APPENDIX 10 MANDATORY

CAPACITY CONVERSIONS FOR SAFETY VALVES

10-100 REQUIREMENTS FOR CAPACITY of the ratio of specific heats kp cp /cv (see Fig.
CONVERSIONS 10-100.1)
Kp coefficient of discharge (see AR-523)
(a) The capacity of a safety or safety relief valve
Ap actual discharge area of the safety valve, sq in.
in terms of a gas or vapor other than the medium for
(mm2)
which the valve was officially rated shall be determined
Pp (set pressure 1.10) plus atmospheric pressure,
by application of the following formulas:1
psia (kPa)
For steam: Mp molecular weight
Tp absolute temperature at inlet (F + 460)
Ws p 51.5 KAP
These formulas shall also be used when the required
flow of any gas or vapor is known and it is necessary
For air: to compute the rated capacity of steam or air.
(b) Molecular weights of some of the common gases

T
M and vapors are given in Table 10-100.1.
Wa p CKAP
(c) For hydrocarbon vapors, where the actual value
of k is not known, the conservative value k p 1.001
where has been commonly used and the formula becomes:
Cp 356
Mp 28.97
Tp 520 when Wa is the rated capacity
T
M
W p 315 KAP
For any gas or vapor:

T
M
W p CKAP
(d) When desired, as in the case of light hydrocar-
bons, the compressibility factor Z may be included in
where the formulas for gases and vapors as follows:
Ws p rated capacity, lb /hr (kg/hr) of steam
Wap rated capacity, converted to lb /hr (kg/hr) of air

ZT
at 60F (15.5C), inlet temperature M
W p CKAP
Wp flow of any gas or vapor, lb /hr (kg/hr)
Cp constant for gas or vapor which is a function

1
Knowing the official rating capacity of a safety valve which is Example 1
stamped on the valve, it is possible to determine the overall value
of KA in either of the following formulas in cases where the value
of these individual terms is now known: GIVEN: A safety valve bears a certified capacity rating
Official Rating in Steam Official Rating in Air of 3020 lb /hr of steam for a pressure setting of 200 psi.

M
Ws Wa T
KA p KA p
51.5P CP
This value for KA is then substituted in the above formulas to
determine the capacity of the safety valve in terms of the new gas PROBLEM: What is the relieving capacity of that valve
or vapor. in terms of air at 100F for the same pressure setting?

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 10-100 2001 SECTION VIII DIVISION 2 10-100

FIG. 10-100.1 CONSTANT C FOR GAS OR VAPOR RELATED TO RATIO OF SPECIFIC HEATS (k p cp / cv)

TABLE 10-100.1
MOLECULAR WEIGHTS OF GASES AND VAPORS
560
28.97
p (356) (58.5)
Air 28.97 Refrigerant 22 86.48
Acetylene 26.04 Refrigerant 114 170.90
Ammonia 17.03 Hydrogen 2.02 p 4,750 lb / hr
Butane 58.12 Hydrogen Sulfide 34.08
Carbon Dioxide 44.01 Methane 16.04
Chlorine 70.91 Methyl Chloride 50.48
Ethane 30.07 Nitrogen 28.02
Ethylene 28.05 Oxygen 32.00 Example 2
Refrigerant 11 137.371 Propane 44.09
Refrigerant 12 120.9 Sulfur Dioxide 64.06 GIVEN: It is required to relieve 5,000 lb /hr of propane
from a pressure vessel through a safety valve set to
relieve at a pressure of Ps, psi, and with an inlet
temperature of 125F.
SOLUTION:
For steam:

Ws p 51.5 KAP PROBLEM: What total capacity in pounds of steam per

hour in safety valves must be furnished?
3,020 p 51.5 KAP

3,020 SOLUTION:
KAP p p 58.5
51.5 For propane:

For air:

T
M
W p CKAP

M
Wa p CKAP
T

460 + 100
28.97 Value of C is not definitely known. Use the conservative
p 356 KAP
value C p 315:

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 10-100 APPENDIX 10 MANDATORY 10-100

24 (70)

20 (58)
Flow Capacity 10 4, lb/hr/in.2
(Flow Capacity, kg/hr/m2)

16 (47)
Saturated water

12 (35)

8 (23)

4 (12)

0
0 400 800 1,200 1,600 2,000 2,400 2,800 3,200
(2.8) (5.5) (8.3) (11) (13.8) (16.5) (19.3) (22)
Set Pressure, psig ( 103 kPa)

FIG. 10-101.1 FLOW CAPACITY CURVE FOR RATING NOZZLE TYPE SAFETY VALVES ON SATURATED
WATER (BASED ON 10% OVERPRESSURE)

460 + 125
44.09 SOLUTION:
5,000 p 315 KAP
For ammonia:

T
KAP p 57.7 M
W p CKAP
For steam:
Manufacturer and user agree to use k p 1.33. From
Ws p 51.5 KAP p (51.5)(57.7) Fig. 10-100.1, Cp350:

460 + 150
p 2,790 lb / hr set to relieve at Ps , psi 17.03
1,000 p 350 KAP

Example 3
KAP p 17.10
GIVEN: It is required to relieve 1,000 lb of ammonia
For steam:
per hour from a pressure vessel at 150F.
Ws p 51.5 KAP p (51.5) (17.10)
PROBLEM: What is the required total capacity in pounds
of steam per hour at the same pressure setting? p 880 lb / hr

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 10-100 2001 SECTION VIII DIVISION 2 10-101

Example 4 For steam:

Ws p 51.5 KAP p (51.5)(546)

GIVEN: A safety valve bearing a certified rating of
10,000 cu ft /min of air at 60F and 14.7 psia (atmo- p 28,200 lb / hr
spheric pressure).
NOTE: Before converting the capacity of a safety valve from any
gas to steam, the requirements of AR-511 must be met.

10-101 Nozzle Type Valves

PROBLEM: What is the flow capacity of this safety valve
in pounds of saturated steam per hour for the same (a) Since it is realized that the saturated water capac-
pressure setting? ity is configuration sensitive, the following applies only
to those valves that have a nozzle type construction
(throat to inlet diameter ratio of 0.25 to 0.80 with a
continuously contoured change and have exhibited a
SOLUTION: coefficient KD in excess of 0.90). No saturated water
For air: rating shall apply to other types of construction.
NOTE: The Manufacturer, user, and Inspector are all cautioned that
for the following rating to apply, the valve shall be continuously
subjected to saturated water. If, after initial relief, the flow media
Weight (of dry air at 60F and 14.7 psia) p 0.0766 changes to quality steam, the valve shall be rated as per dry saturated
lb /cu ft steam. Valves installed on vessels or lines containing steamwater
mixture shall be rated on dry saturated steam.

(b) To determine the saturated water capacity of a

valve currently rated under AR-520 and meeting the
Wa p 10,000 0.0766 60 p 45,960 lb / hr requirements of (a) above, refer to Fig. 10-101.1. Enter
the graph at the set pressure of the valve, move vertically

460 + 60 upward to the saturated water line, and read horizontally

28.97
45,960 p 356 KAP
the relieving capacity. This capacity is the theoretical,
isentropic value arrived at by assuming equilibrium
KAP p 546 flow and calculated values for the critical pressure ratio.

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