APPENDIX 11

CAPACITY CONVERSIONS FOR SAFETY VALVES

11-1 where
Ws p rated capacity, lb / hr of steam
The capacity of a safety or relief valve in terms of
Wa p rated capacity, converted to lb / hr of air at 60°F,
a gas or vapor other than the medium for which
inlet temperature
the valve was officially rated shall be determined by
Wp flow of any gas or vapor, lb / hr
application of the following formulas:1
Cp constant for gas or vapor which is function of
For steam,
the ratio of specific heats, k p cp / cv (see Fig.
11-1)
Ws p 51.5KAP Kp coefficient of discharge [see UG-131(d) and (e)]
Ap actual discharge area of the safety valve, sq in.
For air, Pp (set pressure × 1.10) plus atmospheric pres-
sure, psia
Mp molecular weight
Wa p CKAP
! M
T
Tp absolute temperature at inlet (°F + 460)

These formulas may also be used when the required

C p 356 flow of any gas or vapor is known and it is necessary
to compute the rated capacity of steam or air.
Molecular weights of some of the common gases
M p 28.97 and vapors are given in Table 11-1.
For hydrocarbon vapors, where the actual value of
k is not known, the conservative value, k p 1.001
T p 520 when Wa is the rated capacity has been commonly used and the formula becomes

For any gas or vapor, W p 315 KAP

! M
T

W p CKAP
! M
T When desired, as in the case of light hydrocarbons,
the compressibility factor Z may be included in the
formulas for gases and vapors as follows:
1 Knowing the official rating capacity of a safety valve which is
stamped on the valve, it is possible to determine the overall value

!
of KA in either of the following formulas in cases where the value
of these individual terms is not known: M
W p CKAP
Official Rating in Steam Official Rating in Air ZT

Ws

!
KA p Wa T
51.5P KA p
CP M Example 1
This value for KA is then substituted in the above formulas to
determine the capacity of the safety valve in terms of the new gas GIVEN: A safety valve bears a certified capacity rating
or vapor. of 3020 lb / hr of steam for a pressure setting of 200 psi.

385
11-1 1998 SECTION VIII — DIVISION 1 11-1

FIG. 11-1 CONSTANT C FOR GAS OR VAPOR RELATED TO RATIO OF SPECIFIC HEATS (k p cp / cv )

PROBLEM: What is the relieving capacity of that valve

!
in terms of air at 100°F for the same pressure setting? 28.97
p (356) (58.5)
560
SOLUTION:
For steam p 4750 lb / hr

Ws p 51.5KAP
Example 2
GIVEN: It is required to relieve 5000 lb / hr of propane
from a pressure vessel through a safety valve set to
3020 p 51.5KAP relieve at a pressure of Ps , psi, and with an inlet
temperature at 125°F.

3020 PROBLEM: What total capacity in pounds of steam per

KAP p p 58.5 hour in safety valves must be furnished?
51.5

SOLUTION:
For air For propane,

Wa p CKAP
! M
T
W p CKAP
! M
T

p 356 KAP
! 28.97
460 + 100
The value of C is not definitely known. Use the
conservative value, C p 315.

386
11-1 APPENDIX 11 — MANDATORY 11-2

TABLE 11-1 For steam,

MOLECULAR WEIGHTS OF GASES AND VAPORS
Ws p 51.5 KAP p 51.5 × 17.10
Air 28.97 Freon 22 86.48
Acetylene 26.04 Freon 114 170.90
Ammonia 17.03 Hydrogen 2.02 p 880 lb / hr
Butane 58.12 Hydrogen Sulfide 34.08
Carbon Dioxide 44.01 Methane 16.04
Chlorine 70.91 Methyl Chloride 50.48 Example 4
Ethane 30.07 Nitrogen 28.02
Ethylene 28.05 Oxygen 32.00 GIVEN: A safety valve bearing a certified rating of
Freon 11 137.371 Propane 44.09 10,000 cu ft / min of air at 60°F and 14.7 psia (atmo-
Freon 12 120.9 Sulfur Dioxide 64.06
spheric pressure).

PROBLEM: What is the flow capacity of this safety valve

in pounds of saturated steam per hour for the same
pressure setting?
5000 p 315 KAP
! 44.09
460 + 125 SOLUTION:
For air: Weight of dry air at 60°F and 14.7 psia is
KAP p 57.7 0.0766 lb / cu ft.

For steam, Wa p 10,000 × 0.0766 × 60 p 45,960 lb / hr

Ws p 51.5 KAP p (51.5)(57.7) 45,960 p 356 KAP

! 28.97
460 + 60
p 2970 lb / hr set to relieve at Ps , psi
KAP p 546

Example 3 For steam,

GIVEN: It is required to relieve 1000 lb / hr of ammonia

Ws p 51.5 KAP p (51.5)(546)
from a pressure vessel at 150°F.
p 28,200 lb / hr
PROBLEM: What is the required total capacity in pounds
NOTE: Before converting the capacity of a safety valve from any
of steam per hour at the same pressure setting? gas to steam, the requirements of UG-131(b) must be met.

SOLUTION:
For ammonia, 11-2
(a) Since it is realized that the saturated water capac-
W p CKAP
! M
T
ity is configuration sensitive, the following applies only
to those safety valves that have a nozzle type construc-
tion (throat to inlet diameter ratio of 0.25 to 0.80 with
a continuously contoured change and have exhibited a
Manufacturer and user agree to use k p 1.33; from coefficient KD in excess of 0.90). No saturated water
Fig. 11-1, C p 350. rating shall apply to other types of construction.
NOTE: The manufacturer, user, and Inspector are all cautioned that
1000 p 350 KAP
! 17.03
460 + 150
for the following rating to apply, the valve shall be continuously
subjected to saturated water. If, after initial relief the flow media
changes to quality steam, the valve shall be rated as per dry saturated
steam. Valves installed on vessels or lines containing steam–water
KAP p 17.10 mixture shall be rated on dry saturated steam.

387
11-2 1998 SECTION VIII — DIVISION 1 11-2

FIG. 11-2 FLOW CAPACITY CURVE FOR RATING

NOZZLE TYPE SAFETY VALVES ON SATURATED
WATER (BASED ON 10% OVERPRESSURE)

(b) To determine the saturated water capacity of a

valve currently rated under UG-131 and meeting the
requirements of (a) above, refer to Fig. 11-2. Enter
the graph at the set pressure of the valve, move vertically
upward to the saturated water line and read horizontally
the relieving capacity. This capacity is the theoretical,
isentropic value arrived at by assuming equilibrium
flow and calculated values for the critical pressure ratio.

388