Process Engineer: Basic Depressuring - Why 15 minutes ?

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Process Engineer
Simulation, System and Analytical

Basic Depressuring - Why 15 minutes ?

Home In previous posting, we have discussed that PSV wouldn’t provide adequate protection for
vessel of fire case. Therefore, depressuring can be applied for another safety layer.

Translate Commonly the plant area is divided into the ESD Zone. Each ESD zone may contain one or
more equipments. ESDV or SDV valves are provided in each ESD Zone to isolate the system
zone. In case of fire, a system will be isolated by those SDV valves. Then the inventory fluid
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(commonly gas phase only) in the system will be released to flare through BDV valve.
Commonly one BDV is provided for one system zone, but in some cases, it is possible to provide more than one
BDVs in one system zone.
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See the picture.
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EDP (Emergency Depressuring) is generally
initiated by manual push button. In case of fire,
the operator will push the EDP push button in
About Me the control room. That will initiate SDV valves
closing and BDV valves opening. The
Triyanto SR hydrocarbon fluid will be released to flare so
that the pressure of the system will be
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depressurized to lower pressure at certain
time (recommendation from API STD 521,
decrease the pressure to 100 psig or 50 % of
Labels the system design pressure within 15 minutes)

Depressuring (4) For example, If a pool fire exposes the un-

wetted carbon steel vessel, it will take about
Diary (1)
15 minutes to heat the vessel wall to around 1
Flare (3) 200 °F (very close to material’s allowable
stress condition). If the vessel is
Gas Processing (1) depressurized within the 15 min to 50 % of the
PID (7) initial pressure, then the time to rupture would increase to about 2 - 3 hour "

Piping (7) Hope this picture will give better explanation

PSV (16)
For thickness of vessel less than 1 inch, the
Pump (5) system is depressurized to 100 psig, and for
more than 1 inch thickness can be
Simulation (4)
depressurized to 50% of design pressure. The
STHE (1) depressuring time can be longer and less than
15 minutes. The depressuring time of 15
minutes is only an example in API STD 521
Download which is applicable for carbon steel vessel with
has thickness greater than 1 inch.
1st Depressuring Tutorial
Consideration of limiting flare capacity, the
2nd Depressuring Tutorial depressuring time longer than 15 minutes may
3rd Depressuring Tutorial be applied. It will result in lower depressuring
load. Considering of the maximum reduction of
the vessel stress, vessel with thickness less
than 1 inch, generally requires faster
Blog Archive
depressuring rate. The faster the depressuring
► 2014 (2) time, the higher the depressuring load. And for
the vessel with stainless steel material, the depressuring rate may be longer than 15 minutes for 1 inch thickness or
▼ 2012 (21) more.
► October (1)

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Process Engineer: Basic Depressuring - Why 15 minutes ? Page 2 of 4

Based on my experience, many companies have their own manual for conducting depressuring ► September (5)
study. Generally,
the maximum depressuring time of 15 minutes is applied. But each company has difference consideration
► July (1) of
thickness vessel and depressurized pressure. Some companies apply that for thickness greater than 24.5 mm, the
▼ May (2)
pressure is depressurized to 50% of design pressure, but other companies apply that for thickness greater than 60
mm the pressure can be depressurized to 50% of design pressure. Depressuring Tutorial
Basic Depressuring -
I have ever read discussion in Cheresources ( check here and here) about the depressuring time,
Why one 15ofminutes
the ?
participants says that his company applies the depressuring time which depends on the vessel thickness. For
► time
thickness greater than 25.4 mm, 15 minutes depressuring time is applied. The depressuring Aprilwill
(9)be decreased
3 minutes for each 5 mm decrease in thickness. ► March (3)

Yesterday, I checked to API STD 521, (Fifth Edition, Jan 2007), figure 1 (section 2.15.1.2.2),
► 2011 the (8)
graphic show “
Plate Temperature vs Time After Fire “ for carbon steel 3.2 mm, 12.7 mm and 25.4 mm thickness. It is very logic that
the required depressuring time for those vessel are different each other. In my opinion, it is better to state in manual
‘the depressuring time will be decreased, say 2 or 3 or xx minutes, for each 5mm decrease in thickness”.
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Oh,,I miss something important. Even though the depressuring time of 15 minutes is used, the depressurization will
not stop after 15 minutes and that the pressure will continue to decline. My Office - IKPT

Process Simulation
Ha ha ha,,I guess you already know that :D
Encyclopedic for Engineer
Let’s imagine, a PLANT is shutdown for annual maintenance purpose, the fire does not exist, then the system is to
Cheresources
be depressurized to atmosphere condition. In this case, the system is depressurized in adiabatic condition, which
means no heat input to the system. During depressurization, the pressure decreases, andGasthe temperature
Production Process
decreases as well. The final temperature of adiabatic depressuring could be very low. As Process Engineer, we
Chemical & Process
have responsibility to determine the Minimum Metal Design Temperature (MDMT) for each system zone based Technology
on
the adiabatic depressuring case Smart Process Design

My friend, that’s all I can share today. Hopefully it is useful. Chemical Engineer Resources

Have a great day, my friend...

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Basic Depressuring - Why 15

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18 comments: Critical - Subcritical

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Andri Saputra Aug 25, 2012, 12:56:00 PM The Art of Line Sizing
that's is true mas Tri. Fire case depressuring very rare occurred. Exactly adiabatic case that we
Accumulation often
and do min
Overpressure
every 1 year for maintenance purpose.
Reducer Suction Pump System
Please correct me if i wrong, Fire case is use only for define max capacity of BDV and flare, whereas
adiabatic for define MDMT of those system.. There was an error in this gadget
Reply

Replies Statistic
Triyanto SR Sep 10, 2012, 8:42:00 AM

Andri, ESD Zone is protected by depressuring , do you still remember ? the PSV is actually
doesn't have adequate protection against fire. This is one reason why we consider fire case for
depressuring.
so far, as my experience in conduct depressuring simulation, generally fire case has load bigger
than adiabatic case. But it is not always. We must ensure the maximum load for determine the
BDV size.

Correct, for determine the MDMT we use adiabatic case as a basis.

hope this help.

anyway, thank for coming in this blog my friend. ^_^

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Process Engineer: Basic Depressuring - Why 15 minutes ? Page 3 of 4

process engineer May 4, 2014, 12:46:00 PM

I am Process engineer working on RO datasheet preparation for Manaul depressurisation.
I want to know for manual depressuring (when a PLANT is shutdown for annual maintenance
purpose) what will be intial pressure to be considered. operating pressure or design pressure.

Reply

Babaruz Mar 6, 2013, 4:40:00 PM

thank you for your sharing mr. tri
im junior PE who is studying about depressurizing
your sharing is very help me so much
i wait for the next sharing

Regard
Babar Priyadi

Reply

Anonymous Jun 27, 2013, 2:35:00 PM

I like your blog- I am also a PE- keep posting!

Reply

Anonymous Sep 2, 2013, 2:49:00 PM

Its like sitting in a class when going through your Blog. And I can't stop reading. Thank you so much! Your
tutorial is soo useful for those who have climbed that Corporate ladder and need to refresh back the olden
days during junior years.

-MK (Malaysia)

Reply

Replies

Triyanto SR Sep 6, 2013, 9:07:00 PM

Sorry , very long time this blog have not been updated..I very busy :D.
Hopefully I can update soon..thank you for your support.

Reply

Trương Minh Hoàng Oct 13, 2013, 8:26:00 PM

Thank for your sharing :D

Reply

bg Feb 1, 2014, 7:51:00 PM

Tri, for fire case. During fire case blowdown..Which initial temperature to be used..the coincident
temperature of the initial pressure pzhh set point or normal pressure?
Reply

Replies

Triyanto SR Feb 24, 2014, 1:13:00 PM

For fire case, consider using temperature @ PAHH..

The initial condition is considered at PAHH (or design pressure) --> for worts case maximum
flowrate load to flare.

Reply

Sebastian Feb 2, 2014, 9:46:00 PM

Thank you so much for sharing. I've got a question regarding the API STD 521, (Fifth Edition, Jan 2007). I'm
trying to calculate the vapor flow for depressuring in chapter 5.20.2. Does anyone know how to calculate the
"q_m,a" in equation (19) on page 67 for the flow caused by the liquid flash.
Thanks in advance.

Reply

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Process Engineer: Basic Depressuring - Why 15 minutes ? Page 4 of 4

Replies

Leonie Wong Feb 24, 2015, 9:58:00 AM

Hi Sebasian :) I am wondering about the same thing, there is an alpha term within the equation
that is unaccounted for in the nomenclature. Did you ended up figuring it out? Would you mind
sharing your methodology if you did? Thanks in advance! (email: leonie.wly@gmail.com)

Reply

Hamilton Mar 6, 2014, 12:06:00 AM

muchas gracias
Reply

Anonymous Apr 5, 2014, 11:22:00 PM

hi
please discussing about fullfill .
thanks
Reply

chandra rey Apr 4, 2015, 1:52:00 PM

many thanks for your sharing mr. tri..very usefull.. :)

Reply

chandra rey Apr 4, 2015, 1:52:00 PM

many thanks for your sharing mr. tri..very usefull.. :)

Reply

siva reddy Sep 4, 2015, 11:02:00 PM

many thanks for your sharing mr. tri.
Reply

Nzurumike David E Dec 22, 2015, 1:17:00 AM

Thanks for this Useful Post!!!
I was looking for this kind of post and got here. Thanks for sharing with us.

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