FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Vertical vessel

ChE 4253 - Design I

Horizontal Vessel

FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Installed Units

ChE 4253 - Design I

FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Deflectors, and Diffusers

ChE 4253 - Design I

FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Demisters

ChE 4253 - Design I

FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Control Schemes

ChE 4253 - Design I

FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Dimensions to decide
D
hV
hL
hf

ChE 4253 - Design I

FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Calculations to make

F = L +V
Fzi = Lxi + Vyi

yi = K i xi

xi = 1

yi = 1

zi

=
x
i V
1+
( K 1)

F i

K
z
i i
y =
i

1 + V ( K i 1)
F

ChE 4253 - Design I

Ratchford Rice Equation (look for it!!)

FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Dimensions to decide

D
hV
hL
hf

related to vapor velocity.

related to vapor velocity.
related to level control
related to flooding

ChE 4253 - Design I

FLASH DRUM DESIGN

D related to vapor velocity.
Permitted velocity

K =e

v perm = K

A+ B ln Flv + C (ln Flv ) 2 + d (ln Flv )3 + E (ln Flv )4

Where do these come from ?

ChE 4253 - Design I

( L V )

Flv =

WL
WV

L
V

A = 1.877478
B = 0.814580
C = 0.187074
D = 0.014523
E = 0.001015

FLASH DRUM DESIGN

D related to vapor velocity.

Fvis Fdrag

Fg

Stokes
Fvis = 6 Rd vd
1
Fdrag = CD AV vd2 drag
2
4
Fg = ( L V ) g Rd3 gravity-Buoyancy
3

Fdrag + Fvis Fdrag

Fdrag >> Fvis

1
4
2
2
= Fg CD ( RD ) V vd = ( L V ) g Rd3
2
3

v perm = K
ChE 4253 - Design I

( L V )

8 gRd
K=
3CD

FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Dimensional analysis for drag: Force is dependent on velocity, cross sectional area,
density and viscosity.
f a ( Fdrag , vd , A, V , ) = 0
Two nondimensional numbers:

Re =

vd A /

CD =

Fdrag
1
V Avd2
2

Therefore

f b (Re, CD ) = 0
Thus

CD

CD =

FD
1
V Avd2
2

= f c (Re)

is a function of the particle Reynolds number.

ChE 4253 - Design I

8 gRd
K=
3 f c (Re)

FLASH DRUM DESIGN

But, what Rd should be used? The criteria is that 5% of the liquid
is entrained.

Thus

K =e

A+ B ln Flv + C (ln Flv )2 + d (ln Flv )3 + E (ln Flv ) 4

; Flv = WL L
V
V

were obtained

fitting experimental data.

Therefore

D=

AD =

Demisters should take care of 4% (or less) of the 5%.

ChE 4253 - Design I

v perm V

FLASH DRUM DESIGN

1
hV = 36"+ diameter of feedline
2
Who came up with this rule and why?
What is so magic about 3 ft? (Room for demister?)

1
h f = 12"+ diameter of feedline
2
Again, why 2ft? (Residence Time, Failure Analysis,
Other Control issues?)

hL =
Finally:

V pool

D2

or ~2 minutes residence time.

L = hV + h f + hL
ChE 4253 - Design I

Nozzle size

FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Final considerations
IF

L
<
D

3 increase Vpool (Why???)

IF

L
>
D

5 Use horizontal drum (Why???)

Different design protocol: Why?

ChE 4253 - Design I