PROJ No:_________

CALC No:_________
Self Chk:________
Date:________
Chkd:________ Apprvd:________
Date:_______ Date:_______
Program Name Relief valve sizing
Revision 0
Author MJA
Rev. Date 15-Apr-03
Purpose
This program is designed to assist with sizing of relief valves for vapour and liquid relief using the guidelines of
API 520, Part-I, 7th Edition, J anuary 2000. For two phase relief, the sizing method has not been included
in this revision. Until this method has been included in the next version, the individual orifice areas calculated
separately for liquid and vapour components would be added together to obtain the total orifice area
Instructions for use
1. Copy the protected programme from the 'Approved Software' directory into relevant project directory.
2. Go to the desired worksheet (PSV Vapour relief, PSV Liquid relief by clicking on the relevant button at
the bottom of this spreadsheet program. Fill in designated input (sheet is self- explanatory) and press print buttons as required.
PSV for vapour relief
2a. Input the following process data for sizing of PSV for vapour relief in worksheet "PSV Vapour Relief".
- Select the relieving scenario and design code of the vessel protected by the PSV from drop-down list boxes.
- Input Mass Flowrate, Molecular Weight, Relief temperature, Compressibility, Cp/Cv, Set pressure and Back pressure.
- Input back pressure correction factor 'Kb' if available. This input is optional. The program defaults to a value of 1.
- Input % accumulation if it is different from the value selected by program. This input is optional. For vessels designed
to ASME section VIII, Div. 1 and 'Fire relief' scenario, the program defaults to 21% accumulation. For all other cases,
the program defaults to 10% accumulation.
3a. The program calculates the orifice area for the PSV, selects the next higher standard orifice size and gives preliminary
size of the selected PSV. The program also calculates the relieving capacity of the selected relief valve.
PSV for liquid relief
2b. Input the following process data for sizing of PSV for liquid relief in worksheet "PSV Liquid Relief".
- Input the relieving scenario and design code of the vessel protected by the PSV.
- Input Mass Flowrate, Density and Viscosity at flowing conditions, Set pressure and Back pressure.
- Input % accumulation if it is different from the value selected by program. This input is optional. The program defaults to
10% accumulation for all liquid relief cases.
3b. The program calculates back pressure correction factor, viscosity correction factor, orifice area for the PSV, selects the
next higher standard orifice size and gives preliminary size of the selected PSV. The program also calculates the
relieving capacity of the selected relief valve.
PSV for two phase (vapour+liquid) relief
2c. The sizing method for two phase relief from PSV is being finalised in API 520. Till the new method is available
calculate individually the orifice area for the vapour and liquid components using worksheets 'PSV Vapour Relief' and
PSV Liquid Relief' respectively and obtain the total orifice area. Select the PSV size manually.
Limitations
1. No choice of RV type is given. For backpressure higher than 10% of the maximum relieving pressure
(set pressure+accumulation), the program automatically selects balanced bellow relief valve and uses
sizing equation for critical flow in gas service (see also 'Limitation note 2').
For backpressure <10% conventional valves are assumed.
2. Per API 520, critical flow equations are used for all balanced bellows in gas service. To adjust for
subcritical flow, manufacterer's back-pressure correction factor (Kb) should be obtained and used in
the optional 'user input' cell provided.
3. The program selects from the full orifice sizes defined in API 526 (1997) (ie. D,E,F,G,H,J ,K,L,M,P,Q,R,T).
4. For orifice area exceeding the T size orifice, the program gives a message that 'Multiple RV's' are required. User to
select the number and size of PSVs.
5. For use of multiple RVs, the user is required to split the flow at the data input stage. Refer to API 520 for set point
considerations of multiple RVs.
6. RVs for steam system relief has not been considered.
FEEDBACK: All feedback should be sent to the Owner (Assigned Custodian) - see Revision Status sht.
INTRODUCTION TO RELIEF VALVE SIZING PROGRAM
STD CALCULATION NO: PEL-BMS-CAL-P-0300
PROJ No:_________
CALC No:_________
Self Chk:________
Date:________
Chkd:________ Apprvd:________
Date:_______ Date:_______
Date: 15-Apr-03
Spreadsheet name: Relief valve rev0
Revision: 0
Std Calculation number PEL-BMS-CAL-P-0300
Date: 15-Apr-03
Assigned owner MJ Allen
Revision History
Revision Date Prepared Checked Approved
0 15/04/03 MJA RL LJF
Validated for use.
J and M standard orifice sizes added to look up tables.
STD CALCULATION NO: PEL-BMS-CAL-P-0300
PROJ No:_________
CALC No:_________
Self Chk:________
Date:________
Chkd:________ Apprvd:________
Date:_______ Date:_______
Client: Software validation
Job No: PEL-BMS-CAL-P-0303
Project: Vapour service
Tag No: 20-PSV-011
Location Test Separator
PROCESS DATA
Vapour or Gas relief
Relieving Scenario
Vessel Design Code
Mass Flow kg/h 6444.7
Gas Molecular Weight kg/kmol 20.20
Relief Temperature C 119.00
Compressibility 1.00
Cp/Cv 1.40
RV Set pressure bar(g) 3.50
Back Pressure bar(g) 0.10 User Input for Kb (Optional).
Back Pressure Correction Factor Kb (Default value =1) 1.00
User Input for accumulation (Optional).
Accumulation (default 21% for ASME, 10% for BS 5500).
% 10 Note, do not exceed defaults.
CALCULATIONS / RESULTS
Acc. absolute press. psia 70.53
Critical backpressure psia 37.26
Critical flow / Subcritical flow Critical Flow
Type of RV Balanced Bellow
Effective coefficient of Discharge K
d
0.975 Default Value as per API-520.
Calculated Orifice Area inch
2
3.345
Selected Orifice M
Selected Orifice Area inch
2
3.600
Relieving Capacity of Selected RV kg/h 6935
Preliminary RV Size (Inlet x Outlet) 4"X6"
Orifice Designation M
RELIEF VALVE SIZING CALCULATIONS
VAPOUR OR GAS RELIEF
STD CALCULATION NO: PEL-BMS-CAL-P-0300
PROJ No:_________
CALC No:_________
Self Chk:________
Date:________
Chkd:________ Apprvd:________
Date:_______ Date:_______
Client: Software validation
Job No: PEL-BMS-CAL-P-0304
Project: Liquid service
Tag No: 20-PSV-011
Location TEST SEPARATOR (V-2005)
PROCESS DATA
Liquid relief
Relieving Scenario Blocked outlet
Vessel Design Code
Mass Flow kg/h 515.00
Density at flowing conditions kg/m 1130.00
Absolute Viscosity at FC cP 3.49
RV Set pressure Ps bar(g) 1812.50
Back Pressure Pb bar(g) 4.60 User Input for accumulation (Optional)
Accumulation % 10.00
CALCULATIONS / RESULTS
Upstream Relieving Pressure psig 28909.38
% of guage backpressure (Pb/Ps)x100 0.25
Back Pressure Correction Factor Kw Based on API 520 Fig.35 1.00
Viscosity Correction Factor Kv Based on API 520 Fig.36 0.96 User Input for accumulation (Optional)
Effective coefficient of Discharge K
d
(API-520 default=0.65) 0.65
Type of RV Conventional
Calculated Orifice Area inch
2
0.001
Selected Orifice D
Selected Orifice Area inch
2
0.110
Relieving Capacity of Selected RV kg/h 107076
Preliminary RV Size (Inlet x Outlet) 1"x 2"
Orifice Designation D
RELIEF VALVE SIZING CALCULATIONS
LIQUID RELIEF
STD CALCULATION NO: PEL-BMS-CAL-P-0300
PROJ No:_________
CALC No:_________
Self Chk:________
Date:________
Chkd:________ Apprvd:________
Date:_______ Date:_______
IS REVISED TO GIVE NEW METHOD
UNFLASHED LIQUID AND ADD THE INDIVIDUAL
AREAS TO OBTAIN THE TOTAL ORIFICE AREA TILL
THE NEW METHOD IS AVAILABLE.
THIS WORKSHEET TO BE DEVELOPED ONCE API 520
RELIEF VALVE SIZING CALCULATIONS
VAPOUR + LIQUID
SIZING METHOD FOR
THE ORIFICE AREA FOR FLASHED VAPOUR AND
TWO PHASE RELIEF IS BEING FINALISED
IN API 520 PART-I
PLEASE CALCULATE INDIVIDUALLY THE
STD CALCULATION NO: PEL-BMS-CAL-P-0300