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121 views

Calculating Thermal Relief Flow Rates - Neutrium

Uploaded by

Subrata Das
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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1/7/22, 2:30 PM Calculating Thermal Relief Flow Rates | Neutrium

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CALCULATING THERMAL RELIEF FLOW RATES

SUMMARY
For long sections of pipe, the thermal expansion of trapped liquid can be
significant. It is often required that the increase in volume of the fluid be
determined in order to select suitable thermal relief valves to protect the
integrity of the pipework. This article details how to calculate the required relief
flow rate to prevent over pressure due to thermal expansion.

1. DEFINITIONS
Ce : Coefficient of thermal expansion (volumetric)
​

Q : Thermal relief flow rate


t : Time over which expansion occurs
T0 : Liquid initial temperature
​

T1 : Liquid final temperature


​

V0 : Liquid volume at initial temperature


​

VΔ : Liquid volume change due to thermal expansion


​

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2. INTRODUCTION
When a volume of liquid is isolated in a section of piping, consideration needs to
be given to volume change due to thermal expansion. The liquid volume will
generally expand at a greater rate than the volume of the piping, and therefore
the pressure in the pipe will rise rapidly. Thermal relief valves or check valves
may be used to alleviate the pressure built up in the line.

For small sections of pipe the thermal relief rate is generally small and therefore
the calculation of the volume is not necessary as a small relief valve or check
valve will have sufficient capacity to prevent pressure build up. For larger
pipelines consideration needs to be given to the volume of liquid that will need
to be relieved under the highest expected heating conditions to ensure that the
thermal relief valve is adequately sized.

3. HEATING RATE
The thermal relief rate will predominately be governed by the heat transfer rate
to the locked in fluid. Typical sources of heat transfer to the blocked in pipe may
be listed as follows:

The sun

Ambient temperature

Hot nearby process units e.g. furnace or reactor


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Heat tracing

Once the heat transfer rate to the fluid has been calculated, the temperature
change of the fluid for the duration of time the fluid is blocked in and exposed
to the heat source may be determined. The temperature change of the fluid can
then be used to calculate the thermal relief rate as described in the following
section.

4. CALCULATION OF THERMAL RELIEF RATE


The volume change of a liquid for a given temperature changes is calculated as
follows:

VΔ = Ce × (T1 − T0 ) × V0
​ ​ ​ ​ ​

To convert the calculated volume into a flow rate divide the volume by the
expected time for expansion.

VΔ
Q=
​

This calculated flow rate may be conservatively taken as the required capacity of
a thermal relief valve as it is the thermal expansion rate at maximum expected
heat transfer into the trapped fluid.

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5. COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION

5.1 Estimating the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion


When a thermal expansion coefficient is not readily available in the literature, it
may be estimated from density data at two different temperature points as
shown below.

ρ0 /ρ1 − 1
Ce =
​ ​

t1 − t0
​ ​

​ ​

To ensure the accuracy of this estimate it is recommended that the two data
points cover the range of temperatures at over which the volume change will
occur. Alternatively if expansion over a large temperature range is being
considered, the range can be discretised and the expansion coefficient and
subsequent volume expansion of fluid be calculated for each temperature
interval.

5.2 Typical Values of Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

Reference Temperature
Expansion Coefficient
Re
Substance
∘C 1/∘ C
Acetic Acid 20 1.07 × 10−3

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Acetone 20 1.43 × 10−3


Aniline 20 8.50 × 10−4
Benzene 20 1.21 × 10−3
Bromine 20 1.12 × 10−3
Carbon Disulphide 20 1.19 × 10−3
Carbon Tetrachloride 20 1.22 × 10−3
Chloroform 20 1.27 × 10−3
Ethanol 20 1.12 × 10−3
Ether 20 1.63 × 10−3
Ethyl Bromide 20 1.41 × 10−3
Ethylene Glycol 20 5.70 × 10−4
Gasoline 20 9.50 × 10−4
Glycerol 20 4.90 × 10−4
Jet Fuel, Kerosene 20 9.90 × 10−4
Mercury 20 1.82 × 10−4
Methanol 20 1.18 × 10−3
Methyl iodide 20 1.20 × 10−3
Pentane (n) 20 1.58 × 10−3
Sulphuric Acid 20 5.60 × 10−4
Toluene 20 1.07 × 10−3
Turpentine 20 9.60 × 10−4
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Xylene (m) 20 9.90 × 10−4


Water 20 2.07 × 10−4
Water 40 3.85 × 10−4
Water 60 5.22 × 10−4
Water 80 6.40 × 10−4

6. FURTHER READING
1. The Safety Relief Valve Handbook: Design and Use of Process Safety Valves
to ASME and International Codes and Standards (Butterworth-
Heinemann/IChemE)

2. Metal Fatigue in Engineering, Second Edition

Article Created: January 16, 2014


  

ARTICLE TAGS

Expansion Coefficient Flow Rate Pressure Relief Thermal Relief

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