Sizing for Gas or Vapor Relief

Sizing for Critical Flow: The pressuredownstream of the nozzle is less than, or equal to, the critical

Upstream Downstream

US Customary Units
A= Require effective discharge are

w= Required flow through the devi

C= Coefficient determined from an

Kd= Effective coefficient of discharg

P1= Upstream relieving pressure, p

SI Units

Kb= Capacity correction factor due

Kc= combination correction factor f

T= Relieving temperature of the in

Z= Compressibility factor for the de

M= Molecular weight of the gas or

V= Required flow through the devi

G= Specific gravity of gas at stand

Example
a. Required hydrocarbon vapor flow, W, caused by an operational upse, of 53,5000 lb/hr [24,260 kg/h
b. The hydrocarbon vapor is a mixture of butane (C4) and (C5). The molecular weight of vapor, M, is 6
c. Relieving temperature, T, of 627 R(167 F)[348 K]
d. Relieving valve set at 75 psig [517 kPa], which is the design pressure of the equipment…
e. Back pressure of 14.7 psia (0 psig) [101.3 kPaa(0 kPag)]….Kb

Solution
a. Permitted accumulation of 10%, so
b. Relieving pressure, P1 = 75 + (75*0.1) + 14.7 = 97.2 psia [670 kPa]
c. Calculated compressibility, Z, of 0.84 (If a calculated compressibility is not available, a Z value of 1.
d. Critical flow pressure(from Table 7 ) of 97.2*0.59 = 57.3 psia (42.6 psig) [395 kPaa]
Note: Since the back pressure(0 psig[0 kPag])is less than the critical flow pressure (42.6 psig
the relief valve sizing is based on critical flow equation (see Equation 3.2 and paragraphs 3.6
e. Cp/Cv = k = 1.09(Table 7). From Table 8,,,at k=1.09, C=326…or C=520[k(k/k+1)^(k+1)/(k-1)]^1/2
f. Capacity correction due to back pressure, Kb of 1.0
g. Capacity Correction for rupture disk, Kc = 1.0 (not installed the rupture disk)

The size of a single pressure relief valve is derive from Equation 3.2 as follows:

A = [53,500/(326*0.975*97.2*1.0*1.0)]*[(627*0.84)/65]^1/2
A=
Further calculated V, required flow through the device
w=
V= 5201.85 SCFM at 14.7 psia and 60 F C=
Kd=
P1=
Kb=
Kc=
T=
Z=
M=
for Eq.3.3 V=
for Eq.3.4 G=
 than, or equal to, the critical flow pressure, Pcf

equire effective discharge area of the device, in^2 or [mm^2]

equired flow through the device, lb/hr [kg/hr]

oefficient determined from an expression of the specific heat(k=Cp/Cv)

ffective coefficient of discharge. For preliminary sizing, use the following values:
Kd = 0.975 when a pressure relief valve is installed w/ or w/o a rupture disk in combination
Kd = 0.62 when a pressure relief valve is not installed and sizing is for a rupture disk in accordan

pstream relieving pressure, psia[kPaa]

,= Set pressure + allowable overpressure(see3.5) + atmosphere pressure

apacity correction factor due to back pressure, be obtained from te manufacturer's literature or preliminary sizi
Kb= 1.0 for conventional and pilot operated valves(see 3.3 Back pressure)
* The back pressure correction factor applies to balanced bellow valve only
* See 3.6.3 for conventional valve applications with back pressure of a magnitude that will cause subc

ombination correction factor for installations with a rupture disk upstream of the pressurerelief valve(see 3.11.2
Kc= 1.0 when a rupture disk is not installed
Kc= 0.9 when a rupture disk is installed in combination with a pressure relief valve and the combinati

elieving temperature of the inlet gas or vapor, R(F+460)[K(C+273)]

ompressibility factor for the deviation of the actual gas from a perfect gas, a ratio evaluated at inlet relieving co

olecular weight of the gas or vapor at inlet relieving conditions. Various handbooks carry tables of molecular we

equired flow through the device, scfm at 14.7 psia and 60 F [Nm3/min at 0 C and 101.325 kPaa]

pecific gravity of gas at standard conditions refered to air at standard conditions[normal conditions]. In other wo
of 53,5000 lb/hr [24,260 kg/hr]
ecular weight of vapor, M, is 65

of the equipment…

s not available, a Z value of 1.0 should be used.)

ig) [395 kPaa]
ritical flow pressure (42.6 psig[294 kPag]),
uation 3.2 and paragraphs 3.6.1 and 3.6.2)
20[k(k/k+1)^(k+1)/(k-1)]^1/2

US unit/ [SI unit]

4.93 in2/ [mm2]

53500 lb/hr /[kg/hr]

326 psia/ [kPaa]
0.98
97.2
1
1
627 R(F+460)/ [K(C+273)]
0.84
65
scfm at 14.7 psia and 60 F/ [Nm3/min at 0 C and 101.325 kPaa]
Gfluid/(G=1.0 for air at 14.7 psia and 60 F/ [101.325 kPaa and 0 C])
disk in combination
a rupture disk in accordance with 3.11.1.2

erature or preliminary sizing from Fig.30.

nitude that will cause subcritical flow

urerelief valve(see 3.11.2)

f valve and the combination does not have a published valve.

uated at inlet relieving condition.

rry tables of molecular weights of materials, but the composition of the flowing gas or vapor is seldom the sam

325 kPaa]

mal conditions]. In other words, G=1.0 for air at 14.7 psia and 60 F [101.325 kPaa and 0 C]
or is seldom the same as that listed in tables. This value should be recieve from the process data. Table 7 lists v
s data. Table 7 lists values for some common fluids, lbm/lbmole [kg/kmole]