HEALTH & SAFETY
PRESSURE RELIEF
REMBE
HOW TO PROTECT WHAT – PRESSURE RELIEF FOR
COLUMNS, STEAM CRACKERS AND FLARE STACKS
Columns
Fractional distillation is used to separate the
various components of crude oil. The crude
oil is heated using high pressure steam so
that the various components transfer to
vapor phase.
The vapor enters the fractional distillation
column filled with trays or plates. As the
vapor passes through the column it rises,
cooling at each level.
Each substance condenses when it reaches
its boiling point and the trays collect the
various liquid fractions.
Rupture discs are commonly used as
overpressure protection on fractional
distillation columns.
Steam Crackers
High temperature steam (above 800 degrees
C), controlled by heat exchangers, is also
used to heat ethane, butane and naphtha
and break it into ethylene, benzene and
propylene used in the chemical industry.
The steam cracker and the surrounding
equipment are protected against over
pressure by the use of rupture discs.
Flare Stacks
As an accurate and reliable solution,
rupture discs can be used as primary
relief, secondary relief, or in combination
with a traditional safety valve for optimal
protection. If the pressure in the gas
recovery system of a flare stack rises, the
rupture disc as primary relief will burst,
re-establishing the path to the flare which is
ignited to burn the waste gas.
In some applications, the rupture disc can be
installed in parallel to the safety relief valve
to provide a direct path to the flare in case
the mechanical valve should fail to open.
www.rembe.de
Issue 34 PECM
133