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FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Vertical vessel
Horizontal Vessel

ChE 4253 -ChE 4253 - Design IDesign I

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FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Installed Units

ChE 4253 -ChE 4253 - Design IDesign I

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FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Deflectors, and Diffusers

ChE 4253 -ChE 4253 - Design IDesign I

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FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Demisters

ChE 4253 -ChE 4253 - Design IDesign I

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FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Control Schemes

ChE 4253 -ChE 4253 - Design IDesign I

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FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Dimensions to decide

D
hV
hL
hf

ChE 4253 -ChE 4253 - Design IDesign I

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FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Calculations to make
 F =L +V

Fz =Lx +Vy
i i i

y =K x
i i i

xi =1

y i =1

zi
x =
i 1+V F (K i 1)

K z Ratchford Rice Equation
(look for it!!)
= i i
y i
1+V F (K i 1)

ChE 4253 -ChE 4253 - Design IDesign I

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FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Dimensions to decide

D related to vapor velocity.

hV related to vapor velocity.
hL related to level control
hf related to flooding

ChE 4253 -ChE 4253 - Design IDesign I

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FLASH DRUM DESIGN

D related to vapor velocity.

Permitted velocity ( )
v =K L V
perm
V

A =1.877478

B =0.814580

W
 2 3 4 F = L L C =0.187074

K =eA +B ln Flv +C (ln Flv ) +d (ln Flv ) +E (ln Flv ) lv W

V V D =0.014523

E =0.001015

Where do these come from ?

ChE 4253 -ChE 4253 - Design IDesign I

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FLASH DRUM DESIGN

D related to vapor velocity.

F F
vis drag F =6R v Stokes
vis d d

1 2
F =C A v drag
drag D 2 V d
4 3
( )
F = g R
Fg g L V 3 d gravity-Buoyancy

1 2 2 4 3
F +F F =F C R v = g R
( ) ( )
drag vis drag g D 2 D V d L V 3 d

F >>F
drag vis ( ) 8gRd
v =K L V K =
perm V 3CD

ChE 4253 -ChE 4253 - Design IDesign I

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FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Dimensional analysis for drag: Force is dependent on velocity, cross sectional

area,
density and viscosity.
f (F ,v ,A , ,) =0
a drag d V

Two nondimensional numbers:

F
vd A / C = drag
Re = D 1 2
Av
V d
 2
Therefore

F
= D = (Re)
f b (Re,C D ) =0 CD 1 2 fc
V Av d
2

8gRd
Thus is a function of the particle Reynolds number. K =
C
D
3f (Re)

ChE 4253 -ChE 4253 - Design IDesign I

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FLASH DRUM DESIGN

R
But, what should be used? The criteria is that 5% of the liquid
d

is entrained.

Thus

2 3 4 W
A +B ln Flv +C (ln Flv ) +d (ln Flv ) +E (ln Flv ) F = L L
; were obtained
K =e lv
W
V V

fitting experimental data.

4 4 V
Therefore D = A =
D
vp ermV

Demisters should take care of 4% (or less) of the 5%.

ChE 4253 -ChE 4253 - Design IDesign I

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FLASH DRUM DESIGN

1
36"
hV = + diameter of f eedline
2
Who came up with this rule and why?

What is so magic about 3 ft? (Room for demister?)

1
12"
hf = + diameter of f eedline
2

Again, why 2ft? (Residence Time, Failure Analysis,

Other Control issues?)

V
p ool
h =
L 2 or ~2 minutes residence time.
D
4

Finally: Nozzle size

L =h +h +h
V f L

ChE 4253 -ChE 4253 - Design IDesign I

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FLASH DRUM DESIGN

Final considerations

L
IF 3 increase V (Why???)
<
pool
D

L
>
IF 5 Use horizontal drum (Why???)
D

Different design protocol: Why?

ChE 4253 -ChE 4253 - Design IDesign I