DTS-400

Rev. 0

PROCESS DESIGN MANUAL - VESSELS

DIQUIMA TECHNICAL STANDARD

PROCESS DESIGN PROJET

2011-04-26

Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Medio Ambiente

Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Contents

1 General 1

2 Size 1

3 Nozzles 2

4 Manways 2

5 Settling pots 2

6 Other 3

I
 PROCESS DESIGN PROJECT DTS-400
Rev. By Date
DIQUIMA TECHNICAL STANDARD
0 SGC 11/02/28

PROCESS DESIGN MANUAL - VESSELS

1. General

This process criteria governs the general requirements for the process design of pressure and
vacuum vessels and columns. A process design data sheet using DTS-300 shall be prepared for
each vessel, column o reactor.

2. Size

Residence time is defined between low liquid level and high liquid level. The dished heads are
ignored in the calculation.

Service Residence time

Feed surge drum 30 minutes
Reflux 5 minutes
Column feed 15 minutes on flow control or 8 minutes on cascade
level/flow control
Reboiling by heater 8 minutes on feed to heater
Reboiling by thermosiphon 10 to 30 seconds
Product to storage 3 minutes except process requirement for lower time
Product feeding another unit 15 minutes on flow control or 8 minutes on cascade
level/flow control

In the case of pumps ensuring several services such as reflux and liquid distillate to storage, the
residence time of the corresponding vessel will be whichever is greater from the above list.

Minimum inside diameter shall be 450 mm. Larger size will be specified when required to accom-
modate internals.

As a general guide, the following L/D ratios provide economic designs:

Operating pressure (bar a) L/D ratio

< 15 3
15 < 30 4
30 < 5

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 PROCESS DESIGN PROJECT DTS-400
Rev. By Date
DIQUIMA TECHNICAL STANDARD
0 SGC 11/02/28

PROCESS DESIGN MANUAL - VESSELS

3. Nozzles

Vessels, exception done for reactors, will be provided with vent and drain nozzles. Vent and drain
connections shall be sized as follows :

Vessel diameter Vent Drain

< 1200 mm 1 12 " 1 21 "
1200- 2500 mm 2" 2"
2500- 3500 mm 3" 3"
3500- 6000 mm 4" 3"
> 6000 mm 4" 4"

Separate steam-out connections will be specified. Steam out nozzles shall be sized as follows:

Drums 2"
Column D ≤ 4 m 2"
Column 4 m < D ≤ 5.5 m 3"
Column D > 5.5 m 4"

Connections will be flanged. Due to safety reason, slip-on flange shall not be used.

4. Manways

600 mm manways shall normally be specified.

In trayed columns, manways will be provided above the top tray, at the feed tray and below the
bottom tray. A manway will be provided at any tray with removable internals and at intermediate
levels so that the maximum number of trays between manways does not exceed 20.

5. Settling pots

Vertical settling pots are often used on horizontal drums where a small volume of water or other
heavy phase material is withdrawn.

Rev. 0 / 2011-04-26 2 of 3
 PROCESS DESIGN PROJECT DTS-400
Rev. By Date
DIQUIMA TECHNICAL STANDARD
0 SGC 11/02/28

PROCESS DESIGN MANUAL - VESSELS

The pot diameter is sized to allow for good separation. The length (minimun 700 mm) is based on
the holdup volume required for control (usually 2 minutes) or on the level instrument dimensions.

Settling pots should not be used if the required diameter exceeds one third the diameter of drums
1500 mm and over, or one half the diameter of drums less than 1500 mm in diameter (up to a
minimun 300 mm diameter pot).

6. Other

2:1 elliptical heads or hemispherical heads will normally be specified.

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