BURSTING DISC SIZING USING APD

520 AND BS
Project:
Job Ref: Drawing Ref:
Calc By: Date: Checked by: Date:

Key Data for Both Guides Note - All units in SI. APD 520 not SI, and units will be converted accordingly.

Qmg = required mass discharge rate through disc (kg/hr) 24270 53506.1 convert to lb/hr
P1 = relieving pressure (bara) 6.5 94.276 convert to psia
P2 = back pressure against the disc (bara) 5 72.52 convert to psia
M = molar mass of relieving vapour (kg/kmol) 51 51
T = relieving temperature (K) 348 626.4 convert to degrees rankine
Z = compressiblity factor at inlet conditions (unitless) 0.9 1.62 convert to degrees rankine
k = specific capacity heat ratio (unitless) 1.5
C = coefficient determind from k (unitless). Find from Appendix 1. 0.027
F2 = coefficient for sub critical flow (unitless). Find from Appendix 2. 0.9
a = discharge coefficient of the branch/nozzle and the bursting disc combined. Find from Appendix 3. 0.9
Note: α = Kd x Kc, if referencing API 520

A = size of bursting disc

The type of flow must then be determined. The flow can either be critical or subcritical.
If downstream pressure is less than or equal to critical pressure, critical flow occurs.

Pcf k

P1
=
2
k +1[ ] k −1

Pcf = 5.68548 bara

Flow is Subcritical

If flow is subcritical both the API and BS methods of determining the bursting disc size can be used. If the flow is critical then
only the API method can be used.

BS2915:1990, E2.2.2 Subcritical Flow API SI units Eqn 15, pg 61

Subcritical Flow
17 . 9×Qmg
Qmg =A ×P1×F 2 ×α ×
M
T ×Z √
A=
F2 ×α
×
√
T ×Z
M×P1 ×( P1 −P2 )

Q mg A= 425658 mm2
A= 0.42566 m2

( P1 ×F2 ×α ×
√ ) M
T ×Z Disc Diameter = 736.183 mm
0.73618 m
A = 11423.4 mm2 0.40353
0.01142 m2 2.12458
11423.4
Disc Diameter = = 120.602 mm
0.1206 m

Critical Flow

API
Q mg
A=
C×F 2 ×P1×α
A=
×
T ×Z
M
423091 mm2
√
42.3091 m2

Disc Diameter = = 733.959 mm

7.33959 m
convert to lb/hr
convert to psia
convert to psia

convert to degrees rankine

convert to degrees rankine

API UCS Units Eqn 12, pg 61

Q mg
A=
735 F 2 K d √ TZ
MP 1 ( P1 −P2 )

89.8734 0.098494

8.851958 in2
5709.513 mm2

Disc Diameter = 85.26182 mm

Eqn 15, pg 61 0.852618 m
Appendix 1 - Values for C
Ref: API 520 Part 1, 2008 Edition Figure 3.

Appendix 2 - Values for F2

Ref: API 520 Part 1, 2008 Edition Figure 35.
Appendix 3 - Values for α
Ref: BS 2915: 1990