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SYSTEM DESIGN
Flash Steam
flowrate, of flash steam produced. 3,000 lb/h x .124 =
372 lb/h.
3. Using the calculated flash
steam quantity of 372 lb/h
enter Fig. 51 at A and move
horizontally to the right to the
flash tank pressure of 20 psig
B. Rise vertically to the flash
tank diameter line (600
ft/min) at D. Read tank
diameter of 5. If schedule 80
pipe is to be installed, the
table within the body of the
SYSTEM DESIGN
Example
Size a 20 psig flash recovery vessel utilizing condensate from a
160 psig steam trap discharging
3000 lb/h.
1. Determine percent flash
steam produced using Table
12. With a steam pressure of
160 psig and a flash tank
pressure of 20 psig, read a
value of 12.4%.
2. Next, multiply the condensate
load by the percent flash from
Step #1 to determine the
Figure 51: Condensate Line, Flash Tank, and Vent Line Sizing
Velocity
(ft/sec)
Velocity
(ft/min)
100
6000
4000
66
50
33
30 28" 26 24
" "
"
20 18 16 14 12
" " " " "
10
"
6"
8"
5"
4"
3"
2-1
/2"
3000
2"
1-1 1-1
/2" /4"
3/4
"
1"
1/2
"
Recommended
Service
Condensate Return
Line Sizing
Vent Pipe Sizing
2000
1000
17
10
600
Flash Tank
Diameter Sizing
50,000
Multiply chart velocity
by factor below
to get velocity
in schedule 80 pipe
0
10 0
8
60 0
4 0
3 0
2
30,000
20,000
10
Pipe Size
1/2"
3/4" & 1"
1-1/4" & 1-1/2"
2" & 3"
4" to 24"
26" to 30"
5
0
10,000
5000
0
10 0
8
60 0
4 0
3 0
2
3000
2000
10
5
0
8000
Factor
1.30
1.23
1.15
1.12
1.1
1.0
1000
800
500
300
200
0
10 0
8
60 0
4 0
3 0
2
100
80
10
5
0
60
50
40
30
20
10
P
c re
fla ond ssu
sh en re
ta sa in
nk te
(p lin
si e
g) or
43
Flash Steam
Flash Vessel Configurations
SYSTEM DESIGN
Flash vessels can be either horizontal or vertical. For flash steam recovery (pressurized receiver) the vertical
style is preferred because of its ability to provide better separation of steam and water.
Flash Steam
outlet or vent pipe
Vertical Flash
Vessel
Condensate
inlet
Length
Length = 2 x diameter or
24" minimum
Diameter
Diameter
Height = 3 x Diameter or
36" minimum
Condensate
inlet
35% of
height
Condensate
outlet
Condensate
outlet
44
Solution
A 3" x 2" PPF with 2-1/2" FTB 125 pump/trap combination
was designed into the new project as was a VS 204 air
vent. The installation was immediately successful.
Benefits
With faster start-up, it came up to temperature faster
than any other comparable unit, to date, at the refinery.
This improves productivity.
The feed rate is higher than designed because the unit
is able to operate efficiently at any degree of turndown.
Installation cost is several times less costly for the
pump/trap combo than traditional level control system
that would otherwise have been used.
Maintenance cost is lower, through elimination of electric/pneumatic controls and electric pumps used in a
traditional level control system.