Assignment 1

Student
Anwarul Awalludin (188383)

Subject
JEE403 Design of Offshore Systems

Date of Submission
22nd April 2016

Lecturer/Tutor
Dr Vikram Garaniya

CONTENTS
Nomenclature.................................................................................................................... 3
Conversion factors............................................................................................................. 4
Task 1: Two-Phase Flow and Phase Equilibria.....................................................................5
Question 1.1................................................................................................................... 5
Task 1: Two-Phase Flow and Phase Equilibria.....................................................................9
Question 1.2................................................................................................................... 9
Task 1: Two-Phase Flow and Phase Equilibria...................................................................15
Question 1.3................................................................................................................. 15
Task 1: Two-Phase Flow and Phase Equilibria...................................................................17
Question 1.4................................................................................................................. 17
Task 1: Two-Phase Flow and Pressure Equilibria...............................................................19
Question 1.5................................................................................................................. 19
Task 2: Separator Design................................................................................................. 20
Question 2.1................................................................................................................. 20
Task 2: Separator Design................................................................................................. 22
Question 2.2................................................................................................................. 22
Task 2: Separator Design................................................................................................. 25
Question 2.3................................................................................................................. 25
Task 3: Flaring Design...................................................................................................... 27
Question 3.1................................................................................................................. 27
Reference......................................................................................................................... 33

NOMENCLATURE
a = constant in van der Waals, SRK
equations of state
b = constant in van der Waals, SRK
equations of state
MW = molecular weight

Fr = Froude number

n = number of moles of liquid

D = diameter of flow pipe

P = absolute pressure

L = volumetric flowing fraction

R = universal gas constant (molal

bias)
SG = specific gravity of gas
(MW/28.9625)

HL = liquid holdup

= viscosity (cP)
n

= no-slip density

o = viscosity of oil

xi = mol fraction of component I in

vapour phase

= viscosity of gas

yi = mol fraction of component I in

vapour phase

= viscosity of water

Z = compressibility factor

Re = Reynolds number

(T) = temperature function in SRK

fn

= density (mass per volume)

f tp = two-phase friction

= acentric factor

(dP /dX )f = pressure drop rate

bpd = barrels per day

Vt

= terminal velocity

L = length of separator shell (ft)

CD

= drag coefficient

SR

= slenderness ratio

Q0

= oil flow rate

Qw

= water flow rate

Qg

= gas flow rate

Leff

= effective length of

separator
tr = retention time (min or sec)
v = volume of liquid in separator
(ft3)
V = velocity (ft/s)

= no-slip fraction

A = cross-sectional area for liquid

flow

Ma

= Mach number

CONVERSION FACTORS
Length

1 m = 39.37 in = 106 m
1 ft. = 30.48 cm = 0.3048 m

Mass

1 lbm = 453.6 g =0.4536 kg = 7000 gr (grain)

1 slug = 1 lbf s2/ft = 32.174 lbm
1 US ton = 2000 lbm (also called short ton)

Force

1 lbf = 4.448 N = 4.448 x 105

Pressure

1 atm = 14.696 psia = 2116 lbf/ft2

1 Pa = 1 N/m = 10-5 bars

Volume

1 ft3 = 7.4805 U.S. gal = 6.23 Imperial gal = 28.317 L

1 m3 = 1000 L = 264.2 U.S gal = 35.31 ft3
1 bbl = 42 U.S gal (oil) = 5.615 ft3

Density

Water = 62.43 lbm/ft3 = 1000 kg/m3 = 1 g/cm3

Mercury = 13.6 g/cm3

Velocity

1 knot = 1 nautical mile/hr

Temperature

F = 1.8 (C) + 32
R = F + 459.67 = 1.8 (K)

Gas Constant

R = 8.3145 kJ/kg mol K

Viscosity (dynamic) (absolute)

1 cP = 0.01 Poise = 0.01 g/cm s = 0.01 dyne s/cm2

= 0.001 kg/m s = 0.001 Ps s = 0.001 N s/m2
= 2.42 lbm/ft hr = 0.0752 slug/ft hr
1 Pa s = 0.0209 lbf s/ft2 = 0.672 lbm/ft s

Kinematic Viscosity

1 St = 1 cm2/s 0.0001 m2/s

1 ft2/s = 929 St = 0.0929 m2/s

Force-mass conversion

gc = 1 kg m/s2 N = 1 g cm/s2 dyne

= 32.174 lbm ft/s2 lbf = 1 slug ft/s2 lbf

Acceleration due to gravity

g = 32.2 ft/s2 = 9.81 m/s2

TASK 1: TWO-PHASE FLOW AND PHASE EQUILIBRIA

5

QUESTION 1.1
Calculate the liquid holdup and pressure drop of the following well using Beggs and Brill
correlation. The connecting pipe is 8.245 ft long and has an internal diameter of 2.5 in.
Liquid

Gas

Flow rate

2000 bpd

0.242 ft3/s

Density (lb/ft3)

49.9

2.6

Viscosity (cP)

0.0131

The abscissa variable is L, the volumetric flowing fraction of the liquid. The ordinate
variable is the Froude number, Fr, for the liquid.
Fr=V m2 /(gD )
The following relations can be shown to be correct for Vm and L.
V sL =mL /( L A )
V sG=mG /(G A)
V m=V sL +V sG
L =V sL /(V sL +V sG )
The analytical method for determining the flow regime is based on a vertical line in Figure 1
at the L. The intersection of the vertical line with line L1, L2, L3, or L4 locates the
corresponding Froude number, which can be compared to the actual Froude number to obtain
the flow regime. The formal rules for the procedure and the equations for the Ls are given
below.
0.302

L1=316 L

2.4684

L2=0.0009252 L
L3=0.10 L1.4516
L4=0.5 L6.738

The holdup, HL, is calculated by

6

H L =a L /Fr

with
Flow Pattern

Segregated

0.98

0.4846

0.0868

Intermittent

0.845

0.5351

0.0173

Distributed

1.065

0.5824

0.0609

provided
3

2000 bpd=2000 5.613 ft 1 day /86400 s=0.1299 ft /s

G =2.6 lb/ft

A= ( 2.5/12 ) /4=0.03409 ft
L=49.9lb/ ft

mL =0.1299 ft 3 /s 49.9 lb/ ft 3=6.482 lb /s

V sL =6.482/( 49.9 0.03409)=3.8105 ft / s
mG=0.242 ft 3 2.6lb / ft 3=0.6292 lb/s
V sG=0.6292/(2.6 0.03409)=7.0989 ft /s
V m=3.8105+7.0989=10.909 ft / s
L =3.809/10.908=0.3493
2

Fr=10.909 /(32.174 0.2083)=17.75

0.302

L1=316( 0.3493)

=230

L2=0.0009252(0.3493)2.4684 =0.01241
7

1.4516

L3=0.10( 0.3493)

6.738

L4=0.5(0.3493)

=0.4604

=598

0.01 L <0.4L3 < Fr L1

Plotting these values in the horizontal flow map in Figure 1, we can see that the flow is
intermittent.

Figure 1: Horizontal Flow Pattern Map

H L =0.845 0.34930.5351 /17.75 0.0173=0.4579
We need to calculate the no-slip density and viscosity for the pressure drop.
n= L L + ( 1 L ) G =(0.3493 49.9)+ ( 10.3493 )(2.6)=19.12lb / ft 3
L =2 0.000672=1.344 103 lb/ft s
6

G=0.0131 0.000672=8.8032 10 lb/ft s

n= L L + ( 1 L ) G =0.3493 ( 1.344 103 ) + ( 10.3493 ) ( 8.8032 106 ) =4.75 104 lb/ ft s

Next we calculate the non-slip Reynolds number.

8

n =n V m D /n =19.12 10.909 0.2083/4.75 10 =9.15 10

Now we obtain the no-slip friction factor either from the smooth pipe curve in Figure 2 or by
the following equation.
n 3.8215
n / }

{2 log 10
f n =1/

Figure 2: Moody friction factor (Crane Company, 1985)

The ratio of the two-phase and no-slip friction factors is by the following relation.
f tp / f n=exp ( s)
( y)
ln

Where

s=ln ( y ) /{0.0523+ 3.128 ln ( y )0.8725

And
Since

y= L /H L =1.67
y >1.2

s=0.3438

Neglecting elevation and acceleration effects, the two-phase friction factor is now calculated
f tp =f n ( f tp /f n )=0.0191 exp ( 0.3438)=0.0269
The rate of pressure drop with distance along the pipe is:
(dP /dX )f =

f tp n V m2 0.0269 19.12 10.9092

=
=0.0317 psi/ft
2 gc D
2 32.174 0.2083 144

Assume this applicable across the whole distance

L=8.245 ft

P=8.245 0.0317=0.2614 psia

TASK 1: TWO-PHASE FLOW AND PHASE EQUILIBRIA

QUESTION 1.2
A mixture contains 20 mole % n-butane and rest propane. If the pressure is maintained
constant at 280 psia. Using De-Priester calculate;
(a) The bubble point temperature, and the molar composition of the first bubble of
vapour
The composition of the vapor bubble is by the definition:
y i=Kz for each component
The sum of the mole fractions of any mixture must be identically one.

y i= Kz=1.0

1st try

2nd try

3rd try

10

Componen
t

zi

psia
K 280
150

280 psia
y i150

psia
K 280
140 F

280 psia
y i130

psia
K 280
137

280 psia
y i137

n-Butane

0.2

0.48

0.096

0.42

0.084

0.40

0.08

Propane

0.8

1.3

1.04

1.2

0.96

1.15

0.92

y i=

y i=1.044

y i=1.0

1.136
Bubble point temperature=137

The molar composition is 8 nButane92 propane

11

(b)The dew point temperature

12

For dew-point calculations, the liquid mol fraction of each component is:
x i=z /K
As before, the sum of the xs must be one.

x i= z / K=1.0
1st try

2nd try

3rd try

Compone
nt

zi

n-Butane

0.2

0.48

0.4167

0.52

0.3846

0.50

0.4000

Propane

0.8

1.3

0.6154

1.4

0.5714

1.35

0.5926

psia
K 280
150

280 psia
x i150

x i=

psia
K 280
160

1.

280 psia
x i160

psia
K 280
154

x i=0.956

280 psia
x i154

x i=0.993

0321
Dew point temperatre=154

13

14

(c) What fraction of the mixture is vapour when the pressure and
temperature are 280 psia and 145 F respectively? What are
the compositions of the equilibrium vapour and liquid phases?
Since 145

lies in-between the bubble point temperature of 137

and the dew point temperature of 154 , we know that the mixture is
flashed at this temperature and 280psia. We can confirm this by
calculating the Kzz /K values at the given temperature and pressure. K
value obtained can be seen from Figure 10.14.
Component

n-Butane

0.2

Propane

0.8

zK

z /K

0.45

0.90

0.4444

1.22

0.98

0.6557

280 psia

K 145

zK =1.876

Since both the sum of

Kzz /K

z / K=1.10

are more than 1.0, the feed is confirmed

to be a flashed vapour-liquid mixture.

Flash calculations are derived from three main equations:
Total Stream Balance , F=F L + F V
Component Balance , F z=F L x+ F V y
Equilibrium relation , y =Kx

Eliminating y and solving for x using the last 2 equations, we obtain:

x=

Fz
F L+ F V K

Letting F be 1 mole, we get:

x=

z
where F V =1.0F L the x=1.0
F L+ F V K

15

Componen
t

psia
K 280
145

x when F L =0.30

x when F L =0.4

x when F L =0.454

F v =0.70

F v =0.6

F v =0.546

n-Butane

0.2

0.45

0.3252

0.29851

0.285837

Propane

0.8

1.22

0.69324

0.70671

0.714209

x=1.01844

x=1.00522

x=1.00

F =0.546
At the given pressure of 280 psia and 145 , since v
, 54.6%
of the mixture is vapour. The compositions of the equilibrium vapour (
yi

and liquid

Component

( x i ) phases are shown in the table below:

xi

y i=K x i

n-Butane

0.2858

0.12861

Propane

0.7142

0.871324

x i=1.00

y i=0.99993

16

TASK 1: TWO-PHASE FLOW AND PHASE EQUILIBRIA

QUESTION 1.3
A liquid mixture containing 25 mole % ethane, 15 mole % n-butane and a
third unknown component enters a separator at pressure of 120 psia and
40 F . If the liquid to vapour molar split at this condition is 4/1 (L=4V).
Using De-Priester charts determine the chemical name of the third
remaining component in the liquid mixture.
x when F L =0.8
zi

Component

psia
K 120
40

FV =0.2

Ethane

0.25

2.6

0.18939

n-butane

0.15

0.175

0.17964

0.6

0.755

0.63097

x=1.0
Working backwards, we get:
0.63097=

0.6
0.8+0.2 K

K=0.755=0.8( one sf )

Now we look for the component that has a K-value of 0.8 along the line
drawn from 40 to 120psia in Figure 10.14. As seen from the graph
below, the unknown component is Propylene.

17

18

TASK 1: TWO-PHASE FLOW AND PHASE EQUILIBRIA

QUESTION 1.4
Ammonia at 150C is contained in a tank with a volume of 137L. The mass
of the ammonia in the tank is 7.4kg. Determine the pressure in the tank
by each of the following methods:
Data: Tc = 405.55K, Pc = 11280 kPa, MW = 17kg/kmol
(d)

Idea Gas EOS

T NH 4 =150+273=423 K
PV =nRT
PV =

m
RT
MW

P=

(e)

mRT 7.4 8.3145 423

=
=11174.1kPa
VMW
0.137 17

Van der Waals EOS

P=

RT
a
2
b

a=

27 R2 T c2 27 8.31452 405.552
=
=425.2
64 P c
64 11280

b=

R T c 8.3145 405.55
=
=0.03736
8 Pc
8 11280

v
v
0.137
= =
=
=0.3147 m3 /kmol
n
m
7.4 /17
MW
P=

RT
a
8.3145 423
425.2
2=

=8387.2 kPa
b 0.31470.03736 0.31472

19

(f)

Redlich-Kwong EOS

RT
aT 0.5
P=

b ( +b )

a=

0.4278 R2 T c2.5 0.4278 8.31452 405.552.5

=
=8682.9
Pc
11280

b=

0.0867 R T c 0.0867 8.3145 405.55

=
=0.02592
Pc
11280

P=

RT
a T 0.5
8.3145 423
8682.9 4230.5

=8239.7 kPa
b ( + b ) 0.31470.02592 0.3147 ( 0.3147+ 0.02592 )

20

TASK 1: TWO-PHASE FLOW AND PRESSURE EQUILIBRIA

QUESTION 1.5
Carbon dioxide at 27C and 6.8atm pressure flows through a pipe at
100kmol/hr. Use the Soave-Redlich-Kwong (SRK) equation of state (EOS)
to predict the expected volumetric flow (in m3/hr) to be.
Data: P = 6.8atm, T = 27C = 300K, Q = 100kmol/hr = 0.0278kmol/sec, R
= 0.08206atm/kmolK
Compound

Acentric Factor,

Pci , psia

T ci ,

0.2667

1071

87.91

Carbon dioxide

P=

RT a c (T )

b ( +b )

T r =T /T c =300 /304.21=0.9862
2

( T )=[1+m(1 T r )] =1.0123
Where

m=0.48+1.574 0.176 2=0.8877

ac ( T ) =

2
2
0.42747 R 2 T c 2
2 0.42747 0.08206 304.21
[1+m(1 T r)] =
1.0123=0.036528
Pc
7382.4

b=0.08667

R T ci
0.08206 304.21
=0.08667
=0.0002931
P ci
7382.4

Thus
6.8=

0.08206 300
0.036528

0.0002931 ( +0.00002931 )

6.8=

24.618 ( v +0.0002931 ) v 0.036528( v0.0002931)

v (v +0.0002931)(v 0.0002931)

v ( v2 0.00029312 ) 6.8=24.618 ( v 2 +0.0002931 v ) ( 0.036528 v0.00001070636 )

21

v 0.0002931 v=3.62029 v 0.00431066 v+ 0.00001070636

v 33.62029 v 2+ 0.00431066 v0.00001070636=0
=3.6191 m3 /kmol

TASK 2: SEPARATOR DESIGN

QUESTION 2.1
Develop the relationship between height and volume of a horizontal cylindrical separator
(take diameter = d and length = L). What will be the volume of water at:
d
3

a)

d
H L=
3

from the bottom? [

Total Areaof , A total= d 2

4
Using trigonometry, we find the angle :
cos=(d /6)/(d / 2)=1/3

=70.529
Area of Sector , A s=

2
2 70.529 2
A =
d =0.097957 d 2
360 total
360
4

1 d
Area of Triangle , A tri=
2 6

( )

d 2 d 2 2 d 2

=
=0.039284 d 2
2
6
36

()

Cross-sectional area of water.

A 1 = A s A tri=0.097957 d 20.039284 d 2=0.26846 d 2
3

V =0.268 d 2 L

b)

2d
3

from the bottom? [

H L=

2d

2
2
2
A 2 = A totalA 1 = d 0.268 d =0.517 d
4
3
3
22

V =0.517 d L

c) If the volume of tank and its length are 2 10

litre and 3.98m respectively,

calculate the mass of water when the tank is filled up to 5m.

Cross sectional area of seperator , A=

Diameter of seperator , d=

V 200
2
=
=50.25 m
L 3.98

4 A s1
4 50.25
=
=7.9988 m

1
Area of Triangle , A tri=2 1 ( 4 )2( 1 )2=3.873 m2
2
Using trigonometry, angle :
cos=

1
4

=75.52

=3602=3602(75.52)=208.96
Area of Sector , A s=

208.96
Atotal =
7.99882=29.168m2
360
360
4

Cross-sectional area of water.

A= A tri + A s=3.873+29.168=33.041m2
23

Volume of Water , V = A L=33.041 3.98=131.5 m

Assuming Density of water is

=1000

kg
m3 ,

Total Massof Water , m= V =1000 131.5=131500 kg

24

TASK 2: SEPARATOR DESIGN

QUESTION 2.2
Determine the diameter and seam-to-seam length of a horizontal separator for the following
operating conditions. Determine the actual gas and oil capacity of the desired separator.
Gas rate, Qg: 11803scf/hr = 0.283MMscf/d

Droplet Size removal, dm: 140 micron

Gas specific gravity, S.G: 0.6

Retention time, tr: 3min

Oil rate, Ql: 13.08 m3/h = 2004.69 bpd

Viscosity of gas, : 0.01325cP

Oil gravity: 40 API

Operating pressure, P:

6900 kPa=1000.76 psia

Operating temperature, T:

15.6 =519.75 R

Figure 3: Compressibility of low-molecular-weight natural gases (GPSA, 1987)

Z at 60.08 , 1000.76 psia=0.84
l=62.43 (141.5/131.5+40)=51.51 lb/ft

25

S .G=

g
air

g =air 35.37( P S . G/ZT )=2.7(1000.76 0.6 / 0.84 519.75)=3.71 lb/ft

Step 1
(l g ) 1 /2
Assumed V t=0.0204[
d m ] =0.866 ft / s
g
Step 2
=0.0049

g dmV
=166.3

Step 3
CD=

24 3
+
+0.34=0.717 0.866
1 /2

Step 4
V t =0.0119[

( l g ) d m
g

CD

1 /2

] =0.597 ft /s

Repeating Step 2 and iterate

=0.0049

CD=

g dmV
=114.7

24 3
+
+0.34=0.829 0.866
1 /2

V t =0.0119[

( l g ) d m
g

CD

1 /2

] =0.555 ft /s

Repeating Step 2 and iterate

=0.0049

g dmV
=106.6

26

CD=

24 3
+
+0.34=0.856 0.866
1 /2

V t =0.0119[

( l g ) d m
g

CD

1 /2

] =0.546 ft /s

V t =0.546 ft /s , =106.6 , C d=0.856

A table is prepared with calculated values of

Leff

and

Lss

for selected values of d that

satisfy the equations for oil and gas capacity constraint.

For each d, the larger

Leff

should be used.

For gas capacity constraint

d L eff =420

TZ Qg
g C D 1/ 2
[
] =1.13
P
l g d m

](

Leff =

1.13
d

L ss =Leff +

d
12

For oil capacity constraint

d 2 Leff =

t r Ql
=8591.5 2 ft
0.7
Leff =

8591.5
d2

L ss=( 4/ 3)L eff

The slenderness ratio is calculated for each d and the combination of d and

Lss

that has a

slenderness ratio between 2 and 4 is selected.

SR=

12 Lss(oil)

D ,

d
Leff (gas) , ft

Lss(gas) , ft

Leff (oil) , ft

Lss(oil) , ft

SR
27

30

0.0377

2.5377

9.546

12.728

5.091

36

0.0314

3.0314

6.629

8.839

2.946

42

0.0269

3.5269

4.870

6.493

1.855

48

0.0235

4.0235

3.729

4.972

1.243

54

0.0209

4.5209

2.946

3.928

0.873

d=36

L ss =8.839 ft

28

TASK 2: SEPARATOR DESIGN

QUESTION 2.3
A vertical three-phase separator is half-full of liquid, determine its size for given the
following data:
Q0=33 m3 /hr

SG g=0.6

Qw =19.8 m3 /hr

Z =0.99

Qg =5902m3 /hr

t
t
( r )w =10 min
( r )0=

P0=690 kPa

0=10 cP

T 0 =33 =306.15 K

w =1 cP

Oil=30 API =0.876

g =49 kg /m3

SG w =1.07

l=866 kg/m3
C D =2.01

Droplet removal size are; 100 microns for liquids, 500 microns for water and 200 microns for
oil.

Minimum diameter for a liquid droplet to fall through the gas phase for 100 microns.

[ ] [(

TZ Q g
d =3500
P
2

d 2=3500

g
C
l g D

1 /2

306.15 0.99 5902

690

] [(

49
2.01
86649

1 /2

=3.15 106

d=1774.95 mm
29

Minimum diameter for water droplets to fall through the oil phase for 500 microns.
d 2=2550

( Q SG )

d 2=2550

10
( 330.876
)=9.61 10

d=980.11 mm

Minimum diameter for oil droplets to rise through the water phase for 200 microns.
d 2=1.59 10 4

( Q SG )

d 2=1.59 10 4

1
=2.94 10
( 19.8
1.07 )

d=542.42 mm

The largest diameter of the three diameters is selected.

d=1774.95 mm

t
t
(
r
)
(
r )w , ho +h w is
0
For the selected diameter, and assumed values of
and

determined.
t
t
( r) w Qw
( r)0 Qo +
4.713 108 d 2

h o +hw =
ho +h w =

[ ( 10 33 ) + ( 10 19.8 ) ]
=3556.5mm
4.713 108 3.15 10 6
30

From d

and

ho +h w

the seam-to-seam length may be estimated for diameters > 914mm.

Lss =

ho +h w + d+ 1016
1000

Lss =

3556.5+1774.95+1016
=6.347 m
1000

The slenderness ratio is checked.

SR=( 1000 L ss )/d
SR=( 1000 6.347)/1774.95=3.576

31

TASK 3: FLARING DESIGN

QUESTION 3.1
Problem 1 from textbook Chapter 16 (Vol 2, page 375)

Check the first-stage separator case emergency relief conditions to size the relief valve and
make sure that flare stack and relief line are adequate. Use the same length as in the example
problem for the relief problem.
Case:

First Stage

Vapour to Relief, lbmole/hr

201.5

Qs, scfh

86500

W, lb/hr

3829

P, psia

1175.2

T,

120.0

MW, lb/lbmole

19.00

, lb/ft3

4.226

0.8493

, cP

0.0144

Cp, Btu/(lbmole- )

12.21

1.194

LHV, Btu/scf

1011.9

32

Flare Stack Sizing

The flare stack diameter is selected on a velocity basis, but pressure drop should be checked,
of course. API RP 521 states that flare tip velocities up to 0.5 Mach are acceptable if
pressure drop, noise, and other factors permit. Other sources give varying limits on tip
velocity. The API recommendation will be used here. Note that the 0.5 Mach figure is
recommended only for peak, short-term, infrequent flow. For sustained flaring a velocity of
0.2 Mach is advised.
Sonic velocity, Vs, is given by (Oenbring and Sifferman, 1980):
V s=223 kT / MW ft /s
The allowed velocity, Va, is then
V a=0.5V s
The volumetric flow rate of the gas at the flare tip (where the gas can be treated as ideal).
Q=Q s (14.7/ P)( T /520)/3600=Q s (T / P)/1.273 105
Where Q = gas flow, actual ft3/s, Qs= gas flow, scfh
The diameter, D, of the stack is:
D ( ft )= 4 Q/ V a
Round up the nearest available standard diameter, Da.
The pipe area, A, for that size.
A ( ft 2 ) = D a2 /4
The actual velocity, Va.
V a=Q / A
And the Mach number, Ma.
Ma=V a /V s

33

Flare Stack and Height Distance

Flare height and the distance are dictated by radiation from the flame. In oilfield emergency
flaring, distance us often used to provide protection from radiation. Height can be used in
combination with or instead of distance to provide protection. Prevailing wind speed and
direction are important factors. On windless days the flame is vertical, whereas maximum
flare radiation occurs for a windblown flame in the direction of the processing facilities.
The following equation is given by API RP 521 (1990) for the distance required between a
flame and a point of exposure where thermal radiation must be limited.
D= FQ /(4 K )
Flare Line Sizing
Flare lines must be large enough to deliver the design quantity of the relieved products
without exceeding the available pressure drop.
Pressure drop in low-pressure gas lines can be estimated by the following equation. (GPSA,
1987):
P100 =C 1 C 2 /
Where
P100 = pressure drop per 100 ft of pipe , psi
C1 =constant depending on gas flow rate
C2 =constant depending on nominal pipe diameter
=gas density at average pressure , lb/ft 3

The data for C1 and C2 presented in graphical form in the GPSA Engineering Data Book
(GPSA 1987) can be presented by the following two equations.
2

C1 =0.001(W /1000)

C2 =4990/ Dn

4.984

34

Data:

K=1.194 , T =120 + 459.67=579.67 R ,

P=14.7 psi

V s=223 1.194 580/19=1346.3 ft /s

V a=0.5 1346.3=673.15 ft /s
Q=(86500)(579.67/ 14.7)/1.273 105=26.795 ft 3 /s
D= 4 (26.795)/( 673.15)=0.2252 ft =2.7
Use a 3 inch diameter pipe.
A= ( 0.25 )2 /4=0.049 ft 2
V a=26.795 /0.049=546.84 ft /s
Ma=546.84/ 1346.3=0.406
K=1500 Btu/(hr ft 2)(for closest equipment )
Deduct 250 Btu/ (hr-ft2) for solar radiation.
K=1500250=1250 Btu/(hr ft 2)
Heat release.
7

Q=Q s LHV =86500 1011.9=8.75 10 Btu/hr

F=0.25(conservative value)

D= 0.25 8.75 10 7 /(4 1250)=37.32 ft

Set flare height at 20ft.
35

L=40 ft
Assume a designwind velocity of 60 mi/h=88 ft / s

Ratio of wind velocity flare tip=88/498=0.18 ft / s

X
=0.93
L

X =0.93 ( 40 )=37.2 ft

Y
=0.25
L

Y =0.25 ( 40 )=10 ft

X c = X / 2=18.6 ft
Y c =Y /2=5 ft

The physical layout is as shown.

C
5ft
37.32ft
20ft

NEAREST EQUIPMENT

18.6ft
27.71ft

The horizontal distance from the centre of the flame to any equipment and the total distance
from the flare bottom is seen to be:
36

 37.322252=27.71 ft
Total distance=18.6+ 24.71=46.31 ft
The frictional pressure drop in the flare is calculated. Assuming ideal behaviour of pressure at
23.1psia
=PM /( RT )=23.119.00 /(10.73 579.67)=0.0706 lb/ft 3
C1 =0.001(3829/1000)2 =0.0147
C2 =4990/3

4.984

=20.9

P100 =(0.0147)(20.9)/0.0706=4.35 psi

P=(20)/(100)(4.35)=0.87 psi

Average pressure=14.7+ 0.87/2=15.1 psi

Assume that a layout provides a total length of the relief line of 250ft.
P=0.3 set pressure3.2

0.3 ( 100 )3.2

26.8 psi

P100 =26.8/(100/250)=10.7 psi

Average pressure=14.7+3.2+10.73 /2=23.3 psia

=23.3 19.00/(10.73 579.67)=0.0712 lb/ft 3

C2 =0.0712 10.73/ 0.0147=51.97
51.97=4990/ Dn

4.984

37

 D n=2.499 inch, use a 3 inch pipe

38

REFERENCE
Manning and Thompson, Oilfield Processing of Petroleum Volume One: Natural Gas
Francis S. Manning, Ph.D., P.E., and Richard E. Thompson, Ph.D., P.E. Oilfield Processing
Volume Two: Crude Oil

39