Relief Valve Sizing for Liquid Flow

EXAMPLE

Remarks: U/G DRAIN TANK PUMP

General sizing equation: Equation 9 in API 520 Part I, Section 4.5.1

where:

A= effective discharge area, in2

Q= flowrate, US gal/min
Kd = coefficient of discharge, (assume 0.65)
Kw = correction faction due to back pressure (Kw=1 if atmos.)
Kv = correction factor due to viscosity (assume 1.0)
G= specific gravity at flowing temp
P1 = upstream relieving pressure, psig (set press+10%)
P2 = total back pressure, psig

System Data:

Q 64.17 US gal/min 2200 bbl/day

Kd 0.65
Kw 1
Kv 1
G 1
P1 154 psig 140 psig
P2 3 psig

A= 0.2114203 in2

Orifice Letter E
Body Size 1.5"X2.5"
Guideline:

Orifice Letter D E F G H J K
Area in2 0.11 0.196 0.307 0.503 0.785 1.287 1.838
Value 1X2 1X2 1.5X2.5 1.5X2.5 1.5X3 2X3 3X4
Body Size 1.5"X2.5" 1.5"X2.5" 2"X3" 2"X3" 2"X3" 3"X4" 3"X6"
Orifice Letter L M N P Q R T
Area in2 2.853 3.6 4.34 6.38 11.05 16 26
Value 3X4 4X6 4X6 4X6 6X8 6X8 8X10
Body Size 4"X6" 4"X6" 4"X6" 4"X6" 6"X8" 6"X8" 6"X10"

Prepared by Production Engineering Dept 04/21/2024 Page 1

 Relief Valve Sizing for Liquid Flow
EXAMPLE

Remarks: DRAIN TANK PUMP

General sizing equation: Equation 9 in API 520 Part I, Section 4.5.1

where:

A= effective discharge area, in2

Q= flowrate, US gal/min
Kd = coefficient of discharge, (assume 0.65)
Kw = correction faction due to back pressure (Kw=1 if atmos.)
Kv = correction factor due to viscosity (assume 1.0)
G= specific gravity at flowing temp
P1 = upstream relieving pressure, psig (set press+10%)
P2 = total back pressure, psig

System Data:

Q 0.35 US gal/min 12 bbl/day

Kd 0.65
Kw 1
Kv 1
G 1
P1 1485 psig 1350 psig
P2 0.5 psig

A= 0.0003678 in2

Orifice Letter E
Body Size 0.75"X1.0"
Guideline:

Orifice Letter D E F G H J K
Area in2 0.11 0.196 0.307 0.503 0.785 1.287 1.838
Value 1X2 1X2 1.5X2.5 1.5X2.5 1.5X3 2X3 3X4
Body Size 1.5"X2.5" 1.5"X2.5" 2"X3" 2"X3" 2"X3" 3"X4" 3"X6"
Orifice Letter L M N P Q R T
Area in2 2.853 3.6 4.34 6.38 11.05 16 26
Value 3X4 4X6 4X6 4X6 6X8 6X8 8X10
Body Size 4"X6" 4"X6" 4"X6" 4"X6" 6"X8" 6"X8" 6"X10"

Prepared by Production Engineering Dept 04/21/2024 Page 2