PROCEDURE NO.

PAGE

OF

PTD-DGS-105
PREPARED BY

1
DATE

PROCESS TECHNOLOGY PROCEDURES

DEPART-ENT. SUB&ECT.

Edited from exi ti!" do# $% &.R.B'r!('rt

APPRO0ED BY

A)ri* 30+ ,000

PROCESS ENG/NEER/NG

&RB
RE0/S/ON DATE RE0.

F1ARE 2EADER S/3/NG DES/GN GU/DE

114014,00,

1.0

SCOPE

This design guide 1 establishes procedures for designing a flare system using a flare header design computer program. 2.0 RESPONSIBILITIES

The process engineer is responsible for the design and sizing of flare headers. 3.0 DEFINITIONS

The following definitions pertain to flare header sizing: 1. Destination pressure, expressed in pounds per square inch absolute (psia , is the terminal pressure from where the program wor!s bac!. "or flare stac!, use # pounds per square inch gage (psig , unless the actual pressure drop across the stac! is !nown. #. $inimum inside pipe diameter fixes the minimum inside pipe diameter and is used only when a minimum size is required% otherwise, lea&e the input blan!. '. "ixed inside pipe diameter fixes the pipe inside diameter and is used when pressure drops are being calculated or when the pipe diameter is predetermined% 1 otherwise, lea&e the input blan!. (. )&erage gas temperature is the a&erage gas temperature of the streams entering a pipe. )&erage gas temperature is calculated using the following equation: T = W1 W# Wh T1 + T# + ...... Tn W W Wn (*q. '+1

,. $ach number limit is the largest ratio of fluid &elocity to the speed of sound in the fluid. -se a mach number limit of .., for header and .., for branches. /. $aximum percent bac!pressure is the maximum pressure that de&elops at the outlet of a relief &al&e. -se 1. percent of set pressure for con&entional &al&es and '. percent of set pressure for balanced &al&es. 0. 1as temperature is the temperature downstream of the relief &al&e, which must be calculated assuming adiabatic expansion. 2. 3iscosity (optional is the property of gas or liquids as expressed in centipoise at the flowing temperature. The computer uses ...# if this &alue is omitted.
1

4e&. . of the Design 1uide was adapted with minimal changes from a 5asadena document, D61+$51#7, 1.89#

9. 6pecific heat ratio (optional is the ratio of the specific heat at constant pressure to the specific heat at constant &olume for any gas. The computer uses 1.( if this &alue is omitted. 1.. 7ritical case is the determining case for the pipe diameter, as indicated on the computer printout. 4.0 PROCEDURE 1. 4e&iew the program manual and follow the examples, paying attention to: a. The line identification method b. 7ase studies and critical cases #. 6tudy the flare system to determine: a. "lare system layout (see "igure 1 b. The different cases to be simulated c. :ine identification method (allow for the addition of lines later d. 4elief &al&e operating conditions, including allowable percent bac!pressure e. 5ipeline lengths and routing. Disregard the !noc!out drums% add their entrance loss to the inlet piping and their exit loss to the discharge piping. '. :ay out the system so that lines and relief &al&es can be clearly numbered and identified. (. 4un the flare sizing program. ,. The simulation should be e&aluated for the following considerations: a. 6ome pipeways ha&e limits on the maximum pipe diameter, and two headers may be necessary. b. 6ince this represents cost, the ideal design would be of minimum weight. c. *ach branch line needs to be chec!ed by using bac!pressures calculated by this program at the ;unction of each branch with the header. To confirm that calculated size does not exceed the maximum allowable bac!pressure, use relief &al&e capacity, a $ach number of ..0, and run line sizing. <ncrease branch line size, if necessary, to meet the criteria of a $ach number of ..0 and maximum allowable bac!pressure.