand (all

consumers including
intermittent users) + 30%
margin
Sparing=N+1

Buffer capacity based on

Instrument air pressure
drop from operating
pressure to the minimum
pressure (4.2 barg (61
psig) at the user)

Buffer capacity based on

Instrument air pressure
drop from operating
pressure to the minimum
pressure (4.2 barg (61 psig)
at the user)

With priority air in

service if segregation is
in design

Consider shedding of load

if it is in design.

<5mins

5 mins

>5 mins up to 15min

Nitrogen generation
capacity

Nitrogen Normal
operating demand +
10% margin

Nitrogen Normal operating

demand + 20% margin

Nitrogen Normal
operating demand + 30%
margin

ASU sparing

1 x 100%

2 x 50%
Back up supply

2 x 100%
Back up supply

ASU feed air

compressor sparing
(applicable for
separate feed air
compressor)

N+0

N+1

N+1

On site liquid
storage

Based on maximum of
a. 1 week normal
demand
b. 8Hrs of peak
consumption
1x100% tank

Based on maximum of
a. 1 week normal
demand
b. 24Hrs of peak
consumption
2x50% tanks

Based on maximum of
a. 1 week normal
demand
b. 24Hrs of peak
consumption
N+1 tanks

Instrument air buffer

vessel

DEP 00.00.07.95-Gen. September 2011

Buffer capacity based on

Instrument air pressure
drop from operating
pressure to the minimum
pressure (4.2 barg (61
psig) at the user)
Consider shedding of
load if it is in design.

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Design Class Detail

Utilities Instrument Air and Nitrogen
Systems

PROJECT

Date

Capacity
Design
Item
Vaporiser capacity
and sparing

Design Class
Class 1
Steam heated
based on class 1 flow
N+0
Or
Atmospheric vaporizer
N+0 with one spare
section/module (to
facilitate periodic
defrosting)

DEP 00.00.07.95-Gen. September 2011

Class 2
based on class 2 flow
N+1

Class 3
based on class 3 flow
N+1

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Design Class Detail

Utilities Instrument Air and Nitrogen
Systems

PROJECT

Date

Operability & Maintainability

Design
Item

Design Class
Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

Instrument air
quality monitoring.

No online dew point

monitoring.

Online dew point

monitoring on the common
header

Online dew point

monitoring on the
common header as well
as individual drier outlet.

Instrument Air
Compressor type

Oil removal by filtration

when oil injection type
compressor is applied

Oil free compressor

Oil free compressor

Segregation

Segregation of plant air

from IA and with
required backflow
protection

If tool air is supplied from IA

Tool air piping is

separate from main
instrument air piping

Auto closing of feed air in

the case of feed air to ASU
N2 generation.

Tool air completely

segregated and supplied
with separate/ mobile
compressor
Segregation of priority air
from non priority air
supply lines with auto
closing isolation valves

Instrument air
supply header

Single header

Double header or looped

header in the common
areas
Single header within the
process units

Double header in the

common areas
Double header within the
process units (For critical
process, if affected
complete plant shutdown)

Nitrogen facility

Bulk supply from vendor,

storage and vaporization
at site (can be from
vendor as well) Or
N2 generation system at
site if no reliable supply
from vendor is available.

Own generation facility to

meet normal demand

Own generation facilty

On site liquid nitrogen
generation for back up

Separate tool air piping with

auto cut off at pressure.

Back up from bulk supply

Or piped from supplier if
available.

No on line O2 analysers

Nitrogen quality
monitoring

On line O2 analyser for

N2 purity

Sampling and off line tests

Dryer control

Local control PLC based

DCS based control

Standard on/off valves
rather than 3-4 way
valves.

DEP 00.00.07.95-Gen. September 2011

Page 3 of

Design Class Detail

Utilities Instrument Air and Nitrogen
Systems

PROJECT

Date

Energy Efficiency
Design
Item

Design Class
Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

Air dryer type

Heatless regeneration

Heated regenerationElectric

Heat of compression for

regeneration (back up
heater may be required)
Or
Heated regeneration- LP
steam

ASU plant power

recovery

Not considered.

No power recovery in cold

box

Cold box- power recovery

with expander

DEP 00.00.07.95-Gen. September 2011

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