Steam Sizing

Saturated Steam

fluid : sodium trifulfate

Min. required effective discharge area A
Specific gravity of liquid at flowing conditions G : 1.23
Required capacity W : 125 gpm
Overpressure : 10 %
Set pressure 100 psig
Relieving temperature : 60 ℉
Relieving pressure P1 : 110 psig
back pressure Pb : 30 psig
Differential pressure △P : 80 psig
( set pressure + overpressure -back pressure)

Flow correction factor (non-viscos fluid) Kv : 1

due to viscosity of the fluid at flowing conditions (see page 7-7).
Capacity correction factor due to back pressure Kw : 0.866
due to back
pressure on bellows or Series BP valves on
liquid service. Refer to Figure F7-3 on page 7-5.
Back pressure percentage Pb/P1 x 100 : 27.3 %
30.0
----------- x 100
110.0

GPM x √( G )
A = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28.14 x Kv x Kw x √( △P )

125 x √( 1.23 )
A = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ = 0.63602706 in2
28.14 x 1 x 0.866 x √( 80 ) 410.3 mm2
4.1 cm2
0.003 m2
fluid : sodium trifulfate
Min. required effective discharge area A
Specific gravity of liquid at flowing conditions G : 0.96
Required capacity W : 100 gpm
Overpressure : 10 %
Set pressure 210 psig
Relieving temperature : 60 ℉
Relieving pressure P1 : 231 psig
back pressure Pb : 35 psig
Differential pressure △P : 196 psig
( set pressure + overpressure -back pressure)

Flow correction factor (non-viscos fluid) Kv : 1

due to viscosity of the fluid at flowing conditions (see page 7-7).
Capacity correction factor due to back pressure Kw : 1
due to back
pressure on bellows or Series BP valves on
liquid service. Refer to Figure F7-3 on page 7-5.
Back pressure percentage Pb/P1 x 100 : 15.2 %
35.0
----------- x 100
231.0

GPM x √( G )
A = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28.14 x Kv x Kw x √( △P )

100 x √( 0.96 )
A = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ = 0.24870441 in2
28.14 x 1 x 1 x √( 196 ) 160.5 mm2
1.6 cm2
0.001 m2
Steam Sizing
Saturated Steam

Min. required effective discharge area A

Required capacity W : 21500 kg/hr

Effective coefficient of discharge K : 0.975

Set pressure Pset : 225 psia
15.5 barg
Overpressure : 10 %

Absolute relieving pressure P1 : 262.2 psia

18.1 barg
Capacity correction factor due to the KSH : 1
degree of superheat
Capacity correction factor for dry saturated steam Kn 1
at set pressures above 1500 psia and up to 3200 psi

Capacity correction factor Kb : 1

due to back pressure Use Kb = 1.0 for atmospheric pressure.

W
A = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
51.5 x K x P1 x KSH x Kn X Kb

21500
A = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 1.63302912 in2
51.5 x 0.975 x 262.2 x 1 x 1 X 1 = 1053.565 mm2
= 10.536 cm2
= 0.007 m2
Superheated Steam

Min. required effective discharge area A

Required capacity W : 108500 kg/hr

Relieving temperature T : 750
398.9 ℃
Effective coefficient of discharge K : 0.975
Set pressure Pset : 532 psia
36.7 barg
Overpressure : 10 %

Absolute relieving pressure P1 : 599.9 psia

41.4 barg
Capacity correction factor due to the KSH : 0.844
degree of superheat
Capacity correction factor for dry saturated steam Kn 1
at set pressures above 1500 psia and up to 3200 psi

Capacity correction factor Kb : 1

due to back pressure Use Kb = 1.0 for atmospheric pressure.

W
A = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
51.5 x K x P1 x KSH x Kn X Kb

108500
A = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 4.27 in2
51.5 x 0.975 x 599.9 x 0.844 x 1 X 1 = 2754.8 mm2
= 27.5 cm2
= 0.018 m2
Saturated Steam at a Relieving Pressure Greater than 1500 psig ( 103.4 barg)
Min. required effective discharge area A

Required capacity W : 88,000.0 lb/hr

39,916.7 kg/hr
Relieving temperature T : 750
398.9 ℃
Effective coefficient of discharge K : 0.975
Set pressure Pset : 2750 psia
189.6 barg
Overpressure : 10 %

Absolute relieving pressure P1 : 3039.7 psia

209.6 barg
Capacity correction factor due to the KSH : 1
degree of superheat
Capacity correction factor for dry saturated steam Kn 1.155
at set pressures above 1500 psia and up to 3200 psi

Capacity correction factor Kb : 1

due to back pressure Use Kb = 1.0 for atmospheric pressure.

W
A = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
51.5 x K x P1 x KSH x Kn X Kb

88000
A = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 0.5 in2
51.5 x 0.975 x 3039.7 x 1 x 1.155 X 1 = 322.6 mm2
= 3.2 cm2
= 0.002 m2
GAS AND VAPOR SIZING ( EXCEPT STEAM)
Atmospheric back pressure

Fluid : Natural gas

Required capacity W : 5900 lb/hr
2676.2 kg/hr
Set pressure : 210 psig
14.5 barg
Back pressure : Atmospheric
Inlet relieving temperautre T : 120 ℉
48.9 ℃
580 R
Molecular weight M : 19 lb

Compressibility factor Z : 1.0

Overpressure 10.0 %
Absolute relieving pressure P1 : 245.7 psia
Coefficient C : 344
Coefficient determined from an expression of the
ratio of specific heats of the gas or vapor at
(see Table T7-7 on page 7-26),
standard conditions
or if ratio of specific heats value is known, see
page 7-9. Use C = 315 if value is unknown.
Effective coefficient of discharge K : 0.975
Capacity correction factor Kb : 1
due to back pressure Use Kb = 1.0 for atmospheric pressure.

W x √( T x Z )
A = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C x K x P1 x Kb x √( M )

5900 x √( 580 x 1.0 )

A = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 0.396 in2
344 x 0.975 x 245.7 x 1 x √( 19 ) = 255.483 mm2
= 2.555 cm2
= 0.002 m2
Superimposed Constant Back Pressure
Superimposed Constant Back Pressure Pb : 195 psig
13.4 barg

Fluid : Natural gas

Required capacity W : 5900 lb/hr
2676.2 kg/hr
Set pressure : 210 psig
14.5 barg
Back pressure : Atmospheric
Inlet relieving temperautre T : 120 ℉
48.9 ℃
580 R
Molecular weight M : 19 lb

Compressibility factor Z : 1.0

Overpressure 10.0 %
Absolute relieving pressure P1 : 245.7 psia
Coefficient C : 344
Coefficient determined from an expression of the
ratio of specific heats of the gas or vapor at
(see Table T7-7 on page 7-26),
standard conditions
or if ratio of specific heats value is known, see
page 7-9. Use C = 315 if value is unknown.
Effective coefficient of discharge K : 0.975
Capacity correction factor Kb : 0.76
due to back pressure Use Kb = 1.0 for atmospheric pressure.

Back pressure percentage Pb/P1 x 100 : 85.3 %

209.7
----------- x 100
245.7

W x √( T x Z )
A = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C x K x P1 x Kb x √( M )

5900 x √( 580 x 1.0 )

A = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 0.52 in2
344 x 0.975 x 245.7 x 0.76 x √( 19 ) = 335.483 mm2
= 3.355 cm2
= 0.002 m2
Set Pressure Below 30 psig
When a pressure relief valve is to be used with a set
pressure below 30 psig,
the ASME Boiler and Pressure
Vessel Code, Section VIII, specifies a maximum allowable
overpressure of 3 psi.
Fluid : Air
Required capacity W : 500 lb/hr
226.8 kg/hr
Set pressure : 20 psig
1.4 barg
Back pressure : Atmospheric
Inlet relieving temperautre T : 70 ℉
21.1 ℃
530 R
Molecular weight M : 28.97 lb

Compressibility factor Z : 1.0

Overpressure : 3.0 psi
Absolute relieving pressure P1 : 37.7 psia
Coefficient C : 356
Coefficient determined from an expression of the
ratio of specific heats of the gas or vapor at
(see Table T7-7 on page 7-26),
standard conditions
or if ratio of specific heats value is known, see
page 7-9. Use C = 315 if value is unknown.
Effective coefficient of discharge K : 0.975
Capacity correction factor Kb : 1
due to back pressure Use Kb = 1.0 for atmospheric pressure.

W x √( T x Z )
A = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C x K x P1 x Kb x √( M )

500 x √( 530 x 1.0 )

A = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 0.163 in2
356 x 0.975 x 37.7 x 1 x √( 28.97 ) = 105.161 mm2
= 1.052 cm2
= 0.001 m2
Variable Superimposed Back Pressure
When a pressure relief valve is exposed to a variable back pressure the set pressure of the valve may be
effected unless either a balanced bellows or series BP style valve is selected
Fluid : Air
Required capacity W : 280 lb/hr
127 kg/hr
Set pressure Pset : 58 psig
4 barg
Back pressure : Atmospheric
Inlet relieving temperautre T : 70 ℉
21.1 ℃
530 R
Molecular weight M : 28.97 lb

Compressibility factor Z : 1.0

Overpressure : 10.0 %
Absolute relieving pressure P1 : 78.5 psia
Coefficient C : 356
Coefficient determined from an expression of the
ratio of specific heats of the gas or vapor at
(see Table T7-7 on page 7-26),
standard conditions
or if ratio of specific heats value is known, see
page 7-9. Use C = 315 if value is unknown.
Effective coefficient of discharge K : 0.975
Capacity correction factor Kb : 0.65

due to back pressure Use Kb = 1.0 for atmospheric pressure.

Superimposed Constant Back Pressure Pb : 20.3 psig
1.4 barg

Back pressure percentage Pb/P1 x 100 : 44.6 %

35.0
----------- x 100
78.5

W x √( T x Z )
A = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C x K x P1 x Kb x √( M )

280 x √( 530 x 1.0 )

A = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 0.068 in2
356 x 0.975 x 78.5 x 0.65 x √( 28.97 ) = 43.871 mm2
= 0.439 cm2
= 0 m2