Vents compressor

For over 20 years the tank successfully operated with a nitrogen pad to reduce moisture intrusion and a simple hinged breather vent to provide overpressure and vacuum protection. The modification (installed and completed just three days prior to the failure) provided a vent compressor and a new state-of-the-art nearly zero leakage pressure/vacuum device and some unique piping features. See Figure 2—14, which shows impulse block valve No. 4 and the vent check valve No. 2. 

The autoclave is not the only component of an LDPE plant which may be exposed to a decomposition. Local hot spots in a secondary compressor may initiate a decomposition reaction consequendy it is necessary to protect these units from serious overpressure by pressure relieving devices and to release the products of the decomposition reactions safely. The problem of the aerial decomposition referred to eadier has been largely overcome by rapidly quenching the decomposition products as they enter the vent stack. 

Air is compressed to modest pressures, typically 100 to 200 kPa ( 15-30 psig) with either a centrifugal or radial compressor, and mixed with superheated vaporized butane. Static mixers are normally employed to ensure good mixing. Butane concentrations are often limited to less than 1.7 mol 1 to stay below the lower flammable limit of butane (144). Operation of the reactor at butane concentrations below the flammable limit does not eliminate the requirement for combustion venting, and consequendy most processes use mpture disks on both the inlet and exit reactor heads. A dow diagram of the Huntsman fixed-bed maleic anhydride process is shown in Figure 1. 

Both air and oxygen processes can be designed to be comparable in the following areas product quaUty, process flexibiUty for operation at reduced rates, and on-stream rehabiUty (97,182). For both processes, an on-stream value of 8000 h/yr is typical (196). The rehabiUty of the oxygen-based system is closely linked to the rehabiUty of the air-separation plant, and in the air process, operation of the multistage air compressor and power recovery from the vent gas is cmcial (97). 

Caution should be taken to prevent excessive acceleration. One solution is to provide for opening of the compressor discharge vent valve to increase the compressor flow and increase blower horsepower. This is effective with a centrifugal compressor, however, not with an axial compressor unless the compressor is provided with adjustable stator vanes that are reliable. This can be seen from the performance curve. The head versus flow curve for a given vane setting is extremely steep and opening the vent valve is ineffective. However, if the vanes operate fully open and the vent valve opens, the combined effect is satisfactory. The vent valve must not be oversized. 

Noise control is worth mentioning. The turboexpander and axial compressors are noise producers and consideration must be given to the need for providing noise abatement. Silencers on vents and noise insulation housings on machines should be considered and have been proven effective. 

Accumulator vents Blowdown systems Pumps and compressors... 

Pistons may be of segmented construction to permit the use of one-piece wear bands. One-piece wear bands are a requirement in API 618. Pistons have a problem in common with humans—a weight problem. Weight in a piston contributes directly to the compressor shaking forces and must be controlled. For this reason, aluminum pistons are often found in larger low pressure cylinders. Hollow pistons are used but can pose a hazard to maintenance personnel if not properly vented. If trapped, the gas will be released in an unpredictable and dangerous manner when the piston is dismantled. 

It is desirable to have additional axial-load control on the multistage compressor. A balance piston, also refeired to as the balance drum, can be located at the discharge end (see Figure 5-46). The balance piston consists of a rotating element that has a specified diameter and an extended rim for sealing. The area adjacent to the balance piston (opposite the last stage location) is vented, normally to suction pressure. The differential pressure across the balance piston acts on the balance piston area to develop a thrust force opposite that generated by the impellers. The pressure on the... 

Report the total of all releases to the air that are not released through stacks, vents, ducts, pipes, or any other confined air stream. You must include (1) fugitive equipment leaks from valves, pump seals, flanges, compressors, sampling connections, open-ended lines, etc. (2) evaporative losses from surface impoundments and spills (3) releases from building ventilation systems and (4) any other fugitive or non-point air emissions. 

Consideration of All Releases into the System - All releases tied into the closed system must be considered. In addition to PR valve discharges, these may include fuel gas compressor and absorber knockout drum drainage, vapors vented from water disengaging drums, feed diversion streams, closed drainage from equipment, vapor blowdowns and liquid pulldowns. 

Compressors are used whenever it is necessary to flow gas from a lower pressure to a higher pressure system. Flash gas from low-pressure vessels used for multistage stabilization of liquids, oil treating, water treating, etc., often exists at too low a pressure to flow into the gas sales pipeline. Sometimes this gas is used as fuel and the remainder flared or vented. Often it is more economical or it is necessary for environmental reasons to compress the gas for sales. In a gas field, a compressor used in this service is normally called a flash gas compressor. Flash gas compressors are normally characterized by low throughput rate and high differential pressure. 

Often, the blowdown valve is routed to a closed flare system, which services other relief valves in the facility to ensure drat all the gas is vented or flared at a safe location. In such instances, a separate manual blow -down valve piped directly to atmosphere, with nothing else lied in, is also needed. After the compressor is shut down and safely blown down through the flare system, the normal blowdown valve must be closed to block any gas that may enter the flare system from other relief valves. The manual blowdown valve to atmosphere protects the operators from small leaks into the compressor during maintenance operations. 

To prevent leaks of carbon monoxide and hydrogen from the glands of a number of compressors getting into the atmosphere of the compressor house, they were sucked away by a fan and discharged through a small vent stack. Air leaked into the duct because there was a poor seal between the duct and the compressor. The mixture of air and gas was ignited by lightning. 

There are test procednres for liqnid prodnct flame arresters, high velocity vent valves, flow controlled apertnres (velocity flame stoppers), and hydranlic flame arresters, as well as specific reqnirements for testing flame arresters nsed with compressors, fans, blowers, and vacnnm pnmps, which are not covered in other standards. 

Safe venting of the gas relieved is of great importance. The British Gas publication Guidance Notes on the Installation of Gas Pipework, Boosters and Compressors in Customers Premises (lM/16) gives guidance on this. The main requirements are ... 

Most state laws and safe practice require a safety relief valve ahead of the first stop valve in every positive displacement compressed air system. It is set to release at 1.25 times the normal discharge pressure of the compressor or at the maximum working pressure of the system, whichever is lower. The relief valve piping system sometimes includes a manual vent valve and/or a bypass valve to the suction to facilitate startup and shutdown operations. Quick line sizing equations are (1) line connection, (i/1.75 (2) bypass, ii/4.5 (3) vent, dl63 and (4) relief valve port, cU9. 

If the receiver vent is in continuous service, route it back to the wet gas compressor interstage rather than to the suction. Consider adding a chiller on the vent gas. 

Noise can cause a serious nuisance in the neighbourhood of a process plant. Care needs to be taken when selecting and specifying equipment such as compressors, air-cooler fans, induced and forced draught fans for furnaces, and other noisy plant. Excessive noise can also be generated when venting through steam and other relief valves, and from flare stacks. Such equipment should be fitted with silencers. Vendors specifications should be checked to ensure that equipment complies with statutory noise levels both for the protection of employees (see Chapter 9), as well as for noise pollution considerations. Noisy equipment should, as far as practicable, be sited well away from the site boundary. Earth banks and screens of trees can be used to reduce the noise level perceived outside the site. 

Antwerp, Belgium, Chemical Plant, Explosion/Fire Failure of vent connection on suction side of a compressor. 

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