Depressuring 1

1
Depressuring
1999 AEA Technology plc - All Rights Reserved
ADV 3_1.pdf
2 Depressuring
2
Workshop
HYSYS contains a Depressuring utility that lets the user examine
pressure and temperature profiles in process vessels during simulated
gas blowdowns and pressure letdowns. This utility can also be used to
safely size Pressure Safety Valves (PSVs) under normal shutdowns and
emergency conditions.
In this module, two types of depressuring will be examined. Adiabatic
depressurization which is used to simulate the normal gas blowdown of
pressure vessels and/or piping, and the Wetted Fire model which is
used to simulate emergency conditions in a plant.
Learning Objectives
After completing this module, you will be able to:
Use the Depressuring utility of HYSYS
Predict pressures and temperatures inside process vessels
during pressure letdowns and emergency conditions
Size Pressure Safety Valves to safely meet the conditions in
your plant
Prerequisites
Before beginning this module, you should be able to:
Navigate the PFD and the Workbook screens
Add Streams and Unit Operations in HYSYS
Depressuring 3
3
Information on Depressuring
The Depressuring utility in HYSYS has been created to perform
rigorous time dependant pressure and material reduction calculations.
The model is comprised of three distinct areas: physical description of
the vessel, thermodynamic constraints of the process, and the flow
regime through the valve.
Although depressurization is a dynamic process, the small steps that
HYSYS takes in achieving a solution allow this process to be modelled
in a steady state environment.
Thermodynamic Models
There are four models that HYSYS can use to simulate the
depressurization process, and each has its own particular application.
Using the right model is very important if accurate results are to be
obtained:
Fire Mode - used to simulate conditions that could occur during
a plant fire. The application of an external heat source is
considered during the calculations for pressure, temperature,
and flow profiles. The heat flux into the fluid is user defined.
Wetted Fire Mode - used as above, except that the heat flux
into the fluid is calculated according to API equations for heat
transfer from a fire to a liquid containing vessel. A wetted area
must be supplied.
Adiabatic Mode - used to model the normal gas blowdown of
pressure vessels and/or piping. No external heat is supplied.
Heat flux between the fluid and the vessel is modelled as the
fluid temperature drops. Typically used to model the
depressurization of compressor loops on emergency
shutdown. The adiabatic model requires an isentropic
efficiency term. An efficiency of zero means that the system will
behave isenthalpically, i.e. there will be no loss of enthalpy
during depressurization. An efficiency of 100%, on the other
hand, means that the system will behave isentropically, i.e.
there will be no loss of entropy during depressurization.
Isothermal Mode - the temperature of the fluid remains
constant during the depressurization process. The necessary
heat flux is determined by HYSYS.
Experience has shown that a
value of 100% works well for
most pure vapour systems,
while a value between 40%
and 70% works well for most
two phase systems.
4 Depressuring
4
Valve Equations
There are also four types of valves that can be used to model the PSV.
Having these options allows you to customize the simulation. The
choice of type depends of the information that the user has available
and the physical conditions of the simulation.
Subsonic Valve - can be used only if the flow across the valve
is expected to be completely subsonic. This is usually the case
if the upstream pressure is less than twice the backpressure of
the valve. This valve is modelled by the following equation;
therefore, two constants must be given, C1 and C2.
Supersonic Valve - used in cases where little or no
information is known about the valve. This valve is modelled
according to the following equation; therefore, again two
variables are needed, C1 and C2. Generally, C2 will never vary
from 0.5.
Masonellan Valve - used for general depressuring valves to
flare stacks. The equation for this model follows. C1 and C2 are
automatically set by HYSYS; these values should not be
changed without good reason. The C1 term can be changed to
maintain dimensional consistency within the equation. The C
V

of the value is usually available from the valve manufacturer.
General Valve - use this model if the effective throat area of
the valve is known. The model makes limiting assumptions
concerning the characteristics of the orifice. The equation used
by this model follows. G
c
will be 1 if SI units are used, and
32.17 if field units are used. C1 will vary with the geometry of
the valve, when modelling orifices, C1 is equal to the
Coefficient of Discharge of the orifice. C2 will be equal to 0.5,
as usual.
More information on these valve equations can be found in the
Reference Section of this folder.
Constant rate depressur-
ization can be modelled with
this valve equation by setting
the C1 term to be equal to the
flow, and the C2 term to 0.
FLOW C1
P
up
P
back
+ ( ) P
up
P
back
( )
up
P
up
----------------------------------------------------------------------------


C2
=
FLOW C1 P
up

up
( )
C2
=
FLOW C1 C
V
C
F
Y
F
P
up

up
( )
C2
=
FLOW C1 43200 A
V
K
term
G (
c
P
up

up
k )
C2
=
Depressuring 5
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Generalized Depressurization
Procedure
The following steps are meant as a general outline for using the
Depressurization utility in HYSYS.
1. Access the Depressurization utility by selecting Tools/Utilities
from the Menu Bar, or by pressing the hot key <Ctrl><U>.
2. On the Connections page, change the name of the utility if
desired.
3. In the Stream Connections group box, attach a stream of known
composition. (Up to four streams can be connected).
4. If desired, specify the vessel and liquid volumes. If these values
are not specified, HYSYS will size them to hold one hours worth
of flow. This applies to both the liquid volume and the total
volume of the vessel.
5. A wetted area must be entered if the Wetted Fire model is to be
used as the thermodynamic model. Otherwise, it is not necessary.
However, a known parameter should never be left out of a
simulation.
6. Once all the streams are attached, press the Settle Out button.
HYSYS now calculates the combined vessel information. The
results of this calculation can be seen on the Vessel page.
7. On the Parameters page, specify a thermodynamic model. The
four options are listed on page 3 of this module.
8. Enter a relief pressure. A pressure build-up can be simulated by
specifying a relief pressure greater than the settle out pressure.
9. Make changes to the depressuring time, the final pressure, and
the number of steps if desired.
10. On the Heat Flux page, enter the parameters governing the heat
transfer between the fluid and the vessel. This page will change
depending on the thermodynamic model chosen.
11. On the Valve page, select a valve to model. The choices are
described on page 4 of this module.
12. Once the valve is chosen, the Equation Parameters and/or
Equation Units can be modified.
13. Press the Calculate button. HYSYS now runs the utility.
14. The results can be seen on either the Plots tab, or the Table tab.
The information contained on both tabs is identical; however, the
presentation form is different.
The streams attached to the
Depressurization utility must
be fully defined.
Pressing the Equation Help
button on the Heat Flux or
Valve Eqns page will bring up
details on the available
equations.
6 Depressuring
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Building the Simulation
Build a Depressurization simulation using the steps outlined on the
previous page. The Adiabatic model will be used to simulate the
depressurization of two pressure vessels.
Setting up the Simulation
1. Start a new case in HYSYS and select the Peng Robinson EOS
package.
2. Add C1 to n-C5 to the component list and enter the Simulation
Environment.
3. Install two new streams in the Flowsheet, with the following data:
Adding the Utility
1. Open the Utility menu by pressing the hot key <Ctrl><U>.
2. Highlight Depressuring and press the Add Utility button.
In This Cell... Enter... Enter...
Name Tank1 Tank2
Temperature,
o
C (
o
F) 25 (75) 35 (95)
Pressure, kPa (psia) 4000 (600) 2000 (290)
Molar Flow,
kgmole/hr (lbmole/hr)
1.0 (2.2) 1.0 (2.2)
Comp. Mole Fraction - C1 0.56 0.178
Comp. Mole Fraction - C2 0.2 0.198
Comp. Mole Fraction - C3 0.1 0.193
Comp. Mole Fraction - i-C4 0.05 0.135
Comp. Mole Fraction - n-C4 0.05 0.149
Comp. Mole Fraction - i-C5 0.02 0.072
Comp. Mole Fraction - n-C5 0.02 0.075
The Molar Flow value entered
here is of no use, but it must be
entered. The vessel volume
will be specified later.
Depressuring 7
7
Defining the Utility
1. In the Stream Connections box, add the streams Tank1 and
Tank2. Add the following information to the current view.
The screen should now look like this:
2. Press the Settle Out button, and check the calculated values on
the Vessel page on the Results tab:
In This Cell... Enter... Enter...
Stream Tank1 Tank2
Vessel Volume, m
3
(ft
3
) 45 (1600) 45 (1600)
Liquid Volume, m
3
(ft
3
) 15 (500) 35 (1250)
Wetted Area, m
2
(ft
2
) 20 (200) 20 (200)
The Settle Out command
combines the information
from all of the entered data.
8 Depressuring
8
3. Move to the Parameters page on the Design tab and specify the
thermodynamic model as Adiabatic. Supply a relief pressure of
3000 kPa (435 psia). Leave the other parameters at the default
values. The page should look like this:
4. On the Heat Flux page of the Equations tab, specify the
Isentropic Efficiency as 25%. The vessels specific heat as 100 kJ/
kg
o
C (25 BTU/lb
o
F), and the vessels mass as 6000 kg (13,000 lb).
Leave the value for the Heat Transfer Coefficient as <empty>.
5. On the Valve Eqns page, leave all of the values at their default
states. Press the Calculate button.
The vessels mass includes the
mass of all the attached vessels
and also the associated
piping.
Depressuring 9
9
6. Move to the Plots page, and answer this question.
7. Return to the Valve Eqns page of the Equations tab and enter a C
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value of 150. Recalculate the utility.
What is the pressure after 15 minutes have past?__________
What is the pressure after 15 minutes now? ____________
If you are working in field
units, the value for C1 will be
different. The default value
will work as long as the
default units (field or SI) have
been used in the simulation.
Save your case!
10 Depressuring
10
Exercise
For this exercise, it is desired to simulate the depressurization of the
same plant modelled in the simulation. Except that now, there is a fire
in the plant so the Wetted Fire model will be used. Use the following
data for this exercise:
Variable Name Value
Connections
Streams Tank1 Tank2
Vessel Volume, m
3
(ft
3
) 45 (1600) 45 (1600)
Liquid Volume, m
3
(ft
3
) 15 (500) 35 (1250)
Wetted Area, m
2
(ft
2
) 20 (200) 20 (200)
Parameters Page
Mode Fire Wetted
Relief Pressure 4000 kPa (600 psia)
Final Pressure 2000 kPa (300 psia)
Depress. Time 1800 seconds (30 minutes)
Pressure Steps 50
Heat Flux Page
C1 2.3e5
C2 1.0
C3 1.0
Units kJ/hr and m
2
Valve Eqns Page
Valve Equation Masonellan
C1 1.6663
C2 0.5
C
V
50
It is not necessary to delete the
previous depressurization
utility; just build a new one
from the beginning.
Depressuring 11
11
Leave all unspecified variables at their default values. Calculate the
utility.
What is the total depressurization time? __________
Enter a C
V
of 100. What is the time now? __________
Save your case!
12 Depressuring
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Analysing the Results
The results of the Depressuring utility can be seen under either the
Plots tab or the Table tab. The information on either tab is identical;
however, the method of presentation is different.
On the Plots page, there are five different plots that can be displayed.
These five plots are defined here:
Temperature - The temperature of the fluid, the vessel, and the
fluid exiting the valve are all plotted against time. This allows
you to see if the thermodynamic model is acting properly.
Pressure - The pressure of the fluid inside the vessel is plotted
against time. This provides you with a quick reference as to the
relief pressure, final pressure, and the depressurization time.
Inventory - The total number of moles of material remaining in
the system is plotted against time.
Valve Rate - The molar flow rate of material through the valve
is plotted against time. The user can quickly see the maximum
flow rate that occurs during the depressurization.
Composition - The composition of the material remaining in
the vessel during the depressurization is plotted against time.
On the Table page, all of the information is presented in tabular format.
The table headings are: Pressure, Fluid Temp., Valve Outlet, Inventory,
Vapour Fraction, Vessel Temp., Valve Rate, Sys. Den. (Vap), Sys. Den.
(Liq), and Heat Flux.
From the table headings it can be seen that the information presented
on the Table page is identical to the information presented on the Plots
page.
The composition of material remaining in the vessel during the
depressurization process can be seen in tabular format by pressing the
Compositions button.