9.

33 PRESSURE-RELIEFVALVE ORIFICE AREAS ON VESSELS CONTAINING ONLY GAS, UNWETTED SURFACE 629

EXAMPLE
9-5 The mass flow rate of vinyl chloride m, Ib/h is
Calculate the required area for the relief valve for a horizontal non-
insulated storage tank, exposed to fire and containing liquid vinyl m = Q/A = 3.864 x 106/116
chloride monomer (CH,=CHCI). The tank dimensions are shown
in Figure 30b. The design pressure is lOOpsig, and the discharge = 33,314.61bIh
from the relief valve will be vented to a gas holder operating at
0.5 psig. A 20% accumulation (overpressure) is assumed over the The relieving temperature at the set pressure plus 20% overpressure
design pressure. The average inventory of the tank contents will plus 14.7 is 135°F. At this temperature, the latent heat of vaporiza-
equal 75% of the vessel’s inside diameter. tion is 116Btu/lb. Molecular weight M of vinyl chloride is 62.5.
Ratio of specific heat capacities, k , is 1.17
if-20 ft. + The relieving pressure,
Vent to gas holder
+ overpressure + atmospheric pressure
P = set pressure
Relief valve = 100+ (100 x 0.2) + 14.7
Uninsulated tank
= 134.7psia

The critical properties of vinyl chloride are

P, = 809 psia
T, = 313.7”F
P, = PIP, = 134.71809 == 0.167
I! 0 ft. T, =T/Tr=(135+460)/(313.7+460)=0.77
Grade
//////////’////////
From the compressibility factor chart (see Figure 3-27), Z = 0.86.
Figure 9-30b A horizontal, non-insulated storage tank of The value of C with k = 1.17 is obtained by substituting the value
Example 9-5. of k in Eq. (9-11H),

Solution
The wetted surface for the vessel equals the wetted area of the two
heads plus that of the cylindrical section.
Thus:

C = 334.17
where
For vapors and gases, in lb/h Kh = 1.0; “C” from Figure 9-25, P is
y =the fraction of the vessel’s internal diameter (ID) that is the relieving pressure absolute, psia. Substituting the values in Eq.
equivalent to average liquid inventory (9-101,
D , =diameter of circular blank from which head is shaped
( D l will depend on the type of head)
D, = y times the ID of the tank
L = tangent-to-tangent length of the cylindrical section.

A=
(33314.5) -4
D, = llft (334.17) (0.953) (134.7) (1) a
277 [(0.75) (1 l)]’ = 2.22in.,
A, =
4
+ (0.75)( 10)(20)77
= 578.15ft2 The nearest standard orifice area is 2.853 in., The pressure-relief
valve designation is L and the preferred valve body size is 3-4
The heat input to the wetted surface of the vessel is given by or 4-6.
Eq. (9-29), The maximum vapor rate with the nearest standard orifice
area is
Q = 2 1,OOOFA,fo**
w =A C K ~ P K ~ ~ ~ ~
where
= (2.853) (334.15’) (0.953) (134.7) (1) 462.51 (595 x 0.86)
F = environmental factor, F = 1.0 (Bare vessel)
= 42,772.21blh
Q =21,000(1) (578.15)0.82
Table 9-11 shows computer results for fire relief condition using
= 3.864 x lo6 Btu/h SAFETY of Example 9-5.
630 PROCESS SAFETY A N D PRESSURE-RELIEVING DEVICES
TABLE 9-1 1
F i r e Re1 i e f V a l v e S i z i n g :
Environmental f a c t o r (non-insulated vessel 1 :
Wetted s u r f a c e area o f v e s s e l , f t 2 :
Latent heat o f vaporization, Btu/lb:
Valve s e t pressure, p s i g :
Percentage o f v a l v e overpressure, %:
Upstream f l u i d t e m p e r a t u r e , O R :
F1 u i d c o m p r e s s i b i 1 i t y f a c t o r :
F1 u i d m o l e c u l a r w e i g h t :
R a t i o o f s p e c i f i c h e a t s o f f l u i d , k=Cp/Cv:
Gas c o n s t a n t d e t e r m i n e d b y r a t i o o f k :
Vapor r e l i e f f l o w r a t e , l b / h r . :
Calculated valve o r i f i c e area, i n 2 :
Nearest standard o r i f i c e area, in':
Nearest standard o r i f i c e size:
P r e f e r r e d v a l v e body s i z e ( I n - o u t ) i n c h e s :
Maximum v a p o r f l o w r a t e w i t h s t d . o r i f i c e , l b / h r . :
Reaction force, l b :
T, = vessel wall temperature, in degrees Rankine
('R="F+460).
T , =gas temperature, absolute, in degrees Rankine
+
(" R = F 460), at the upstream pressure, determined
from the following relationship:
P arrangement for the disk in inches; or the cubic feet of vapor at
T, = J T ?
P?
where
P, =normal operating gas pressure, in pounds per square inch
absolute, psia
T7 = normal operating gas temperature, in degrees Rankine
+
(" R = 'F 460).
The recommended maximum vessel wall temperature for the
usual carbon steel plate materials is 1100°F. Where vessels are
fabricated from alloy materials, the value for T, should be changed
to a more appropriate recommended maximum [5a].
The relief load can be calculated directly, in lbih [5a]:
9.34 RUPTURE DISK SIZING DESIGN AND
SPECIFICATION
Rupture or burst pressure of the metal disks must be specified at
least 2540% greater than the normal non-pulsing operating pres-
sure of the vessel or system being protected. For low operating
pressures less than 5 to 10 psig, the differences between operating
pressure and set pressure of a valve or disk may need to be greater
than that just cited.
For mild pulsations, the disk bursting pressure should be
1.75 times the operating pressure; and for strong pulsations, use
two times the operating pressure [43]. Non-metallic impregnated
graphite disks may be used to burst at 1.34 times operating pressure
as these are less subject to fatigue. The bursting pressure must never
be greater than the MAWP of the vessel, and proper allowance
must be made for the possible pressure variations, plus and minus,
due to the manufacturer's rupture pressure range. See Table 9-2
and specific manufacturers' literature. The ASME code [ 11 Par.
UG-127 requires disks to burst within 4 ~ 5 %of the stamped bursting
pressure at a specified disk temperature at the time of burst.
V a l v e Name: Exampl e 9 - 5
1.000
578.150
116.000
100.000
20.000
135.000
0.860
62.500
1.170
334.173
33314.590
2.172
2.853
L
3 - 4o r 4 - 6
43760.010
270.9
9.35 SPECIFICATIONS TO MANUFACTURER
When ordering rupture disks, the following information and speci-
fications should be given to the manufacturer.
1. Net inside diameter of opening leading to the flange or holding
stated conditions of burst pressure, or both.
2. Preferred material of construction, if known; otherwise, state
service to obtain recommendation.
3. Type of hold-down arrangement: flanged (slip on, weld neck,
screwed, stud) union, screwed, or special.
4. Material of construction for hold-down (flange, screwed)
arrangement. Usually forged carbon steel is satisfactory,
although aluminum or other material may be required to match
vessel and/or atmosphere surrounding the disk assembly.
5. Temperature (a) for continuous operation and (b) at burst pres-
sure.
6. Required relief or burst pressure in vessel and the back pressure
on the disk, if any.
7. Disks to be ASME code certified.
When the flow capacity for relief can be given to the disk manufac-
turer, together with the conditions at bursting pressure (including
temperature), the manufacturer can check against a selected size
and verify the ability of the disk to relieve the required flow.
9.36 SIZE SELECTION
Rupture disks are used for the same purpose as safety valves and, in
addition, serve to relieve internal explosions in many applications.
If the pressure rise can be anticipated, then the volume change
corresponding to this change can be calculated by simple gas laws,
and the capacity of the disk at the relieving pressure is known. The
system must be examined and the possible causes of overpressure
and their respective relief capacities identified before a reliable size
can be determined. See Figure 9-14a.
9.37 CALCULATION OF RELIEVING AREAS: RUPTURE
DISKS FOR NON-EXPLOSIVE SERVICE
The vessel nozzle diameter (inside) or net free area for relief of
vapors through a rupture disk for the usual process applications is
calculated in the same manner as for a safety relief valve, except