ISSN:
0930-7516
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Industrial Chemistry
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
When a chemical reactor is depressurized or pressure in a vessel, filled with saturated liquid, has to be decreased, generally both vapour and liquid flow out through the relief valve. Since chemical reactors are usually operated with toxic and explosive fluids, the discharged liquid which vaporizes on the ground around the vessel may reach dangerous concentrations, causing explosions or accidents with the poisonous gas. During a research project, some fundamentals were developed for the design of separation systems which separate liquid from vapour and store it in a receiver. The requirement for a separation efficiency of a least 80% is related to the condition that the separated liquid should flow back into the reactor still during the pressure relief phase. For safety reasons, both separation and re-storage are to be carried out without the supply of external energy. Theoretical and experimental investigations of pressure distribution within the piping to the relief valve and in an integrated separator show that re-storage of the separated liquid in the vessel can be achieved under certain flow conditions. Therefore, the separator must be integrated in the pipe at a certain height above the vessel, so that the hydrostatic pressure of the separated liquid, corresponding to the difference in height, is sufficient to lead it back through another pipe against the internal pressure of the vessel. First, several separators were tested with air-water mixtures. A swirl separator and a reversing separator have been developed to such an extent that they appear suitable for the set task. Experimental results with air-water mixtures and refrigerant R12 upon pressure relief show separation efficiencies of between 90 and 100% at low pressure drops within the whole operating range. As an alternative to separation outside the vessel, a rotary separator was also developed which is fixed to the outlet opening in the vessel. A centrifugal field is produced by the separator rotor and the heavier liquid is largely separated from the vapour so that only drops in the range 〈 100 μm flow together with the vapour towards the central standpipe. The outflowing vapour leaves the separator via 4 tangentially arranged nozzles, under critical conditions. The vapour flow momentum drives the separator rotor. The arrangement was developed and tested during various series of experiments, under conditions or pressure relief with refrigerant R12. So far, separation efficiencies between 60 and 95% have been achieved at stirring speeds of up to 2500 min-1.
Additional Material:
17 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ceat.270120110
