VESSEL DEPRESSURIZATION
FIRE SCENARIO
View: Process Flow Diagram
Problem Description
This example presents the analysis of the depressurization of a plant equipment in case of fire. The equipment considered is a section of a christmas-tree operated on an off-shore platform.
The simulation process flow diagram contains:
· a phase envelope calculation for the analysis of the pvt behavior of the fluid
· a DEPRESS unit operation to simulate the behavior of the christmas-tree content
· a pipeline to verify the blow-down line for the initial relief
The composition of the fluid (stream S1) is detailed on the next table.
|
|
Component molar flowrate |
kmol/h |
|
1 |
WATER |
1.305028 |
|
2 |
CARBON DIOXIDE |
0.66088 |
|
3 |
NITROGEN |
0.22587 |
|
4 |
METHANE |
67.08345 |
|
5 |
ETHANE |
5.71368 |
|
6 |
PROPANE |
2.409282 |
|
7 |
ISOBUTANE |
0.435009 |
|
8 |
BUTANE |
0.828191 |
|
9 |
ISOPENTANE |
0.267698 |
|
10 |
PENTANE |
0.460106 |
|
11 |
HEXANE |
0.610686 |
|
12 |
HEPTANE |
0.426644 |
|
13 |
OCTANE |
0.711073 |
|
14 |
NONANE |
0.619052 |
|
15 |
DECANE |
0.309526 |
|
16 |
UNDECANE |
0.250967 |
|
17 |
DODECANE |
0.234236 |
|
18 |
C13+ |
0.81146 |
The phase envelope of the mixture in shown on Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The Christmas-tree is simulated as a horizontal vessel with an internal diameter of 0.196 m and a length of about 15 m.
Vessel weight is set at 3250 kg, to take into account the effect of metal inertia during the heating caused by fire.
Heat model according to API RP521 recommended practice is assumed with a reduction factor of 0.3. Heat flow is also scaled with respect to the liquid volume content.
Pressure safety valve relief pressure is set at 257.9 bar.
Due to the very critical results the calculation time step used is quite low, it is set at 0.5 seconds.
Pressure and temperature variation with respect to time is shown on the next figure 2.
Fig. 2
An unexpected and potentially dangerous pressure increase is experienced after an initial pressure reduction. This may be related to the fact that the fluid appears to be quite near supercritical conditions with a relevant low heat of vaporization.
Results should be carefully analyzed by process and mechanical engineers to verify whether the maximum pressure is compatible with the design pressure of the equipment.
Generated Keyword Input File
<XPSIM> ...generated by XpsimWin v.1.07 ...
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RUN ID='FIRE 01' CUSTOMER=STAFF PROJECT='BLOW DOWN'
DESC BLOW-DOWN
DESC COLD CASE VERIFICATION
DIMENSION INPUT SI PRES=BAR
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Petroleum Data
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HYPO ID=C13+ NAME=C13+ NBP=248 DENS=816.5 MW=199.5
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System Data
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CHEMCOMP H2O / CO2 / N2 / C1 / C2 / C3 / IC4 / NC4 / IC5 / NC5 / NC6 +
/ NC7 / NC8 / NC9 / NC10 / NC11 / NC12
THERMSET UID=M1
METHODS K=SRK HS=LK CP=LK D=LK IV=LK TRAN=IDEAL SURT=IDEAL
REGION PHASE=VAP
WOPT K=2
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Flowsheet Data
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<DISABLE>
EQUI 2PHASE
</DISABLE>
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STREAM=S1 TEMP=15 PRES=257.9 RATE(W)=2080 XBASIS=M
COMP H2O:1.56 / CO2:0.79 / N2:0.27 / C1:80.19 / C2:6.83 / C3:2.88 / +
IC4:0.52 / NC4:0.99 / IC5:0.32 / NC5:0.55 / NC6:0.73 / NC7:0.51 / +
NC8:0.85 / NC9:0.74 / NC10:0.37 / NC11:0.30 / NC12:0.28 / C13+:0.97
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PHASENV IN S1 UID=PHE1
CALC PMAX=400 VF=0.1,0.25,0.5,0.75,0.9
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DEPRESS IN S1 OUT S5 UID=DEP1
VESSEL TYPE=HORZ DIAM(MT)=0.196 LENGTH=14.92 WEIGHT=3250 CP=0.5
CALC MODEL=1 PHASE=VAP PRELIEF=257.9 PFINAL=6 TFINAL(MIN)=20 +
TSTEP(SEC)=0.5 PBACK=2 NOSTOP TCAL POUT=2
PSV MODEL=5 CONST=0.075 KB=1 KC=1 KD=1
PRODUCT IRELIEF=S5
HEAT MODEL=5 AREA=9.184 QFAC=0.3
PRINT PLOT TINT(SEC)=10
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PSD IN S5 OUT S7 UID=PSD1
PARA CALC=1 METHOD=MXFLOW PSET=260 PBACK=3
SIZE DEVICE=VALVE AREA(CM2)=1 KB=1 KC=1 KD=1
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SETSTR UID=ST1 STR=S5A
COPY STR=S5
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PIPELINE IN S7 OUT S9 UID=PL1
PARA PHASE=MIX COORD=CURV STEP(MT)=1
CORRELAT SET=MECH2F
AMBIENT AIR TEMP(CENT)=15 V=1 UID=AIR1
POINT DIST(MT)=0 ELEV(MT)=0 DIAM(MM)=73 AMB=AIR1 K(W/MC)=55,,,, +
THICK(MM)=15,,,,
POINT DIST=12 ELEV=0
PRINT TRACE STEP PROP
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END