FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Vertical vessel Horizontal Vessel

ChE 4253 - Design I

 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

∑ i
xi = 1

∑i
yi = 1

⎧ zi
x =
⎪ i ⎡ V
⎪ 1+ ( K − 1) ⎤
⎣ F i ⎦
⇒⎨ ⇒
⎪y = K z
i i
Ratchford Rice Equation (look for it!!)
⎪ i
⎡1 + V ( K i − 1) ⎤
⎩ ⎣ F ⎦

ChE 4253 - Design I

 FLASH DRUM DESIGN
Dimensions to decide

D related to vapor velocity.

hV related to vapor velocity.
hL related to level control
hf related to flooding

ChE 4253 - Design I

 FLASH DRUM DESIGN
D related to vapor velocity.

Permitted velocity ( ρ L − ρV )
v perm = K
ρV

A = −1.877478
B = −0.814580
WL ρL
A+ B ln Flv + C (ln Flv ) 2 + d (ln Flv )3 + E (ln Flv )4 Flv = C = −0.187074
K =e WV ρV
D = −0.014523
E = −0.001015
Where do these come from ?

ChE 4253 - Design I

 FLASH DRUM DESIGN
D related to vapor velocity.
Fvis Fdrag
Fvis = 6πμ Rd vd Stokes
1
Fdrag = CD AρV vd2 drag
2
4
Fg Fg = ( ρ L − ρV ) g π Rd3 gravity-Buoyancy
3

= Fg ⇒ CD (π RD ) ρV vd = ( ρ L − ρV ) g π Rd3
1 4
Fdrag + Fvis ≈ Fdrag 2 2

2 3
Fdrag >> Fvis
( ρ L − ρV ) 8 gRd
⇒ v perm = K K=
ρV 3CD

ChE 4253 - Design I

 FLASH DRUM DESIGN
Dimensional analysis for drag: Force is dependent on velocity, cross sectional area,
density and viscosity.
f a ( Fdrag , vd , A, ρV , μ ) = 0

Two nondimensional numbers:

Fdrag
vd A / π CD =
Re = 1
μ ρV Avd2
2
Therefore
FD
f b (Re, CD ) = 0 Î
CD = = f c (Re)
1
ρV Avd2
2
8 gRd
Thus CD is a function of the particle Reynolds number. Î K=
3 f c (Re)

ChE 4253 - Design I

 FLASH DRUM DESIGN
But, what Rd should be used? The criteria is that 5% of the liquid

is entrained.

Thus
W ρ
K =e A+ B ln Flv + C (ln Flv )2 + d (ln Flv )3 + E (ln Flv ) 4 ; Flv = WL ρ L were obtained
V V

fitting experimental data.

4 4 V
Therefore
D= AD =
π π v perm ρV
Demisters should take care of 4% (or less) of the 5%.

ChE 4253 - Design I

 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?)

V pool
hL = or ~2 minutes residence time.
π D2
4
Finally:
L = hV + h f + hL Nozzle size

ChE 4253 - Design I

 FLASH DRUM DESIGN
Final considerations

L
IF < 3 increase Vpool (Why???)
D

L
IF > 5 Use horizontal drum (Why???)
D

Different design protocol: Why?

ChE 4253 - Design I