Rajesh A

Assistant Engineer
Emp Code: 104321
Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd.

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 OUTLINE
Introduction
Types of Depressuring
When to use Depressuring
Design Considerations
Calculation Methods
References

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 Vapour Depressuring
Introduction
Protective arrangement of valves and piping intended
to provide for rapid reduction of pressure in
equipment by releasing vapours.
Actuation of the system can be automatic or manual.
API 521 states:
Provide depressurizing on all equipment that
process light hydrocarbons and set the
depressured rate to achieve 100 psig (690kPag)
or 50% of the vessel design pressure, which
ever is lower in 15 minutes.
In connection with fire protection, particularly in
higher-pressure services, the designer should consider
vapour depressuring facilities.

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 Continued
Controlled depressuring of the vessel reduces internal pressure and
stress in the vessel walls.
Depressuring systems are used to reduce the failure potential for
scenarios involving overheating (e.g. fire).

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 Depressurization types
Controlled Type Depressuring
Controlled Type Depressuring
Non-controlled Type Depressuring

Non-controlled Type Depressuring

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 When to use Depressurization
Vessel requiring depressurization capability
A vessel operated above 690 kPa (100psi)
Contains volatile liquids with vapour pr. above atmospheric
Fire condition may occur that weakens a vessel to below safe
strength levels, with in several hours, which may cause
significant exposure loses.
Vessel which may not require depressurization capability
A vessel operated at or less than 690 kPa
A vessel containing less than 907 Kgs (2000 lb) of vapours
A vessel whose time to rupture from a fire exposure is more
than several hours.
Detailed Flow Chart
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 Examples
The ASME pressure vessel rupture stress formula is applied to calculate a
vessel stress is:
S = P(R+0.6t)/Et
Where:
S = Rupture Stress
P = Operating Pressure in Psig
R = Shell Inside Radius, Inch
t = Shell Wall Thickness, Inch
E = Weld Joint Efficiency (generally assume 100%)

Example 1
Example 2

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 Design Considerations
The following should be considered when designing/specifying the
depressurization system:

Rupture time
Rupture pressure of pipes & vessels
Total release of flammables
Instantaneous release rate
Loss of production, reputation and rebuild cost
Damage to internals of equipments
Manual controls near the vessel may be inaccessible during a fire.
Failure position
Metallurgy of the vessel
Safe disposal of vented streams.

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 Depressurization Calculation Methods
Grote Equation
API RP 521 Method
Software Packages
HYSYS
BLOWDOWN/BLOWFIRE
LNGDYN
PRO II

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 Grote Equation
Assumptions :
Critical flow throughout entire depressuring process
Constant mass flow throughout entire depressuring process
System being depressured is maintained as gaseous throughout entire depressuring
process
Constant temperature, molecular weight and compressibility
Methodology
Following is the derivation of the manual equation.
Vapour flow passing an orifice at critical flow condition

MW
W C D AO P (a)
TZ
where,
W = Mass flow (kg/h)
CD = Discharge Coeff.
Ao= Orifice area (mm2)
P = Upstream pressure (KPa abs)
MW = Molecular weight
T = Upstream temperature (K)
Z = Upstream fluid compressibility
M0= Initial mass

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A vessel with fixed volume (Vo) depressure from P0 to P1, take time t, assuming
flow rate is constant (W0=W1=W2=),depressure mass,
dM W dt
V0 d
dt (b)
W
Assuming Temperature, Molecular weight and compressibility maintain constant
through-out the depressuring process,

V0 MW
dt dP
W ZRT

dt
V0 MW 1
dP (c)
C D A0 R TZ P

Integrate above equation with condition P0 @ t0 and P @ t.

V0 MW P
t ln
C D A0 R TZ P0

W
M0
ln
P (d)
t P0

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 API 521 Method
* To reduce the internal pressure in equipment involved in a fire, vapour
should be removed at a rate that compensates for the following
occurrences:
* Vapour generated from liquid by heat input from the fire;
* Vapour expansion during pressure reduction;
* Liquid flash due to pressure reduction. (This factor applies only when a system
contains liquid at or near its saturation temperature).
* The total vapour load = sum of the individual occurrences for all
equipment involved.
x x x
m .t ( q m , f .t ) i ( q m , d .t ) i ( q m , v .t ) i (1)
i 1 i 1 i 1

qm - vapour mass flow rate, kg/h (lb/h)

m - mass flow rate per unit time
t - depressuring time interval, hr
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 Vapour from fire-heat input
Assumption: the vapour generation is a function only of the heat absorbed
from the fire and the latent heat of the liquid.
The mass, mf, of vapour generated by the fire during the depressuring
interval in a vessel, i, of the system can be determined by Equation (2):
( mf t )I = t (Q / L)i (2)
Q= total heat absorption, W (Btu/h)
Q CFA 0.82ws

L= latent heat of liquid, KJ/Kg (Btu/lb)

This calculation should be repeated for all vessels in the system.

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Vapour from density change and liquid flash
It is necessary to know the liquid inventory and vapour volume of the
system.
Following equation is used for calculating the vapour load due to density
change
p.M p.M
(q m, d .t) i 0.1205V i (3)
Z .T a Z .T b i
where
V - volume available for the vapour, m3 (ft3);
p - absolute pressure, expressed in kPa (psi);
M - relative molecular mass of the vapour;
Z - compressibility factor, dimensionless;
T - absolute temperature of the liquid or vapour, K (R);
the subscript a represents the higher-pressure condition and
b represents the lower-pressure condition.
i relates to an individual vessel of the system

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 Continued
Amount of liquid flashed is given by equation (4)

Q i .t 2 Cp i (Ta Tb ) i
(q m, v .t) i (q m, a .t) i . (4)
2 Li 2 L i Cp i (Ta Tb ) i
where
qm - vapour mass flow rate, expressed in kg/h (lb/h);
t - depressuring time interval, expressed in hours (usually assumed to be 0,25 h);
Q - total heat absorption (input) to the wetted surface, expressed in kJ/h (Btu/h);
L - average latent heat of the liquid, expressed in kJ/kg (Btu/lb);
Cp - average specific heat of the liquid, expressed in kJ/kgK (Btu/lbR);
T - absolute temperature of the liquid or vapour, expressed in K (R);
subscripts:
a - original condition at the start of the depressuring time interval,
b - depressurized condition at the end of the depressuring time interval;
i - relates to an individual vessel of the system if more than one vessel is involved
v - relates to liquid flash or vapour generated from pressure reduction;

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 Depressuring using HYSYS
Open a new case in HYSYS
Add the required components and select Fluid package
Add a stream with the following properties and molar flows:
Stream Name Feed
Temperature 108 C (226.4 F)
Pressure 1000 kPa (145.04 psia)

Component Molar Flow

Methane 30.0 kmol/h (66.138 lbmol/h)
Ethane 30.0 kmol/h (66.138 lbmol/h)
Propane 30.0 kmol/h (66.138 lbmol/h)
i-Butane 30.0 kmol/h (66.138 lbmol/h)
n-Butane 30.0 kmol/h (66.138 lbmol/h)
i-Pentane 30.0 kmol/h (66.138 lbmol/h)
n-Pentane 325.0 kmol/h (716.495 lbmol/h)
n-Hexane 30.0 kmol/h (66.138 lbmol/h)

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Continued
To attach the Dynamic Depressuring utility to the stream,
> open the stream property view,
> go to "Attachments"
"Utilities" and press "Create 3) Select "Dynamic Depressuring"

> Select "Dynamic Depressuring

> Press the "Add Utility" button 4) Press "Add Utility"

2) Press "Create"

1) Go to "Attachments" "Utilities"

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Continued
Enter the following vessel information on the "Design" ->"Connections"
page of new window opened.

Height 4.50m
Diameter 1.25m
Initial Liquid Volume 1.45m3

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Continued
Heat Flux Parameters

API Q = total absorption to wetted

Equation surface (BTU/h)
(field units) Q 21000 F A0.82 F = environmental factor
A = total wetted surface (ft2)

API Q = total absorption to wetted

Equation 0.82 surface (kJ/s
(metric
Q 43.116 F A F = environmental factor
units)
A = total wetted surface (m2)

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Continued
Valve Parameters

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Continued
On the "Options" page, enter a PV Work Term of 90%.

On the "Operating Conditions" page, select "Calculate Cv" and enter a final
pressure of 500 kPa (50 % of operating pressure).

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Continued
Once you have submitted the required information, press the "Run" button
to execute the calculations.

Press the "Run" button

to start the calculations.

Go to the "Performance" "Summary" page to view the results.

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Continued
Performance Summary

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Design of Depressurization
System & scenario
information

Estimate size of
orifice

Calculate P(t) for the

process segment and
T(t) for the steel
Improve design/ Increase orifice
apply PFP size
Is Flare Capacity
No utilized?

Yes
Are the
consequence of the Will equipment/ Failure criteria
rupture acceptable? Yes pipe rupture?
No
No
Yes
Ok

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 References
API RP 521 Guide for pressure-relieving and depressuring
systems, American Petroleum Institute, Fifth Edition, May
2008.
Depressurisation: A Practical Guide, Aspentech Technical
Support Knowledge Base Article, rev 2004-1.1 Feb 2006
Perry, R. H. Chemical engineering handbook, McGraw Hill,
5th edition, 1973.
Gayton, P.W. and Murphy, S.N. Depressurisation Systems
Design. IChemE Workshop The Safe Disposal of Unwanted
Hydrocarbons, Aberdeen 1995.
Review of the Response of Pressurised Process Vessels and
Equipment to Fire Attack, Offshore Technology Rreport -
OTO 2000 051, June 2000

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If vapour depressuring is required for both fire and process reasons, the
larger requirement should govern the size of the depressuring facilities.
A vapour-depressuring system should have adequate capacity to permit
reduction of the vessel stress to a level at which stress rupture is not of
immediate concern.
The required depressuring rate depends on the metallurgy of the vessel,
the thickness and initial temperature of the vessel wall and the rate of
heat input.
Vessels with thinner walls generally requires faster depressuring rate.
Depressuring is assumed to continue for the duration of the emergency.
The valves should remain operable for the duration of the emergency or
should fail in a full-open position.

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 Example 1
SEPARATOR (Honzontal)
ASSUMPTIONS:
Shell Inside Radius
Shell Wall Thickness
Liquid Sp. Gr.
Material of Construction
Operating Pressure
Design Pressure
Normal Liquid Level
: 60 " -0 "
: 1/2"
: 1.0
: A515 Gr. 70
: 50 Psig
: 90 Psig
: 5'-0" from bottom

S = P (R + 0.6t)/Et ref.: ASME. DIV. Vlll for circumferential stress)

S = 50 (60 + 0.6 x 0.5)/1.0x 0.5
S = 6,030 psi
From Figure 2 (API 520 7th edition),Time before rupture at 6,030 psi and 1,300 0F is
approximately 5 Hrs.
CONCLUSION: Depressurization system is not required.

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 Example 2
CRUDE STABILIZER
ASSUMPTIONS:
Shell Inside Radius : 30 " -0 "
Shell Wall Thickness : 7/16"
Liquid Sp. Gr. : 0.85
Material of Construction : A515 Gr. 70
Operating Pressure : 150 Psig
Design Pressure : 175 Psig
Normal Liquid Level : 5'-0" from bottom
Vessel is insulated but no credit given for insulation
S = P (R + 0.6t)/Et ref.: ASME. DIV. Vlll for circumferential stress)
S = 150 (30 + 0.6 x 0.4375)/1.0 x 0.4375
S = 10,374 psi
From Figure 2 (API 520 7th edition),Time before rupture at 10,374 psi and 1,300 0F
is approximately 0.3 Hrs.
CONCLUSION: Depressurization system is required.

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