Dimensionamento de uma válvula de alívio de pressão: estudo de caso em vaso separador bifásico no processamento primário de petróleo

Abstract

Oil is still a very important natural resource for the world economy, because its applications are diverse and generate a lot of profit for producing countries. For its extraction and production, a series of equipment for phase separation and fluid treatment is required. In a primary oil processing plant the presence of two-phase or three-phase separator vessels is very common. They aim to separate the gaseous and emulsion phases (two-phase) or the oily, gaseous and aqueous phases (three-phase). Usually, these vessels accumulate pressure inside being salutary its protection through a pressure relief valve, in view of the safety standards in general industries and particularly in the oil industry. The company in question requested a design of a new PSV for installation at its plant on the pressure relief line for natural gas. Thus, it sought - to design this valve accurately through the standards API 520 - Part I, API 521 and API 526 for its sizing and choice of orifice size. The resolution of the equations was made through a spreadsheet in Excel software and the determination of some process parameters were found in the DWSIM process simulator. According to the process data provided by the company, it was possible to reach the discharge area of the valve orifice and being chosen the hole corresponding to the letter "D" (0.110 in²) with 150# inlet and outlet flanges.