Guidelines for Pressure Relief and Effluent Handling Systems

List of Figures xxi

List of Tables xxvii

Preface xxix

Acknowledgements xxxi

In Memoriam xxxiii

Files on the Web Accompanying This Book xxxv

Introduction 1

1.1 Objective 1

1.2 Scope 2

1.3 Design Codes and Regulations, and Sources of Information 3

1.4 Organization of This Book 5

1.5 General Pressure and Relief System Design Criteria 7

Relief Design Criteria and Strategy 13

2.1 Limitations of the Technology 14

2.2 General Pressure Relief Strategy 14

2.3 Codes, Standards, and Guidelines 19

2.4 Relief Device Types and Operation 40

2.5 Relief System Layout 75

2.6 Design Flows and Code Provisions 90

2.7 Scenario Selection Considerations 100

2.8 Fluid Properties and System Characterization 104

2.9 Fluid Behavior in Vessel 113

2.10 Flow of Fluids Through Relief Systems 116

2.11 Relief System Reliability 122

Requirements for Relief System Design 131

3.1 Introduction 131

3.2 Vessel Venting Background 133

3.3 Venting Requirements for Nonreacting Cases 171

3.4 Calorimetry for Emergency Relief System Design 190

3.5 Venting Requirements for Reactive Cases 259

Methods for Relief System Design 283

4.1 Introduction 283

4.2 Manual and Spreadsheet Methods for Relief Valve Sizing 285

4.3 Miscellaneous 317

4.4 Piping 321

4.5 Rupture Disk Device Systems 349

4.6 Multiple Devices 350

4.7 Worked Example Index 352

Additional Considerations for Relief System Design 355

5.1 Introduction 355

5.2 Reaction Forces 356

5.3 Background 357

5.4 Selection of Design Case 363

5.5 Design Methods 363

5.6 Selection of Design Flow Rate and Dynamic Load Factor 367

5.7 Transient Forces on Relief Device Discharge Piping 372

5.8 Pipe Tension 385

5.9 Real Gases 390

5.10 Changes in Pipe Size 390

5.11 Location of Anchors 390

5.12 Exit Geometry 391

5.13 Worked Examples 392

Handling Emergency Relief Effluents 393

6.1 General Strategy 395

6.2 Basis for Selection of Equipment 399

6.3 Determining if Direct Discharge to Atmosphere is Acceptable 401

6.4 Factors That Influence Selection of Effluent Treatment Systems 403

6.5 Methods of Effluent Handling 411

Design Methods for Handling Effluent from Emergency Relief Systems 437

7.1 Design Basis Selection 438

7.2 Total Containment Systems 439

7.3 Relief Devices, Discharge Piping, and Collection Headers 442

7.4 Vapor-Liquid Gravity Separators 445

7.5 Cyclone Separators 465

7.6 Quench Pools 476

Acronyms and Abbreviations 513

Glossary 517

Nomenclature 529

Appendix A: SuperChems(TM) for DIERS Lite - Description and Instructions 541

A.1 Scope 541

A.2 Software Functions 543

A.3 Installing and Running SuperChems(TM) 547

Appendix B: CCFlow, TPHEM and COMFLOW Description and Instructions 549

B.1 Scope 549

B.2 CCFlow Calculation Options 550

B.3 TPHEM Calculation Options 556

B.4 COMFLOW Calculation Options 562

Appendix C: SuperChems(TM) for DIERS - Description and Instructions 565

C.1 Scope 565

C.2 Software Functions 567

C.3 Installing and Running SuperChems(TM) 576

Appendix D: Venting Requirements 577

D.1 Worked Examples - Emergency Venting 579

D.2 Venting Requirements for Reactive Cases 597

D.3 Relief Valve Sizing Examples 599

D.4 Piping Flow Examples 634

D.5 Reaction Forces 658

Appendix E: Worked Examples - Effluent Handling 681

E.1 Phase Separator and Quench Tank Design Examples 681

References 717

Index 743

Since 1985, the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) has been the world leader in developing and disseminating information on process safety management and technology. CCPS, an industry technology alliance of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), has published over 90 books in its process safety guidelines and process safety concepts series.