Tank Blanket, losing gas through pv valve#

Leut
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 2 Joined: 25-May 07 Member No.: 7,423

May 25 2007, 12:06 PM IP: 82.141.196.78 Post #1 Just wondering has anyone any experience of clearing lines with nitrogen. I have a 15m, 3" line entering a tank full of alcohol. The tank has a PV valve set at 40 mBarg and a PRV set at 56 mBarg. My Nitrogen line is pressured to 6 Bar. The alcohol is cleared from the line (less about a litre) with ease. Just wondering what effect the 6 bar pressure has on my system. As it enters does it just dissipate. The tank is nitrogen blanketed as well (another story for posting). Or is the venting just coming into operation. Am I missing something fundamental here? I'm not chemical in nature. Also is there any risk of leaving some alcohol in the line (vapors and nitrogen etc.) over a period of a couple of days just to sit there. Any direction would be great! Thanks in advance. Lt.

Art Montemayor
ChE Jedi Group: Admin Posts: 834 Joined: 8-March 03 From: Spring, Texas Member No.: 4

May 25 2007, 01:03 PM IP: Private Post #2 Leut: Your query is a sound one, but it generates a lot of questions: What is the configuration of your tank? What kind of alcohol are you referring to? Methanol? Ethanol? What does the 3 line normally transfer, and how is it configured vis--vis the tank? What do you mean by is the venting just coming into operation?

Please refer to the attached Excel Workbook and the sketch Ive supplied. Note that with a fill line configured like the one shown, you dont have to clear the line. Also note that I always locate my blanket Nitrogen supply line and valve above the tank so that liquid content is not admitted into this line. From this sketch, please indicate where and how your needs/problems with nitrogen and venting arise. Alcohol_Tank.xls ( 24k ) Number of downloads: 7

Leut
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 2 Joined: 25-May 07 Member No.: 7,423

May 27, 2007; 08:34 AM IP: 86.43.105.201 Post #3 Hello, Thanks for the reply first of all. The tank set up is actually 4 tanks, but each one as per your dwg attached. Flow through top and down through dip tube. N 2 Enters through separate line in on top. The conservation vent is there also complete with endurance burning flame arrestor. The liquid is IPA and the 3" line is dedicated to the IPA. To update from the last post as N 2 enters my tank it seemed to leak from the vent. Since then I had the fitters take out the vent, re-set it, and now the tanks seem to hold a constant pressure.

Newbie Group: Members Posts: 2 Joined: 25-May 07 Member No.: 7,423

Hello, Thanks for the reply first of all. The tank set up is actually 4 tanks, but each one as per your dwg attached. Flow through top and down through dip tube. N 2 Enters through separate line in on top. The conservation vent is there also complete with endurance burning flame arrestor. The liquid is IPA and the 3" line is dedicated to the IPA. To update from the last post as N 2 enters my tank it seemed to leak from the vent. Since then I had the fitters take out the vent, re-set it, and now the tanks seem to hold a constant pressure. From a batch integrity point of view I decided that each time a batch of IPA was drawn into the tank it would be separate from the next batch. So IPA in the lines from the transfer would be blown using N 2 up the pipe. Recently the batch integrity issue after much taught was deemed too hard to control at this stage but the procedure of N 2 blowing remains. Am I right in thinking the IPA is best in the tank, where oxygen level is controlled, vents are in position, Sprinklers present etc. and flame arrestors in-situ rather than in a closed pipe with none of the above. What is the industry standard on this? Is it common practice to leave lines full or empty (with possible nitrogen and IPA vapor)? Another question if I may. When I pump out of my tank my N 2 bank can't at present replenish the volume of free space left in the tank as quick. So when the vacuum valve opens and draws in more oxygen the potential for an explosive atmosphere is increased. From the German standards i believe the oxygen levels should be kept below 9%. Presently I have requested oxygen below 5% and actual am getting 2-3%. Must I get this balance right or is there a tolerance. Presently the ratio is about 1:3 for every m 3 of N 2 added 3m 3 of IPA is pumped out. Best regards, Leut.

1.196.78 Post #1

15m, 3" PRV set at line (less

t just the venting emical in en etc.) hanks in

P: Private Post #2

-vis the

ote that with Also note that hat liquid and how

.105.201 Post #3

ough top vation vent is he 3" line is

Since then I pressure.

ough top vation vent is he 3" line is

Since then I pressure. wn into the would be as deemed ight in thinking prinklers above. What with

sent replenish and draws erman quested ere a s pumped out.

N2 blanket feed gas @ 6 barg Conservation Vent

Original Configuration Concept Pump-in Pump Pump-out Pump

Block valve

N2 blanket feed gas @ 6 barg

N2 blanket feed gas @ 6 barg Block valve Conservation Vent

Block valve

Typical pipe supports (5-7 m high) - Real life

Isopropyl Alcohol Storage Tank Drain valve

Pump-in Pump (located @ grade)

Revised Configuration - Real life To clear all previous IPA from the elevated feed line on the pipe rack, the pump feed pump is shut down, the block valves on the feed line located at the pump and at the entry to the tank's dip pipe are shut off, and the drain valve at the pump is opened to a hose leading to a 55 gallon portable tank. The Nitrogen block valve is opened sufficiently to purge all IPA from the feed line and into the 55 gallon tank.

ation Vent

Pump-out Pump