PRELIMINARY DESIGN DRAFT

CONFIDENTIAL
This contents of this report are the intellectual property of Primetech, which is for the sole use
of PT IOT EPC, INDONESIA only

PROJECT : DIFFUSER FOR DIESEL STORAGE TANKS

CUSTOMER : PT IOT EPC, INDONESIA

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 PROLOGUE:

In storage tanks containing fluids that are pressure sensitive, it is of utmost importance to maintain a
uniform fluid distribution and velocity. In the absence of uniform fluid distribution, many essential
properties such as temperature (which directly affects the density of the fluid) are not constant
through out.

A uniform fluid distributor which is widely used in industries is perforated diffuser.

The perforated diffuser is designed to discharge fluids through small, multiple, closely spaced
orifices placed in a segment of its circumference for the purpose of uniform distribution of flow.

In its design, a uniform flow distribution is achieved and also the pressure recovery due to the
below factors have been properly considered:

1. Kinetic Energy
2. Momentum changes
3. Frictional pressure drop along the length of the pipe
4. Pressure drop across the outlet holes,

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 DESIGN METHODOLOGY

1. The total head loss in the diffuser is a function of frictional losses ,head loss due to changes
in momentum & head loss across the orifices.
The total head loss is given as,

𝐻𝐼 − 𝐻𝑂 = ∆𝐻𝐹 + ∆𝐻𝑚 + ∆𝐻𝑂 Equation 1

𝐻𝐼 − 𝐻𝑂 = head loss from 1st to the outlet of the last

∆𝐻𝐹 = frictional head loss

∆𝐻𝑚 = change in head due to momentum reduction
∆𝐻𝑂 = head loss across the orifices

2. For turbulent flow , momentum effects ∆𝐻𝑚 associated with velocity changes may dominate
frictional losses in the total head loss calculation unless the length between the is large.

3. The constant friction factor is calculated using the equation,

1/ √f = − 4log[(0.27∗ e/ D)+ (7/ ℜ)0.9 ] Equation 5

e = Pipe roughness factor

D = Diameter of the pipe
R = Reynold’s No.

4. For turbulent flow, assuming uniform distribution & constant friction factor, the combined
effect of friction & inertial pressure(head) recovery is given by,

4𝑓𝐿 𝜌𝑉𝑖 2
∆𝑝 = ( 3𝐷 − 2𝐾) Equation 2
2

Δp = net pressure drop over the length of the distributor

L = Pipe Length
D = pipe diameter
f= Fanning friction factor
Vi = distributor inlet velocity
K= 1 for full momentum recovery
= 0.5 for negligible viscous losses (applicable for our application)

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5. When the area of an orifice is small as compared to the cross sectional area of the pipe, the
orifice pressure drop may be expressed interms of discharge coefficient Co and velocity
across the orifice Vo as ,

1
∆𝑝𝑜 = 𝜌𝑉𝑜2 Equation 3
𝐶𝑜2

6. The discharge coefficient Co value is taken as 0.62 as is typical in such cases and Vo is the
orifice velocity which in our case is 1 m/s.

7. Maldistribution is an important factor which has to be considered practically. It is the

percentage variation in flow between the first and the last orifices.

∆𝑝𝑜 −|∆𝑃|
% 𝑀𝑎𝑙𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 100(1 − √ ) Equation 4
∆𝑝𝑜

8. If the % Maldistribution is on a higher side and if the the outlet orifices are uniform in size ,
the discharge flow will be biased towards the closed end. This will be corrected by having a
variable orifice size through out the diffuser

9. We assume that the pumping station for 12“ Nozzle has VFD (Variable Frequency Drive).
Hence, it maintains the same flowrate at different tank liquid levels.

10. For all the conditions, we have considered the maximum pressure & maximum flow rate in
determining the orifice diameter & number of orifices.

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SCHEME DRAWING OF DIFFUSER FOR 12”NOZZLE

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 DESIGN OF 12" DIFFUSER NOZZLES

PROCESS DETAILS FROM THE CUSTOMER

1 FLUID TO BE HANDLED INDUSTRIAL GRADE DIESEL OIL

2 FLUID PROPERTIES:

A FLUID DENSITY 850 Kg/m³

B FLUID VISCOSITY 4.7 cP

3 OPERATING DATA:

A OPERATING PRESSURE ATM

B OPERATING TEMPERTAURE 18-39 °C

FLOW CONDITIONS CONSIDERED FOR DE-

4 500 m³/hr @ 2.27 barg
SIGN

5 DIMENSIONS:

A HIGH LIQUID LEVEL 19472 mm

B LOW LIQUID LEVEL 1119 mm

C ELEVATION FROM TANK BOTTOM PLATE 705 mm

D LENGTH OF THE PIPE 6 METERS

6 OUTPUT VELOCITY FROM EACH ORIFICE 1 m/s (Max)

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 PRIMETECH DESIGN CALCULATIONS FOR 12" NOZZLE
1 FLOW RATE OF THE LIQUID, Q in m³/hr 500

2 PIPE SIZE (12 Inches) , D in m 0.3048

3 AREA OF THE PIPE, Ap m² 0.0730

4 INLET VELOCITY OF THE PIPE, Vp m/s 1.903

5 FLUID DENSITY, Kg/m³ 850

6 FLUID VISCOSITY, Kg/m-s 0.0047

7 REYNOLD'S NO. At the inlet 104926

8 ROUGHNESS, e in mm 0.046

9 FRICTION FACTOR, f 0.00725

10 LENGTH OF THE PIPE, L in m 6

11 PRESSURE DROP ACROSS THE PIPE, ΔP (Pa) -1351.3

12 REQUIRED VELOCITY in m/s 1

13 PRESSURE DROP ACROSS THE ORIFICE, ΔPO (Pa) 1105.6

14 % MALDISTRIBUTION 52.86

15 AREA OF THE HOLES REQUIRED in m² 0.43

16 LARGER ORIFICE SIZE SELECTED (3/4“) in mm 19

17 SMALLER ORIFICE SIZE SELECTED (5/8“) in mm 16

18 AREA REQUIRED FOR LARGER ORIFICES (3/4“) in m² 0.23

19 AREA OF ONE LARGE ORIFICE (3/4“) in m² 0.0002835

20 NO. OF 3/4“ORIFICES REQUIRED 811

22 AREA REQUIRED FOR SMALLER ORIFICES (5/8“) in m² 0.20

23 AREA OF ONE SMALLER ORIFICE (5/8“) in m² 0.0002011

24 NO. OF 5/8“ORIFICES REQUIRED 1019

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Having an uniform orifice size will across the length of the diffuser will make the flow biased
towards the closed end by 52.86%. This will increase the velocity of flow above 1 m/s in the which
are closer to the closed end.
Therefore, it is necessary to have larger orifice size in the begining of the diffuser & smaller orifice
in the end to promote uniformally distributed flow and at the same time to maintain a maximum
velocity of 1 m/s.
To avoid this maldistribution, we require 50% more flow area at the first half of the diffuser .

SCHEME DRAWING OF DIFFUSER FOR 20”NOZZLE

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 DESIGN OF 20" DIFFUSER NOZZLES

PROCESS DETAILS FROM THE CUSTOMER

1 FLUID TO BE HANDLED INDUSTRIAL GRADE DIESEL OIL

2 FLUID PROPERTIES:

A FLUID DENSITY 850 Kg/m³

B FLUID VISCOSITY 4.7 cP

3 OPERATING DATA:

A OPERATING PRESSURE ATM

B OPERATING TEMPERTAURE 18-39 °C

FLOW CONDITIONS CONSIDERED FOR DE- 2500 m³/hr @ 2.42 barg With a tank back pressure of
4
SIGN 1.576 barg
5 DIMENSIONS:

A HIGH LIQUID LEVEL 19472 mm

B LOW LIQUID LEVEL 1119 mm

C ELEVATION FROM TANK BOTTOM PLATE 705 mm

D LENGTH OF THE PIPE 8 METERS

6 OUTPUT VELOCITY FROM EACH ORIFICE 1 m/s (Max)

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 PRIMETECH DESIGN CALCULATIONS FOR 20" NOZZLE
1 FLOW RATE OF THE LIQUID, Q in m³/hr 2500

2 PIPE SIZE (20 Inches) , D in m 0.5080

3 AREA OF THE PIPE, Ap m² 0.2027

4 INLET VELOCITY OF THE PIPE, Vp m/s 3.426

5 FLUID DENSITY, Kg/m³ 850

6 FLUID VISCOSITY, Kg/m-s 0.0047

7 REYNOLD'S NO. At the inlet 314778

8 ROUGHNESS, e in mm 0.046

9 FRICTION FACTOR, f 0.0038126359

10 LENGTH OF THE PIPE, L in m 8

11 PRESSURE DROP ACROSS THE PIPE, ΔP (Pa) -4589.7497

12 REQUIRED VELOCITY in m/s 1

13 PRESSURE DROP ACROSS THE ORIFICE, ΔPO (Pa) 1105.62

14 % MALDISTRIBUTION 77.52

15 AREA OF THE ORIFICES REQUIRED in m² 2.17

16 LARGER ORIFICE SIZE SELECTED (1“) in mm 25

17 SMALLER ORIFICE SIZE SELECTED (3/4“) in mm 19

18 AREA REQUIRED FOR LARGER ORIFICES (1“) in m² 1.69

19 AREA OF ONE LARGE ORIFICE (1“) in m² 0.0004909

20 NO. OF 1“ORIFICES REQUIRED 3433

22 AREA REQUIRED FOR SMALLER ORIFICES (3/4“) in m² 0.49

23 AREA OF ONE SMALLER ORIFICE (3/4“) in m² 0.0002835

24 NO. OF 3/4“ORIFICES REQUIRED 1724

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Having an uniform orifice size will across the length of the diffuser will make the flow biased
towards the closed end by 77.52%. This will increase the velocity of flow above 1 m/s in the which
are closer to the closed end.
Therefore, it is necessary to have larger orifice size in the begining of the diffuser & smaller orifice
in the end to promote uniformally distributed flow and at the same time to maintain a maximum
velocity of 1 m/s.
To avoid this maldistribution, we require 75% more flow area at the first half of the diffuser .

END OF DRAFT REPORT

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