CHE3723 Safety in Process Plant Design Page1

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Chapter 9: Introduction to Reliefs

1. Describe the process in creating a vacuum in a storage vessel as a result of condensation.

Develop an example to illustrate the potential magnitude of the vacuum.

2. Give examples of situations requiring a combination of spring-operated reliefs in series

with rapture discs.

3. PSV-2 in Figure 1 is a relief to protect the positive displacement pump P-1. If the fluid
being handled is extremely volatile and flammable, what design modifications would you
make to this relief system?

Figure 1: Polymerisation reactor with safety reliefs

4. One defence against runaway reaction is better process control. Using the system
illustrated in Figure 1, what control features (safeguards) would you add to this reactor
system?

Chapter 10: Relief Sizing

5. Estimate the diameter of Spring-type liquid relief for the following conditions:

Pump Set Pressure Overpressure Backpressure Valve type (ρ/ρref)

Capacity at (psig) (%) (%)
∆P (gpm)
a. 100 50 20 10 Conventional 1.0
b. 200 100 20 30 Balance bellows 1.3

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 CHE3723 Safety in Process Plant Design Page2
Tutorial 3

6. A positive displacement pump pumps water at 200gpm at a pressure of 200psig. Because

a deadheaded pump can be easily damaged, compute the area required to relieve the
pump, assuming a backpressure of 20psig and a 20% of overpressure. (refer to Example
10-1)

7. Determine the diameter of a rupture disc required to relieve the pump of question #6.
(refer to Example 10-3)

8. Determine the required diameter for rupture discs for the following condition: liquid
flow: 1000gpm, Pressure drop 100psi. Assuming a specific gravity of 1.2.

Appendix: (charts)

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CHE3723 Safety in Process Plant Design Page3
Tutorial 3

Eunice Phang Siew Wei |

CHE3723 Safety in Process Plant Design Page4
Tutorial 3

Eunice Phang Siew Wei |

CHE3723 Safety in Process Plant Design Page5
Tutorial 3

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Tutorial 3

Eunice Phang Siew Wei |