Conventional Methods

Liquid Expansion
- Relief of liquids due to
thermal expansion.
Liquid Thermal
Expansion
May be avoided if;
- cold side of exchanger is drained as part of maintenance
operating procedure (discuss with client)

Typical in cases of;

- cold side of heat exchanger can be blocked in
- large and long uninsulated lines
- vessels that operate liquid full
❚ For cooling water blocked in at heat
exchanger, low flow requirement and
so typical to install 3/4” x 1” which
will be oversized
❚ For long lines calculate thermal input
and hence thermal expansion
coefficient and relief rate.
❚ Some clients may ask for calculation
 Equations
Subject covered in API 520 / 521

βf = 2
(ρ f1 − ρm )
(ρ f1 (
+ ρm ) Tm −T1 )

Where: βf = Fluid cubic expansion coefficient

o
(1/ F)
ρf1 = Initial fluid density at normal operating temperature
3
(lbm/ft )
ρm = Fluid density coincident at the maximum relieving
3
pressure (lbm/ft )
o
T1 = Absolute initial normal operating temperature ( R)
Tm = Absolute temperature coincident at the maximum
o
relieving pressure ( R)
 Required relief

βf Qh
wf =
500 S g C pf

Where: wf = Liquid relief rate (gal/min)

βf = Cubic expansion coefficient
o
(1/ F)
Qh = Heat input (btu/h)
Sg = Liquid specific gravity (Relative to water)
o
Cpf = Liquid specific heat capacity (btu/lbm- R)
Calculator - Thermal
expansion
Calculator example

Go to Calculator “Thermal expansion”

Defaulting to 3/4” x 1”

From example see that required flow = 0.361 gpm and the
actual flow = 22.3 gpm
Actual relief several orders greater than required relief capacity.
This is typical for liquid expansion scenarios and hence we
often do not calculate relief areas but only specify 3/4” x 1”.
Experience should be used for valves smaller than 3/4” x 1”
Also, 3/4” x 1” give more structural strength than smaller
valves.
Example - long, uninsulated
line

Have a 3” sch 10S, 1200 ft long uninsulated methanol run down

line. ID = 3.26”
Methanol temperature = 104 deg F max
Maximum ambient temperature = 180 deg F
Solar radiation = 365 Btu/hr.ft2
Convective heat transfer coefficient = 4 Btu/hr.ft2.F
Coefficient of thermal expansion = 9.6E-6 in / in.F
Surface emissivity = 0.6
1
/2 surface area exposed to radiation = pi*D*L/2 = 0.393 ft2
Radiation incident on surface = radiation emitted by surface +
convection from surface
K=σ
4 4
(Ts – Ta ) + h/Es (Ts – Ta)

rearranging
σ Ts4 + h/Es *Ts = K + σ Ta4 + h/E s *Ta

Solve RHS of equation

4
RHS = 365 + (0.1713E-8)(640) + 4/0.6*(640)
= 365 + 287 + 4267
2
= 4919 Btu/hr.ft
Solve LHS by iteration;
for T= 682 deg R LHS = 4918 Btu/hr.ft2
Hence surface temperature estimate = 682 deg R = 222 deg F
Assume 1 ft of pipe
Thermal expansion of SS = 9.6E-6 in/in.F*12 in*(222 - 104) F
= 0.01359 in
Pipe volume change due to expansion of metal = pi*D2*L
= pi*(3/12)2*(0.01359/12)
= 0.000222 ft3
Thermal expansion of methanol in 1 ft of pipe
ρ (@ 104 deg F) = 48.4 lb/ft3
ρ (@ 222 deg F) = 43.9 lb/ft3

Volume of 1 ft of 3”n pipe = pi/4*D2*L

= pi/4*(3.26/12)2*1
= 0.05796 ft3
At initial temp. (104 deg F), mass methanol = 0.05796*48.4
= 2.8041 lb
@ 222 deg F this methanol has volume = 2.8041 / 43.9
= 0.06387 ft3
Hence change in volume of methanol = 0.00591 ft3
Conclusion:
0.00591 > 0.000222 ft3 i.e.: methanol expands more than
stainless steel pipe and thermal relief valve required on run down
line.
Use Radiant energy to determine heat input into total length of
line to determine relief rate required. Assume black body for
worst case.
Questions ?