Tapia save | sikh OE aaNeera 48 AGO. 1973) Liquid surge capacity in horizontal and vertical vessels When a flowrate changes in a process stream, there must be sufficient surge capacity in the vessels to allow an appropriate automatic or manual response. Yuw R. Mehra, El Paso Products Co [The concepts of surge capacity and surge time are iscussed. With a proper study of surge capacity [J, 2,2. 4), it may be posible to cut the size of process vesels and thus eur costa Surge time Liquid streams require a minignum surge, holding or residence time in a vessel to facilitate control, absorbs process upsets and fluctuations, andl maintain safe op- rations. Sometimes a residence time limit is set for fouling liquids, Surge Time, T,, min, isuswally defined as the time required co empty the vesel if inflow is stopped. However, in this article, surge time, 4, min will also be used in 4 more general sense to refer to the lable for corrective action in the event of a ge in flowrate, For this purpose, surge time is defined as the time for a liquid level to" change be- taveen two defined points in a vessel at particular inflow and outflow rates, ig. | and 2 include tables of typical surge times for various industrial services. For example, in a feed to a farnace or a string of columns (Fig. 1), [0 min of surge time should be allowed for the level to change from sLt (normal liquid level) to 11 (low liquid Tevel) ina vertical vessel, For horizontal reflux drums (Fig. 2), 2 rnin is usually sofiient time to allow for a change from NLA. to MU (high Tiquid level Surge volume Surge volume (surge capacity or reserve volume) provides a response cushion between inflow and outow fates, thereby partially insulating each flow against Undesirable effects from disturbances tothe other. Surge capacity requirements are affected by the performance fof the downstream equipment and by the mode of Tiquid contol, Surge capacity permits operating con- trols to adjust to change and allows response at a rate least apt to propagate adverse effects into other sections of the system, For example, when liquid is pumped from a vessel or column, itis important (0 consider what would happen in the event of a sudden increase in level if the purnp were to shut down or fail, Adequate time should be provided for an operator to go out in the field and start the spare pump, Formulae Liquid surge capacity in the vessel, C, gal, is equal to the liquid rate out of the vessel (, gpm), multiplied by the Surge Time (7,, min), ic, Caher, rates vaty with the process requite- iments, itis cduvenient (© generalize about surge in terms of time (min) rather than liquid capacity in the vessel (gal). It can be shown that the time, f, min, available for action while the liquid level changes be- tween two levels, is given by the formula way where t, = surge time, min, between those levels at a constant outflow, f, gpm, and zero feed; and Sf = fractional change in feed from a constant value off, For example (Fig. 1), in a hoot™ with a surge time of [min between wt and s21, if there isa 10% inc feed rate, the time available for operatar action is = 1/0 = 10 min, Examples For general noneritical services, such as transfer of liquids from column bottom to storage, or recycle of condensate from separating drums, 2 min surge be- tween NEL and 11 and 1 min between NLL and may be adequate, Depending upon an individual com- pany’s design practice, surge times for steam drums anc deacrators vary between 7.5 and 35 min, For medi and low-pressure steam drum serviees in. waste-b recavery systems, 10 min surge bewween sui and Lut may be sullicient. Columns such as demethanizers that provide a reservoir for two or more columns should have a minimum of 10 min surge time between stand itt; whereas for a column feeding another colunsn. 5 min surge between SLi and LLL and 2 min between HLL and tx is generally enough “The surge volumes required for the response times discussed above may have to be further increased for other considerations, such as vapor disengaging, immis- : 87 7 ' | iout toed stopped) Feed {constant outlow! ‘Range ciange “Ree NL service LULIOHLL NULTOLLL MEGA MLL 9 WLLL toHLL Fees toa turnace 1-2 10 om 4 ore of columns o's io 3s |S Knockout rams; sss oie 0 pumped tt Bb & iD Sota eng 2 @ |B Toutemmireeyce 25-6 2 1 1% 20 estes reegeramt a ‘idem So Bootle separator; «SB 1S 1 io as condense pow Ds 1 6:n rypleaty) = 4 a Chien ra a 2 1 310 = (246) 0612 in. minimum 2 15 5 e oo were dy © Inlet nozzle sien, Note: 111 Fer serves whe liqu-outlt pipe extesion ie reid, or wher lover, ibe aud fsver outst te EEL mum tosun incu neds 3) Load es star or er 3 liquid surge capacity in vertical vessels Time availabe for Surge time, rin ston, te, | Fig inimar vap0" 30807 Vapor £2040 out Sewvice LLL to HI Desertor: 15-31 steamarun Refioe drums 54 Keelcgut deus: pumped iauia Refrierant flan 25-5 drums Notes (1) For servicer were a tquisioutlet oi {21M retin drum i in rtaly conden (3) Loge enanges curing start up ot erach shutdowns ae not considered. Typical liquid surge capacity in horizontal vessels tus, aise the LLL sateen ta sult procass neods Surge time te mi ‘Time available for ‘Weed stopped Feed action, fe ein onge emerge HLL NLL LL ONLLTOLLL NLLtOMLL % tOLLL toHLL 5S 5 15080 2 7B 2 6028 6 5 2 1 ©6020 a 0 tO 3 2 1 00 a» 10 8 mB 8 4 ib extension ir required or where a boot i required to separate ing-tybe service, #UL ean be In. to £2. fro- top. Fig.2 cible liquids breakout or settling of solids, for ethylene- oil-water separators or other compartmented vessels. (Other system requirements may sometimes conflict with those for surge time—lor example, the need to keep, ‘cohinn bottoms /reboiler inventory as ow as possible to minimize produet degradation because of a high-tem- References: 1. Sige B Heo ta Design Retin ras, Chm: Vol 82, No.9. 121 2 Yonge Ay How to Sine ona Prom Vee, Cte. NaS oa 2. Sulwana 8. D. Use Nomceraphe te See 4: She, Drag Cer Ciey Wray Hh Pr Va | : | 88 aA ERT eR RE TNT perature effect, or in services using liquid-filled vessels, stich as extractors and contactors, where the contact, ‘ime is more important. ‘The author wishes to acknowledge the experience and advice of James Russell, Jack Hailer and Keith Claiborne, Kenneth J. MeNaughton, Eber ‘The author Chee PR Tone Tek 8191 SGN 1. Presieuy he worked | W engners and Covanor C.Braun 8 Coy an Bea Filion sper Me iy ahora at ‘Ean and Teva, a Sone eee q