Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Eductor Tube Pc
Guide Pn
Disc Holder
Disc
Adjusting
Ring Pb
Second
Adjusting Annular Orifice
Ring Pin
Primary
Orifice
Nozzle
Inlet Neck Po
Base
Threads
For such flows, nonequilibrium effects can result in a mass flux –2 x/ρ G + (1 – x)/ρ L dP
2 Po
that is many times as great as predicted by the HEM model (8). G =
n (6)
This is because flashing is actually a rate process, [x/(ρ GS) + (1 – x)/ρ L] 2 [xS 2 + 1 – x]
rather than an equilibrium one. Nucleation of vapor bub- t
bles only occurs when the pressure drops below the equi- The subscript t represents conditions at the throat (exit)
librium saturation pressure (corresponding to a finite su- of the nozzle. The model also includes the following for-
perheat), and the bubbles then grow at a finite rate con- mula for the slip ratio in terms of an empirical parameter
trolled by the rate of heat and mass transfer from the liq- ks, which is input by the user (while there are no guidelines
uid to the vapor phase. Even though this process can be for choosing the appropriate value of ks, Ref. 8 offers some
fast, the high velocities experienced in a typical relief sce- experimental guidelines):
nario can result in a significant distance of fluid travel be- ρ ks
fore the flashing is complete. At a velocity of several hun- S = 1 – x + xρ L
G
(7)
dred feet per second, the fluid will travel several inches in
just one millisecond. The TPHEM program also includes an option to ac-
The HNE model accounts for this delayed flashing by as- count for nonequilibrium behavior by replacing the local
suming that vaporization is not complete until the fluid has equilibrium quality x by a “nonequilibrium” quality xNE,
traveled at least 10 cm (4 in.) along the nozzle. This nonequi- where xNE < x:
librium effect is more pronounced as the relief pressure rises,
x NE = x A + k NE x 2 – x A2 (8)
since the higher the pressure the higher the velocity through
the nozzle, and the further the fluid will travel before flashing Here, kNE is an empirical parameter (input by the user),
is complete. Both slip and nonequilibrium effects result in a and xA is the quality at the upstream state for saturated inlet
higher mass flux and holdup relative to that predicted by the conditions (or zero for subcooled inlet conditions). Accord-
HEM model, since both of these effects result in a local qual- ing to Simpson (9), a value of kNE = 1 gives results compa-
ity (i.e., mass fraction of gas) within the tube/nozzle that is rable to the HNE model (see below), but there are no fur-
smaller than would occur if the flow were at equilibrium. ther guidelines for the appropriate value to use for kNE.
A critical aspect of any model is the method used to
TPHEM model evaluate the density of the two-phase mixture that appears
This model is based on work by Simpson (9, 10) and is in the integral in Eq. 1. The TPHEM program incorporates
described in a recent CCPS Guidelines book (4) that in- a choice of a variety of possible (two- or three-parameter)
cludes a CD containing a program for implementing the empirical models for this density (10). The user can select
model. It is based on a numerical integration of the isen- any of these models, and must input data for the liquid- and
tropic nozzle equation: gas-phase densities and the quality at the upstream stagna-
G*
from the stagnation pressure to the discharge pressure. If the 0.6
flow is choked, the mass flux will reach a limiting value be- Data
fore the discharge pressure is reached, at a pressure corre- 0.4 HNE
sponding to the critical choke pressure, which can be deter- TPHEM
0.2 S =1.5
mined by varying the discharge pressure. The program in-
cludes options for nozzle flow with or without friction (i.e., an 0
entrance loss coefficient) and pipe flow with friction, as well 0.001 0.01 0.1 1
as for viscous or inviscid (zero-viscosity) liquid properties.
The one-parameter density model in TPHEM is equiva- Quality
lent to the Omega method (3), which is an analytical solu-
tion of the nozzle mass-flux integral. The model parameter ■ Figure 2. Graham Nozzle No. 1 with air/water data vs. predictions.
is equivalent to the parameter ω of the original Omega
method, which can also be evaluated from the
thermal/physical properties of the two-phase mixture at the G1 = GERM represents the equilibrium rate model
stagnation conditions: (ERM), which describes the critical (choked) mass flux re-
2
sulting from the phase change (flashing). NNE is the
2PovLGo C poT oPo vLGo nonequilibrium parameter, which represents delayed flash-
ω = αo 1 – + vo (9)
h LGo h LGo ing for lengths less than 10 cm. Go and G3 are the liquid
components of the flow from Po (stagnation) to Ps (satura-
Alternatively, this parameter can be determined from tion) for subcooled inlet conditions, and for Ps to P2 (dis-
known values of the two-phase density at the stagnation charge). For all-liquid flow (no flashing), Ps is replaced by
pressure and one additional pressure between the stagna- P2 and Gc = Go. For choked flow, P2 is replaced by the
tion and discharge pressures, as specified by the TPHEM choke pressure Pc.
program. This is usually more accurate than using Eq. 9. The friction loss coefficient Kf can include entrance and
fitting losses, as well as pipe friction for which Kf = 4fL/D;
HNE model f is the Fanning friction factor. This model does not include
This model has been expressed in various ways (5). For a provision for accounting for slip.
flashing flows, it can be represented by the following set The predictions of these various models were com-
of equations: pared with the following data sets from the literature to
2
1/2 test their validity.
Go
+ 1
Gc G1 N NE Data: Frozen flow
= The most consistent set of data for frozen flow appears
G1 1 + Kf (10)
to be that of Graham (11) for air/water mixtures through
short (ASME-type) nozzles. Jamerson and Fisher (7)
G1 2 L compared the TPHEM computer predictions with these
N NE = + (11) data, and found that good agreement is obtained using a
G3 Le
constant slip value S of 1.5–1.8. An example of these data
for L ≤ L e = 10 cm is shown in Figure 2, in which the dimensionless mass
NNE = 1 for L > Le (12) flux, defined as:
Gc
Go = 2ρ Lo Po – Ps (13) G* = (16)
Poρ o
h LGo is plotted vs. the inlet quality xo for the Graham Nozzle
G1 = = G ERM No. 1 (e in.), along with a comparison of the predictions
vLGo T oC pLo (14)
of the TPHEM homogeneous equilibrium model, the
TPHEM model with a constant slip ratio of S = 1.5, and the
G3 = 2ρ Lo Ps – P2 (15) HNE model. The quality is defined as the mass fraction of
the vapor (gas) phase, i.e.:
G*
0.6
G*
0.8
0.6 0.5
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.2
-0.002 0 0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008 -0.003 -0.002 -0.001 0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004
Xo Xo
■ Figure 3. Sozzi and Sutherland Nozzle No. 2 data; L = 0. ■ Figure 4. Sozzi and Sutherland Nozzle No. 2 data; L = 1.5 in.
roughness and entrance loss coefficient. These data were fit 0.6
by the TPHEM nozzle flow option with a loss coefficient to
account for both the entrance loss and the pipe friction 0.4
loss, the pipe flow option, and the HNE model. The pipe
0.2
flow TPHEM option uses the following equation for pipe
flow, which is the equivalent of Eq. 3 for nozzles: 0
-0.006 -0.004 -0.002 0.000 0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008
P2
– ρdP + g Z o – Z 2 ρ 2
avg Xo
2 Po
G =
ln ρ 2/ρ o + ΣK f + 1 / 2 (18)
■ Figure 5. Sozzi and Sutherland Nozzle No. 3 data, L = 0.185 in.
max
HNE model was excellent for saturated and subcooled con-
For the TPHEM nozzle option, the pipe friction loss ditions, but, for higher inlet qualities, the model overpre-
coefficient is given by 4fL/D. The Fanning friction factor dicts the data by about 10%. Sample results are shown in
f was taken to be that for fully turbulent flow in a 0.5 in. Figures 6 and 7 for Nozzle 2 tubes 12.5 and 70 in. long,
dia. tube with a roughness of 0.0004 in., typical of that and in Figure 8 for a Nozzle 3 tube 20.2 in. long.
for stainless steel (i.e., f = 0.00465). The TPHEM pipe All of the models (TPHEM nozzle, TPHEM pipe, and
flow option requires an input of the pipe roughness HNE) gave reasonable agreement with the pipe data when
(which was also taken to be 0.0004 in. for these data); the friction loss was included in the model. The HNE model
the friction factor and loss coefficient are computed by gave as good or better agreement than the other models,
the program. The same value of Kf = 4fL/D was also with values of Gobs/Gcalc of 0.98–1.08 for the Nozzle No.
used in the HNE model for pipe flow. A square entrance 2 tubes, and 0.86–0.97 for the Nozzle No. 3 tubes, with a
loss coefficient of 0.4 was included with the Nozzle 3 standard deviation as low or lower than the TPHEM mod-
computations (the entrance loss coefficient is zero for els. A summary of the various TPHEM program options
Nozzle 2). that were run, along with the corresponding values of the
For the L = 9 in. No. 2 nozzle, the agreement of the various program parameters, is shown in Table 1.
0.8 0.8
Gc *
Gc *
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.2 -0.004 -0.002 0.000 0.002 0.004
-0.002 0 0.002 0.004
Xo Xo
■ Figure 6. Sozzi and Sutherland Nozzle No. 2, pipe data; L = 12.5 in. ■ Figure 7. Sozzi and Sutherland Nozzle No. 2 data, L = 70 in.
TPHEM by adjusting the kNE parameter, but this does not gard to the suitability of the models is roughly the same as
work very well for the Nozzle No. 3 (square-entrance) noz- for the nozzle data. Within the uncertainty of the data, the
zle and pipe data. Although it has been shown that slip can HNE model gave the most consistent predictions for noz-
be important in frozen flows, it should not be significant in zles, pipes, and valves, as well as for rounded and square
flashing flows relative to the effects of flashing. entrance configurations. It is also the most consistent over
The available data for valve flow are much more limit- the range of inlet quality from subcooled to two-phase inlet
ed, and are complicated by the variable geometry of the and for short nozzles to long pipes and valves.
valve nozzle. Because the flashing pressure for these data For flashing flow in valves, a discharge coefficient Kd of
is considerably below that of the Sozzi and Sutherland data 1.0 is tentatively recommended for use with the HNE model
(typically about 100 psia), nonequilibrium effects are much based on these results. This is reasonable, since flashing
less pronounced. Considering the limited extent and the flows are inevitably choked, so that the valve capacity is de-
uncertainty in these data, the tentative conclusion with re- termined by flow in the nozzle only and is independent of
the flow conditions downstream of the nozzle in the valve
body, etc. Values of Kd that are significantly lower than 1.0
Literature Cited normally result for gases under subcritical conditions and
1. “Pressure Relief Device Certifications,” National Board of Boiler and liquid flows, for which the flow in the valve body has a sig-
Pressure Vessel Inspectors, Columbus, OH (updated annually). nificant effect on the valve capacity.
2. “Emergency Relief System Design Using DIERS Technology,” De- It should be emphasized that to obtain reliable results
sign Institute for Emergency Relief Systems (DIERS), AIChE, New
from the models, it is necessary to have a complete under-
York (1992).
3. Leung, J. C., “Easily Size Relief Devices and Piping for Two-Phase
standing of the thermodynamic and physical state of the
Flow,” Chem. Eng. Progress, 92 (12), pp. 28-–50 (Dec. 1996). fluid entering and leaving the nozzle, which implies accu-
4. “Guidelines for Pressure Relief and Effluent Handling Systems,” Cen- rate values of temperature and pressure, as well as fluid
ter for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS), AIChE, New York (1998). transport and thermodynamic properties at these condi-
5. Fauske, H. K., “Determine Two-Phase Flows During Releases,” tions. For example, for an entering fluid near saturation, a
Chem. Eng. Progress, 95 (2), pp. 55–58 (Feb. 1999). variation of 1°F in the temperature can have an effect as
6. Darby, R., “Viscous Two-Phase Flow in Relief Valves,” Phase I Re- large as 20% on the calculated mass flux through the valve.
port to Design Institute for Emergency Relief Systems (DIERS),
AIChE, New York (Nov. 1997).
Acknowledgments
7. Jamerson, S. C., and H. G. Fisher, “Using Constant Slip Ratios to
Model Non-Flashing (Frozen) Two-Phase Flow Through Nozzles,” The authors would like to recognize the DIERS Users
Process Safety Progress, 18 (2), pp. 89–98 (Summer 1999). Group of AIChE and ALCOA, Inc. for partial support of
8. Darby, R., “Evaluation of Two-Phase Flow Models for Flashing Flow this project, and to Anderson Greenwood Crosby, Inc. for
in Nozzles,” Process Safety Progress, 19 (1), pp. 32–39 (Spring 2000). providing the data for the Crosby valves. CEP
9. Simpson, L. L., “Estimate Two-Phase Flow in Safety Devices,”
Chem. Eng., 98 (8), pp. 98–102 (Aug. 1991).
10. Simpson, L. L., “Navigating the Two-Phase Maze” in International < Discuss This Article! >
Symposium on Runaway Reactions and Pressure Relief Design, G. A. To join an online discussion about this article
Melham and H. G. Fisher, eds., Design Institute for Emergency Relief with the author and other readers, go to the
Systems (DIERS), AIChE, New York, meeting held in Boston, MA, ProcessCity Discussion Room for CEP articles
pp. 394–417 (Aug. 2–4 1995). at www.processcity.com/cep.
11. Graham, E. J., “The Flow of Air-Water Mixtures Through Nozzles,”
Ministry of Technology NEL Report No. 308, U.K. (Aug. 1967).
12. Toner, S. J., “Two-Phase Flow Research, Phase I, Two-Phase Nozzle
R. DARBY is a professor of chemical engineering at Texas A&M University,
Research: U.S. Department of Energy Report,” DOE/ER/10687-T1
College Station, TX (Phone: (979) 845-3301; Fax: (979) 845-6446; E-mail:
(July 1981). r-darby@tamu.edu). He has been active in research on non-Newtoninan
13. Ilic, V, et al., “A Qualified Database for the Critical Flow of Water,” and viscoelastic fluids, two-phase solid-liquid and gas-liquid flows, and
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Report NP-4556, EPRI, Palo has numerous publications in these and other topics. He has authored
Alto, CA (May 1986). “Viscoelastic Fluids,” and the recently revised version of “Chemical
14. Sozzi, G. L., and W. A. Sutherland, “Critical Flow of Saturated and Engineering Fluid Mechanics,” published by Marcel Dekker. Darby holds BS
Subcooled Water at High Pressure,” Report NEDO-13418, General and PhD degrees in chemical engineering from Rice University. He is a
Electric Company, San Jose, CA (July 1975). Fellow of AIChE, and has received numerous publication awards from
AIChE, a Former Students Award from Texas A&M for excellence in
15. Darby, R., et al., “Relief Sizing for Two-Phase Flow,” paper presented
teaching, and was designated Minnie Stevens Piper Professor in 1981.
at 34th Loss Prevention Symposium, AIChE, Atlanta (Mar. 5–9, 2000).
P. R. MEILLER is a senior chemical engineering student at Texas A&M. He
16. Bolle, L., et al., “Experimental and Theoretical Analysis of Flashing served an internship last summer with BASF in Ludwigshafen, Germany,
Water Flow Through a Safety Valve,” J. Hazardous Materials, 46, and will work for BASF in Freeport, TX, after graduation.
pp. 105–116 (1996). J. R. STOCKTON is a product engineer with Ruska Instrument Corp., Houston
17. Lenzing, T., et al.,“Prediction of the Maximum Full Lift Safety Valve (Phone: (713) 975-0547; Fax: (713) 975-6338). He received his BS in
Two-Phase Flow Capacity,” J. Loss Prevention in the Proc. Industries, engineering from Trinity University in San Antonio and his ME in chemical
11 (5), pp. 307–321 (1998). engineering from Texas A&M. He is a member of AIChE.