TRAINING MANUAL- PIPING DOC No.

: 29040-PI-UPS-1002
PIPING STUDY
Rev. : R0
DRUM PIPING
Uhde India Limited Page : 1

CONTENTS

Page

0.0 Cover Sheet 1

List of drawings 2

1.0 General 3

2.0 Types of Drum 3

3.0 Location of Drum 4

4.0 Nozzle Locations 4

5.0 Platform Arrangements 5

6.0 Piping Arrangements 5

Applicable Revision:
Prepared: Checked: Approved:

Date: Date: Date:

First Edition: R0
Prepared: AKB Checked: RUD Approved: RUD

Date: Date: Date:

File Name: Server: PUNE: KUMUS 207 VKO: KUMUS 209
 TRAINING MANUAL- PIPING DOC No. : 29040-PI-UPS-1002
PIPING STUDY
Rev. : R0
DRUM PIPING
Uhde India Limited Page : 2

SR.NO. DWG.NO. DESCRIPTION

1 DP1 TYPICAL VERTICAL DRUM AT COMPRESSOR SUCTION
2 DP2 TYPICAL HORIZONTAL DRUM FOR REFLUX
NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD ELEVATION REQUIREMENTS FOR
3 DP3
A HORIZONTAL DRUM
4 DP4 ELEVATION REQUIREMENTS FOR AN UNDERGROUND DRUM
5 DP5 TYPICAL LEG SUPPORTED DRUM

6 DP6 TYPICAL SADDLE SUPPORTED DRUM

7 DP7 TYPICAL LUG SUPPORTED DRUM

8 DP8 TYPICAL DRUM ELEVATION
9 DP9 TYPICAL PROCESS VESSEL SKETCH FOR A HORIZONTAL DRUM
10 DP10 PREFFERED NOZZLE LOCATIONS FOR A HORIZONTAL DRUM
11 DP11 TYPICAL PLATFORM ARRANGEMENT FOR A HORIZONTAL DRUM
12 DP12 TYPICAL PLATFORM ARRANGEMENT FOR A VERTICAL DRUM
13 DP13 TYPICAL DRUM PLATFORM ARRANGEMENTS
TYPICAL PLATFORM AND LADDER ELEVATION REQUIREMENTS
14 DP14
FOR A HORIZONTAL DRUM
TYPICAL PLATFORM FLOOR SPACE AREA REQUIREMENTS FOR A
15 DP15
HORIZONTAL DRUM
16 DP16 TYPICAL PUMP SUCTION ARRANGEMENT
17 DP17 DRUM LOCATION IN A TOWER REFLUX SYSTEM
LOCATIONS FOR FEED SURGE AND COMPRESSOR SUCTION
18 DP18
DRUMS
19 DP19 TYPICAL RELIEF VALVE SYSTEMS
20 DP20 TYPICAL DRUM PIPING ARRANGEMENT
21 DP21 TYPICAL PIPING AND INSTRUMENTATION DIAGRAM
22 DP22 TYPICAL INSTRUMENT VESSEL SKETCH
23 DP23 TYPICAL INSTRUMENT ARRANGEMENT
24 DP24 TYPICAL HORIZONTAL DRUM DAVIT ARRANGEMENT
25 DP25 TYPICAL DRUM BOOT LAYOUT
 TRAINING MANUAL- PIPING DOC No. : 29040-PI-UPS-1002
PIPING STUDY
Rev. : R0
DRUM PIPING
Uhde India Limited Page : 3

1.0 GENERAL
1.1 The process vessels and drums are cylindrical hollow vessels used in process plants as
intermediate containers. They are often used to provide surge volumes for liquid-vapour
separations on distillation columns or separating mixtures of immiscible liquids. Other uses are
flash drums, condensate and other process liquid collectors and holding drums for additives and
chemicals.

1.2 The piping study on drums shall consider the general requirements for drum plant layout and
provide information required to locate nozzles, instruments, piping and controls for platforming and
operation / maintenance access.

1.3 In the first study of plot plan, platform levels and details of vessel elevations are set from process
requirements (net positive suction head - NPSH, gravity feed, barometric legs etc.) and from
considerations of access for safe and convenient opeation and maintenance.

Methods of supporting vessels and operating platforms are detailed. Access for lifting equipment
or overhead hoists and trolley beams is arranged for removal of motors, mixers and internal heat
exchangers from process vessels. A platform should always be provided for the removal of such
heavy items of equipment and for access to manholes.

1.4 The mechanical design of the drum may be carried out once the methods of support have been
determined and nozzle sizes and positions are finalised However, economic piping layout and
access to valves and nozzles also depend upon the position and orientation of vessel nozzles
which may be repositioned to give a better layout.

Horizontal drums may be supported and saddles positioned about one-fifth of the drum length from
each end of the drum.

Vertical drums may be supported on 3 or 4 legs or skirts considering the size and load of the
equipment.

1.5 In absense of any specific process requirement, the drum should be located at a minimum height
depending on the valves and fittings that are below the drum. Platforming should be kept to the
minimum necessary to provide safe and suitable access to manholes and operating valves.

1.6 A typical vertical drum and horizontal drum is illustrated in sketches DP-1 and DP-2.

2.0 TYPES OF DRUMS

2.1 Drums are categorised as horizontal or vertical drums. Drums internals are normally demister
pads, baffles, vortex breakers and distribution piping.

Steam drums and deaerators are usually proprietory items. Knock-out drums are used to separate
condensate in the relieving discharges before going to the flarestack. Headers to flare stacks from
relief and blowdown valves and vents are run first to knockout drum. It is recommended that the
lines should run overhead to the top of the drum and must slope at minimum 1:400 so that all
condensate run into the drum.

The leg-supported drum is illustrated in sketch DP-5.

The saddle supported drum is illustrated in sketch DP-6.
The lug-supported drum is illustrated in sketch DP-7.
Leg-supported drums should not be used in reciprocating compressor circuits.
 TRAINING MANUAL- PIPING DOC No. : 29040-PI-UPS-1002
PIPING STUDY
Rev. : R0
DRUM PIPING
Uhde India Limited Page : 4

2.2 A typical process vessel sketch of a horizontal drum is illustrated in sketch DP-9. The preferred
nozzles location on a horizontal drum is illustrated in sketch DP-10.

3.0 LOCATION OF DRUMS

3.1 Drums are located within a process unit either adjacent to related equipment (e.g. the reflux drum)
or as a stand alone operation (e.g. a condensate collection drum)

When operating within process sequence of related items (e.g. pumps, condensers and towers)
the drum should be positioned to facilitate an orderly and economic piping interconnection between
itself and those items.

3.2 Within a conventional inline process unit, drums and their related items are generally located on
either side of a central piperack serviced by auxilliary roads for maintenance access.

In certain cases (e.g. flash drums and deaerators), drums can be located above the piperack. In
chemical plants, drums are located at all levels of enclosed or open structures.
Sketch DP-17 illustrates location of a reflux drum and sketch DP-18 illustrates a typical location of
a feed surge drum and compressor suction drums.

3.3 Similar to towers, drum elevations are dictated by the NPSH (as illustrated in sketch DP-3)

3.4 Drums for chemical collection systems are generally located below ground level inside concrete
pits as illustrated in sketch DP-4.

3.5 To locate a drum, the following information is to be collected so that the level of drum can be
finalised.
Drum dimensions
Type of heads
Support details
NPSH requirements of pump
Bottom outlet size
Minimum clearances
Location
A typical drum elevation view is illustrated in the sketch DP-8.

4.0 NOZZLE LOCATIONS

4.1 The following information is required to position the drum nozzles.

Process vessel sketch (Refer illustrations sketch DP-9)
Instrument vessel sketch
Piping and Instrumentation diagrams
Plant layout guidelines
Nozzle schedule or summary
Insulation requirements
Unit Plot Plans

4.2 Sketch DP-10, illustrates the preferred nozzle locations on horizontal drums.
The preferred location for level instrument is away from the turbulence at the liquid outlet nozzle.
Instrument nozzles shall be located in the quiet zone of the vessel ie. on the opposite side of the
weir or baffle or near the vapour outlet.

Process nozzles should be located at minimum from the tangent line.

 TRAINING MANUAL- PIPING DOC No. : 29040-PI-UPS-1002
PIPING STUDY
Rev. : R0
DRUM PIPING
Uhde India Limited Page : 5

The relief valve should be placed at a point on the top of the drum where the access platform can
also provide access to other valves connected to the top of the drum.

The pressure connection should be placed in the vapour space at the top of the drum, so that the
face of the pressure gauge is visible from the ground or platform.

The temperature connection is usually close to the bottom outlet, pointing towards the access aisle
or platform.

Manholes can be positioned at the top, at the side or at one end of the vessel.

Steam-out connections should be located at the end opposite to the maintenance access with
additional vent in the bottom section of the drum as steam has a lower molecular weight.

The vent connection should be located in the top section of the drum at the end opposite the steam
out connection.

The drain should be located in the bottom section of the drum.

5.0 PLATFORM ARRANGEMENTS

5.1 A platform with good guard railings is necessary for access if the manhole is more than 3.5 m
above grade.

5.2 Platforms on drums are required for access to valves, instruments, blinds and maintenance
accesses.

5.3 Sketch DP-11, DP-12, DP-13, DP-14, DP-15 illustrates some of the typical platform requirements
for drum piping.

5.4 Platforming should be kept to the minimum necessary to provide safe and suitable access to
manholes and operating valves.

6.0 PIPING ARRANGEMENTS

6.1 Piping for process drums should be arranged in conjunction with nozzle locations, platform
arrangements and the drums location to related equipment.

Piping should be positioned to facilitate the installation of supports with sufficient flexibility to
absorb any excessive stresses during operation.

Piping for tall vertical drums should be arranged according to the guidelines mentioned in the
piping study for column piping.

6.2 Sketch DP-16, DP-17, DP-18, DP-19, DP-20, DP-21 illustrates some typical piping arrangement
around drums.

6.3 Relief valves open to atmosphere on low elevated horizontal or vertical drums should be positioned
to allow the discharge piping to be routed to a convenient and safe location. Closed system relief
valve should be located at a convenient platform adjacent to the drum above the relief valve
header.

6.4 Normally, the liquid or vapour inlet is at the top and at one end of drum with liquid outlet on the
bottom and vapour outlet at the top at opposite end.
 TRAINING MANUAL- PIPING DOC No. : 29040-PI-UPS-1002
PIPING STUDY
Rev. : R0
DRUM PIPING
Uhde India Limited Page : 6

6.5 Drain and vent lines may be located centrally or at the ends if the drum is horizontal and if desired,
the drain valve may be placed at the low point of the outlet piping.

6.6 Horizontal drums should always have small slopes towards the drain points.

6.7 Level, pressure and temperature instruments are used to control the operation of the drum and
should be in a position for optimum operation and maintenance.

6.8 Level controllers, switches and gauges are either located individually or grouped from a common
bridle or stand pipe. The controller must be operable from grade or a platform, switches, gauges
and pressure / temperature connections may be operable from a ladder if no platform is available
at the required elevation.

6.9 The drum fixed foot shall be on the same side of the vessel as the pump suction nozzle. In case of
requirement of an emergency isolation valves, these valves shall be located directly on the vessel
nozzle. The position of the support shall allow for the installation of the valve and its actuator.

6.10 In order to gain access for maintenance and operations purpose, level transmitter (LT) and Level
indicator (LT) nozzles shall be arranged on either side of the access ladder with their centres
400mm from the ladder centerline.

6.11 All instruments shall be grouped on vessels and drums such that the minimum number of ladders
and platforms is required, without any compromise on accessibility.