eM eA TINS Practical design and operation of vapor-depressuring systems For such hazards as a fire, the ordinary pressure-relief system may need to be backed up by an emergency vapor-depressuring one. Here is how to design a system for maximum protection at least cost. Robert 8, Sonti, © F Braun & Co, [D ‘To safely vent gases, a flare system must be designed | surfaces exposed to fire, however, can approach 1,300°F To relieve vapor louds that may rest from upset concl- | _[Z]. Such surfaces can rupture in as litle as 2-8 minutes, tions-such as from fite, oss of cooling water, instru | depending on the wall thickness, Failures ean occur e ment failure, power outage, vessels having blocked out- | at pressures below relief-valve settings if fire leis—and from combinations of these. In the early | trated at the vapor space (2,4). design stage, the possibilities for such occurrences ate ‘A vessel exposed (0 fire must be depressured rapidly. analyzed (o set equipment design pressures ‘enough to keep the stress developed below that which, it the quantity of vented gases, and thus the number and sizes of relief valves and rupture disks. ‘Although generally well protected by relief valves or | _ psig should be equi rupture disks, vessels nevertheless continue to be rup- | [3]. Equipment containing no, or very little, lig red by excessive internal pressures [J,2]. Often, in such | without wetted surfaces), and located above pumping a prolonged fire heats up the vessel wall to. a | stations (where leaks could develop, creating a fite haz= temperature at which the metal’ strength is considerably | ard) should also be considered for depressuring. reduced. The fre ane to conclude that the overheating of equipment] liquid in a vewe it clot to ts rita pon, Wh risk not always adequately recogni latent heat of vaporization is small, becoming zero at liquic'’s critical point, little heat will be removed through, nicy of such incidences could lead ‘Vapor depressuring is particularly important when the Need for emergency vapor depressuring boiling, even though the vessel may) be full. uch a vessel Heat removal via vaporization limits the temperatures | may Become overheated below the liquid level, and may of wetted surfaces of vessels, Tempe ited | burst if ils pressure is not reduced [7]. In such cases, 66. GHESHEAT ENGINEERINGKINNEY HAS THE / RIGHT VACUUM PUMP FOR THE JOB. ANY JOB. At Kinney, we've got the world’s broadest line of vacuum pumps and mech- anical booster vacuum systems. And over 70 years experience applying them. ‘That means you never end up settling for less pump than you really need. Or spending more money than you really should. You get the right pump for the job. For instance, our line of low vibration rotary piston pumps gives you a choice of 11 single stage and 11 compound models including portable units for refrigeration service. Capacities range from 3 to 1260 M*/hr., and pressures range from atmosphere to 0.2 micron. Our liquid ring pumps give you a ns selection, too. With 12 single stage and 8 compound models - including 8 new high efficiency HydraStar models. You get pressure ranges from. atmosphere to 30 mm Hg anda choice of sealant recovery systems. ) Both our rotary piston and liquid = \g pumps can be combined with our. fee anical booster pumps for applica- tions requiring high performance, multi-stage systems. With Kinney, you get the right pump for any job. Every time. For technical literature, write Kinney Vacuum, 495 Turnpike Street, Canton, MA 02021, U.S.A. Or call 617-828-9500. TWX 710-348-1889, CGitele 46 on Reader Service Card GRCAT NGRTEINGTANUARY S19 65. Rotary Piston Vacuum PumpPressure Yoo clit feat btien) de of gas and vapor relief froma vessol in a fire Fig. 2 volume of shell-and ibe heat exchangers, Condensers and vaporizers contain 20% liquid by volume. All the space below the weirs of reboilers is taken up by liquid 4. Liquid makes up 20% of the volume of tubes past the normal point of vaporization races, Regaralless of th ratures, liquids in heat~ ‘ers and furnaces should be included in the inventory 5. Any Mid at or near its saturation temperature is a i Depressuring valves should be spring loaded, pneu matic diaphragm/piston operated, single-seated tight shutoff, quick opening, and readily accessible. They ge erally should fail open upon loss of air or power, but fail ‘losed ishen in ethylene unis, on separators in refor ing units, and on high-pressure separators in hydrotreat ing and hydrodesulfurizing units. They should be pro- vided with their own air cylinders, to minimize unwanted igs num cylinder capacity should per stroking all the depressuring valves twice, according to industry practice Depressuting valves must be able to be op motely, either pneumatically or clectrically ed ve Hand switches should be located throughout the operating. Rates of pressure decline in fire zones, at time intervals Table Prone pal ZoneG Zone Zonee 0 ie 1 2678 2680 He) 2623 © 262.6 a 21 278 4 28. 244 : 5 2109 214 6 198.7 1988 7 187.2 187.3 ns 2 1764 1765 1749 @ 166.2 1575 10 1608 1427 " 1475 1203 2 139.0 174 a 1309 109.4 13 1239 901 ie 11621102 870. K 0.05982 0.08969 0.09246 0.07647. 0.0800 ‘area, as well asin the control room, where they should be grouped together, Example of systematic vapor depressuring In the gas plant shown in Fig. 1, natal gas liquid is pumped sequentially to decthanizes, depropanizer and ebuttanizer columns, Ethane is rejected; liquid propane is treated before it leaves the battery limi gasoline are routed to storage, Ausiliary w ‘equipment are omitted for simplicity. The plant is divided into fire zones A through F, as previously described (ic. all the equipment in a zone ca he isolated by means of remotely operated valves): A-nawral gas liquid storage; B—dleethanizer; Cdepropanizer; D—liquid-propane treater; and E—debutanizer. Five zone boundaries are indicated Fig. 1 by dlosed block valves. “The liquid and vapor contents (and their composi- butane and itsand minor Information required for sizing vapor-depressuring valves Table! Hypothetical ‘ess, Initial Initia 88 Gasventing Depressuring| Fire Principal love, temperature, pressure, flowrate, Fite lose, valu sonst _vessel_ Vapor Liquid Dia. Height __ft FE sla _Wb/ntt iby Oy Size in. A Stooge 18), 2828 128208 46288216890 28880 67 B Accumulator 856 1,068 184 7 18 268.0 98,220 46490 165 6 © Accumuletor 4621938 15 G12 12 231074140 47890 804 D treater = = 208 7h 300 90 208.0 Nominal 22420804 E Accumulator 771,643 «10% 4226 tei 1740 81031940 162 6 fajlement need nt 29 Jer vapor and iguld blocked 68 ‘ICAL FNOTREE RINE TANTARY 2, HT