HOW TO PURGE WITH NITROGEN

Nitrogen purging is easily adapted to any process installation. Different

methods are used depending on the type and shape of the equipment to be
purged and on the location of the purging inlets and outlets.
1. Displacement Purging
This method is used for equipment with simple cross sections such as
piplines. The volume of nitrogen required corresponds to the physical
volume of the pipe. In many piplines, a rubber scraping piston, or "pig,"
is introduced and propelled through the pipe by the nitrogen pressure to
clean the line.
The nitrogen volume required to purge equipment with a simple cross
section is determined using the following formula:

Where:

V
Vo
P

V = VoP/14.7
= Total nitrogen volume required (scf)
= Water volume of pipeline (cf)
Absolute pressure of nitrogen in the pipeline during
=
purging (psia)

2. Pressurization Purging
This method is used when conditions do not permit a sweeping action of
nitrogen through the vessel. The vessel is repeatedly pressurized and
mixed with nitrogen gas and then the mixture is exhausted. The total
volume of nitrogen depends on the number of pressurizing purges
required to reduce the contaminant to an acceptable level and can be
determined by using this formula:

Where:

341641014.doc

V =
Vo =
P

Pa
n
Co
C

=
=
=
=

V = 1.2nVoP/Pa
Total nitrogen volume required (scf)
Water volume of vessel or tank (cf)
Absolute pressure after pressurization with nitrogen
(psia)
Absolute pressure after exhaust (psia)
Number of purges = C log Co/(log Pa log P)
Initial content of gas to be removed
Final content of gas to be removed

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3. Dilution Purging
This method is used for equipment cross sections such as distillation
columns, kilns, reactors, etc. Nitrogen partially mixes with the gas to be
purged out, and then the mixture exits through an outlet located as far as
possible from the inlet. The nitrogen required to reduce a contaminate to
a desired level can be found using the graph below and the total volume
of nitrogen needed can be computed from the following formula:

Where:

V
Vo
n

V = nVo
= Total nitrogen volume required (scf)
= Water volume of equipment (cf)
= Number of nitrogen volumes required

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PURGING EFFICIENCY (C/Co) AS A FUNCTION OF NITROGEN

VOLUME
(TANK VOLUMES) FOR VARIOUS PURGING TECHNIQUES

Purging Technique:
1. Displacement
2. Dilution Pf = Pi = 14.7
3. Dilution Pi = 14.7; Pf = 29.4
4. Pressure Purge Pi = 19.7; Pf = 24.7
5. Pressure Purge Pi = 19.7; Pf = 34.7

Where: Pf = pressure final

Pi = pressure initial

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GAS TURBINE CAPACITY TABLE

Manufacturer

Model

Simple Cycle
kw
Output

Combined Cycle

Heat MMbtu
kw
Rate Input Output
btu/kw
10670
180.3 22800
9970
245.6 35500
9920
523.8 77700
10370
869.0 125400
10564 1032.1 147100

ABB
ABB
ABB
ABB
ABB

GT 35
GT 10
GT 8C
GT11N
GT 13D

16900
24630
52800
83800
97700

ABB

GT 11N2

109300

9977

General Electric

LM1600PA

13425

9560

128.3

General Electric
General Electric

LM2500
PG5371PA

22800
26300

9273
11990

211.4
315.3

General Electric

LM2500+

27040

9330

General Electric
General Electric
General Electric

LM5000
LM6000
PG6541B

34450
36970
38340

9180
8795
10880

General Electric

PG6101FA

70150

9980

General Electric
General Electric
General Electric
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney
Siemens

PG7111EA
PG7161EC
PG9171E
FT 8
FT 8 Twin
V64.3A

83500
116000
123400
25420
51100
70000

10480
9890
10100
8950
8905
9270

875.1
1147.2
1246.3
227.5
455.0
648.9

128700
177800
188400
32280
65310
101000

Siemens

V84.2

106180

10120

Siemens
Solar Mars
Westinghouse
Westinghouse
Westinghouse
Westinghouse

V84.3A
100S
251B12
Trent
501D5A
501F

170000
10695
47680
48690
119200
162410

8980
10505
10670
8570
9910
9660

1090.5 163.800

Base Steam, Remarks

KPPH
Heat MMbtu 240#
600#
Rate Input
Satt 600F
btu/kw
7880
179.7
60.5
42.0
1, 2
6755
239.8 108.0
98.0
1, 2
6640
515.9 234.6 200.0
1, 2
6825
855.9 397.2 335.9
2
6920 1017.9 466.6 390.0
3, 4
6550

1072.9

490.0

430.0

18700

6870

128.5

53.1

44.3

30900
38700

6850
8146

211.7
315.3

92.2
143.4

79.0
119.6

252.3

38480

6637

255.4

100.7 84.6 1

316.3
325.2
417.1

44600
53000
59200

7094
6620
7020

316.4
350.9
415.6

259.9 238.0
132.9 109.5
193.2 168.8

700.1 108400

6440

698.1

330.7

293.9

6800
6460
6610
7010
6930
6230

875.2
1148.6
1245.3
226.3
452.6
629.2

399.8
517.2
707.8
85.0
190.0
296.8

343.8
450.0
621.7
67.0
134.0
260.0

1074.5 151000

6625

1000.4

512.3

442.9

1526.6 254000
112.4 28700
508.7 69800
417.3 61788
1181.3 168070
1568.9 236200

6890
7750
7230
6778
7024
6425

1750.1
222.4
504.7
418.8
1180.5
1517.6

602.9
48.9
233.0
145.0
530.0
750.0

589.1
40.8
200.0
110.0
450.0
660.0

1, 2
1, 2

1, 2
1
1, 2

1, 2
1, 2
2, 3
1
1
1

1, 2
2
2
1
2
2

Notes:
This information is for preliminary estimating only. Accurate estimations require a detailed set of site conditions.
Simple cycle output is at ISO conditions with no HRSG and with DLN burner technology where available.
Combined cycle kw output is using most favorable steram generation conditions for equipment. ISO conditions and
inlet and outlet drops of 4.0 and 10 inches respectively.
Some machines can use water or steam injection for NOx control or power augmentation. Such injection may
substantially alter kw output.
Base steam is at GTG base rate, open cycle, open cycle, with no supplemental firing for two points only for illustration.
Most any combination of pressure and temperature is available.
Remarks:
1. 50 Hz configuration available with no appreciable change in output.
2. Can be steam or water injected for additional power output and/or NO x control.
3. 50 Hertz only.

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4. Burns heavy oil fuel only.

Source:
http://www4.us.airliquide.com/cgi-bin/USBVP10/ReferenceLibrary.jsp?0&OID=-14860
3/12/2003

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