Venting the gas will prevent back pressure on the system, which could prevent the reactor from

venting and cause overpressure in the reactor. A limited pressure quench tank is fitted with a relief valve to maintain the pressure within certain limits. The pressure can be maintained to increase residence time of the gas/vapour in the quench fluid, increasing the potential for heat and mass transfer. The pressure will also reduce any carry-over of liquid droplets from the quench fluid. Limiting the quench tank pressure will also prevent excessive back pressure on the reactor. The dimensions of the quench tank must be sufficient to allow storage of the quench liquid and the discharged reactor contents, including the gas/vapour present in the liquid. They must also allow sufficient residence time of the gas/vapours in the quench liquid to permit heat and mass transfer. A significant depth of liquid is therefore needed. Void space above the liquid will reduce back pressure on a closed tank and will reduce entrainment of any liquid droplets in the gas phase. The superficial velocity of the gas/vapour in the quench tank can be used to estimate the minimum acceptable diameter of the vessel. The superficial gas velocity should be sufficiently low as to prevent excessive entrainment of the liquid phase in the gas. Experimentally obtained acceptable maximum values between 0.25 and 2 m/s are given in the literature (Huckins,1995). This is a wide range, and clearly more experimental work is required. Entrainment of liquid will be dependent inter alia on viscosity, surface tension and density of the fluids, and different values may be acceptable depending on the quench liquid, reactant liquid and gas phase. The maximum superficial gas velocity dictates the minimum vessel diameter. Once the diameter of the vessel is known, the required height can be estimated. The height must allow for the gas/vapour present in the quench liquid. Various methods are given to estimate gas hold-up within the liquid. Although these relate to a non-condensable gas in a liquid, they can be safely used since a condensable vapour is likely to give a reduced volume due to condensation. A void space in the quench tank is also necessary to prevent excessive liquid. A void height of 0.92 m (3ft) or 20% of the vessel diameter is given by Scheiman (1964), whereas Grossel (1997) recommends 10% of the height. The void space will reduce back pressure on the reactor in a closed

quench tank and reduce losses of the liquid in the gas stream of a vented tank.