About

Contact

Search... FAQ Search...

Home Software Demo

PCC SOFTWARE
Software for creation of pipe classes and mechanical calculation of piping components. Read more ...

VES SOFTWARE
Software for the design and mechanical calculation of pressure vessels and heat exchangers. Read More ...

FLG SOFTWARE
The presentation shows the calculation of a standard piping flange in the VES application. Read more ...

You are here: Home

Engineering Guides

BN-EG-K4 Standard Method for Safety Relief Valve Calculations

1. 2. 3. 4. General Formulae Instructions for the Use of Safety Relief Valve Calculation Sheet (General) Form BN-K008 10 Instructions for Use of Safety Relief Valve Calculation, Attachment A (External Fire) Form BN-K009 5. Instructions for Use of Safety Relief Valve Calculation, Attachment B (Heat Exchangers) Form BN-K010 6. Instructions for Use of Safety Relief Valve Calculation, Attachment C (Miscellaneous) Form BN-K011 Appendix A - Calculation of Latent Heat of Evapourization Appendix B - Calculation of the Maximum Duty of a Heat Exchanger Appendix C - Derivation of API-ASME Code Formula Appendix D - Formulae for Safety Valve Calculation in Accordance with German Rules (TV and AD-Merkblatt A2) Appendix E - Comparation between API-Code Rumanian-Code for the Calculation of Pressure Relieving Valves Appendix F - Comparation between API-Code and the Italian-Code for the Calculation of Pressure Relieving Valves
Use our professional PDF creation service at http://www.htm2pdf.co.uk!

Library
QA Standards General Procedures Department Procedures Work Instructions General Guides Design Guides Engineering Guides General Standards Design Standards Engineering Standards Specifications Requisitions Forms Cost Codes Papers

PCC

1. General 1.1 Scope

This standard has been developed to standardize the method of safety relief valve calculations in accordance with API, ASME codes and local codes.

PCC
PCC introduction PCC Software PCC User Manual ASME B31.3 software EN 13480 software EN 1594 software PCC fact list

1.2 Calculation Sheet

For the calculation of a safety relief valve, the following standard calculation forms can be used: BN-K008 : Safety relief valve calculation BN-K009 : Attachment A (External fire) BN-K010 : Attachment B (Heat exchangers) BN-K011 : Attachment C (Miscellaneous) The main safety relief valve calculation sheet, form BN-K008 has been developed to evaluate the governing hazard and to calculate the area of the relief valve. The attachments have been designed to evaluate the quantity which has to be relieved by the safety relief valve.

VES
Quick reference guide Design and Calculation Heat Exchanger Flange Calculation

1.3 References
1. API Recommended Practice for the design and installation of pressure relieving system in refineries, API RP 520, second edition, Sept. 1960. 2. The design and construction of pressure relieving systems by Nels E. Sylvander and Donald L. Katz, April 1948. 3. Data Handbook on Hydrocarbons by J.B. Maxwell, 5th edition. 4. Engineering Data Book by the National Gasoline Supply Mens Association (NGSMA), 7th edition 1957. 5. Chemical Engineers Handbook, John H. Perry, 3rd edition, 1950.

1.4 Denitions
Safety valve An automatic pressure relieving device actuated by the static pressure upstream of the valve, and characterized by rapid full opening or pop action. It is used for stream, gas, or vapor service. Note: This type of valve is normally not specified by Company. Relief valve An automatic pressure relieving device actuated by the static pressure upstream of the valve, which opens in proportion to the increase in pressure over the opening pressure. It is used primarily for liquid service. Note: This type is normally only used in the size 3/4 x 1 or 1 x 1 for thermal expansion. Safety relief valve
Use our professional PDF creation service at http://www.htm2pdf.co.uk!

An automatic pressure actuated relieving device suitable for use as either a safety or relief valve, depending on application. Note: This type is used for general applications. Set pressure 1. Liquid service: for a relief or safety relief valve on liquid service, the set pressure, in pounds per square inch gauge, is to be considered the inlet pressure at which the valve starts to discharge when discharging against atmospheric conditions. 2. Gas, vapour or steam service: for a safety relief valve on gas, vapour or steam service, the set pressure, in pounds per square inch gauge, is to be considered the inlet pressure at which the valve pops when discharging against atmospheric conditions. Popping pressure Same definition as set pressure for gas, vapour or steam service, when discharging against back pressure. (Pressure at which the valve pops when in use.) Differential test pressure The pressure differential in pounds per square inch between the set pressure and the constant superimposed back pressure. It is applicable only when a conventional type safety relief valve is being used in service against constant superimposed back pressure. Net spring setting Same definition as for differential test pressure. Cold differential test pressure The set pressure or the differential test pressure at which a safety relief valve must be set on cold fluid on a test drum plus a predetermined increase in the cold fluid setting, in pounds per square inch, that will result in the valve opening at the correct set pressure in service when the actual service temperature is higher than that of the cold fluid which is used in the test drum. This is the pressure at which the valve should be set on repair shop testing facilities. Note: The difference in cold and hot setting is the result of change in characteristic of the spring. Cold net spring setting Same definition as for cold differential test pressure. Operating pressure The opening pressure of a vessel is the pressure in pounds per square inch gauge, to which the vessel is usually subject in service. A vessel is usually designed for a maximum allowable working pressure, in pounds per square inch gauge, which will provide a suitable margin above the operating pressure in order to prevent any undesirable operation of the relief device. (It is suggested that on processing vessels this margin be approximately 10 percent, or 25 psi whichever is greater.)
Use our professional PDF creation service at http://www.htm2pdf.co.uk!

Note: 1. Take care for reciprocating engines, where peak pressure might reach the set pressure of the valve. 2. When setting closer to the operating pressure is required, pilot operated safety valves or 0 ring seal might be considered. Design pressure The gauge pressure at which the vessel has been designed. Note: Safety relief valves are usually set at this pressure. Maximum allowable working pressure The maximum gauge pressure, at the coincidental design temperature, permissible at the top of a vessel in its operating position, and which could be the basis for the upper limit in pressure setting of the safety relieving devices for any specific operation. Note: 1. When designing a vessel, the calculations will result in a material thickness. This thickness is rounded off to the first higher thickness which is commercially available. Recalculation of the vessel using actual plate thickness will result in a maximum allowable working pressure which is usually higher than the design pressure. 2. Usually recalculation is not done (difference in plate thickness is low for European standards), in that case maximum allowable working pressure is equal to the design pressure. Overpressure Pressure increase over the set pressure of the primary relieving device is overpressure. It is the same as accumulation only when the relieving device is set at the maximum allowable working pressure of the vessel. Accumulation Pressure increase over the maximum allowable working pressure of the vessel during discharge through the pressure relief valve, expressed as a percentage of that pressure, or pounds per square inch, is called accumulation. Notes: 1. For European plants, it is usual to take an accumulation of 10% . For American plants a value of 20% may be taken for external fire. 25% for liquid relief and in all other cases 10%. Blowdown Blowdown is the difference between the set pressure and the reseating pressure of a pressure relief valve, expressed as percentage of the set pressure, or pounds per square inch. Note: A blowdown between 4% and 5% is usually specified. Care is to be taken that the inlet piping does not have a total pressure loss in excess of 3%. The total pressure loss shall include the velocity head loss ( 1/2 rV2). Note however, that the friction loss should not exceed 1% and the velocity head loss should not exceed 2% of the allowable pressure for capacity relief. Lift
Use our professional PDF creation service at http://www.htm2pdf.co.uk!

The rise of the valve disc in pressure relief valve when the valve disc moves from the closed position is called lift. Back pressure Pressure on the discharge side of a pressure relief valve. 1. Constant back pressure: back pressure which does not change appreciably under any condition of operation whether or not the pressure relief valve is closed or open. 2. Variable back pressure: back pressure which develops as a result of the conditions outlined below. a) Built-up back pressure: variable back pressure as a result of flow through discharge piping after a single pressure relief valve starts to open. b) Superimposed back pressure: variable back pressure that is present before the pressure relief valve starts to open. Note: Variable back pressure on conventional safety relief valves shall never exceed 10% of the gauge set pressure. Variable back pressure on bellow seal safety relief valves shall never exceed 50% of the absolute set pressure as that is the limit for critical flow, on which the formulae are based. Coefficient of discharge Correction factor for the nozzle area, due to contraction etc., include all deviations from ideal flow through the nozzle. Note: For full lift safety relief valves, this factor is usually 0.97. For relief valves at 25% accumulation: 0.64. For relief valves at 25% accumulation: 0.64. These low coefficients correct also for the reduction in area which occurs at lower lifts of the disc above the seat. General rules for the use of safety relief valves Following, a few general rules will be given for the application of safety relief valves. These rules are only to be used as a guidance. Safety relief valves are required: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. On all vessels containing fluids which may vapourize when the vessel is subject to fire. On all vessels where a closed outlet valve may cause an over pressure. On all reciprocating pumps and compressors, if not protected internally. On the outlet of turbines, where the design pressure of the low stage casing is lower than the inlet pressure. On all distillation and fractionating towers where reflux or cooling water failure may cause excessive vapourization. On heaters and furnaces where low flow may cause cooking. On heat exchangers or heaters where the cold medium may be blocked. On all storage tanks, not vented to atmosphere, where vapour pressure or pumping may cause over or under

Use our professional PDF creation service at http://www.htm2pdf.co.uk!

pressure. In this case special combined pressure vacuum relief valves are to be specified. (Breather valves). 9. 3. In cases of long lines, containing liquid, which may be blocked when exposed to the sun (for example butane, propane). 10. 4. In all cases where a volatile liquid may get into a vessel under conditions that it vapourizes where the vessel is not designed for the vapour pressure. 11. In cases where non-condensable accumulate in a condenser, decreasing the efficiency, so that a pressure rise may occur. 12. Tube failure in heat exchangers, which may cause vapourization, or excessive pressure on the shell. 13. Control valve failure or instrument failure which either results in one of the hazards 1 through 12, or in any other hazard as for example a reducing station, failing in the open position. Notes: 1. Where more vessels are connected, so that they cannot be separated by block valves, they are to be considered as one system. (Except when local codes imply separate valves.) 2. In cases where equipment has to be protected against two or more of the above mentioned hazards, the safety valves shall be calculated for the condition causing the highest flow rate to be relieved, thus assuming that only one hazard will occur at the same time. (Single risk concept.) 3. It is evident that when a hazard is the result of another hazard, both hazards are to be taken into account.

2. Formulae
Below a summary of formulae has been given. Most of these formulae already appear on the calculation sheet, but this summary also gives some other formulae which are to be used in special cases. The formulae given on the calculation sheet for evaluation of nozzle area for vapours is a safe approximation: when accurate calculations are to be made, formula number 2 has to be used in which the C factor can be evaluated from formula 2A, or from Binder IV with curves and tables. Formula 4 gives the nozzle are for steam when the safety valve has to be calculated as per ASME boiler code. Formula 10 gives a quantity of thermal expansion when no normal size is taken. See 68, liquid expansion. In each formula for vapours the super compressibility factor (Z) can be included as a multiplier of the absolute temperature (also under the square root sign). This will result in a smaller valve size. Leaving it out always gives a safe approximation. SUMMARY OF FORMULAE UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

Use our professional PDF creation service at http://www.htm2pdf.co.uk!

DESCRIPTION RELIEF QUANTITY VAPOURS (GENERAL PURPOSE) RELIEF QUANTITY VAPOURS (ACCURATE)

ENGLISH UNITS

METRIC UNITS

NO. 1 2

CONSTANT BASED ON k (C OR C') RELIEF QUANTITY STEAM (GENERAL PURPOSE) RELIEF QUANTITY STEAM (ASME BOILER CODE) RELIEF QUANTITY LIQUID (INCLUDING VISCOSITY CORRECTION) (NOT FOR BALANSEAL VALVES) VAPOURATION WITH CONDENSATION

C'=4.81 x C

2A 3 4 5

VAPOURATION WITHOUT CONDENSATION CONSTANT Y SPLIT TUBE (NO VAPOURIZATION)

Use our professional PDF creation service at http://www.htm2pdf.co.uk!

7 7A 8

SPLIT TUBE (VAPOURIZATION) THERMAL EXPANSION RELIEF QUANTITY LIQUID (INCLUDING VISCOSITY CORRECTION) (FOR BALANSEAL VALVES ONLY) FORMULAE IN METRIC UNITS, GIVING AREA IN CM2 RELIEF QUANTITY VAPOURS (GENERAL PURPOSE) RELIEF QUANTITY STEAM (GENERAL PURPOSE) RELIEF QUANTITY LIQUID The full procedure is available for registered users. < Prev

9 10

11

1A 3A 5A

Piping Design
Advanced Piping Design book from Gulf Publishing Company for which Red-Bag provided the co-author.

Overview of Library
The Library section of the Red-Bag website contains information for the process industry. Read more ...

Contact
Preferably us the e-mail form for your first contact. Click here ...

Education
InIPED, provider of choice for high quality training. Read more ...

'reliability is yet to become the most important characteristic of modern companies'

About | Privacy | Legal | Vision

Use our professional PDF creation service at http://www.htm2pdf.co.uk!

 Red-Bag

Use our professional PDF creation service at http://www.htm2pdf.co.uk!