Engineering Specification: SG9H

Rotating Machinery Technology Network

SG9H
Vortex Breaker for Vessels and Tanks
Table of Contents
1. Scope................................................................................................................................................................... 2
2. General ................................................................................................................................................................ 2
3. Requirements ..................................................................................................................................................... 2
4. Design ................................................................................................................................................................. 2
List of Figures
Figure 1. Vortex breaker for bottom discharge nozzles ......................................................................................... 5
Figure 2. Vortex breaker for side discharge nozzles .............................................................................................. 6
List of Tables
Table 1. Submergence of outlet nozzles .................................................................................................................. 4

Red text indicates revisions made in the ------------------- issue.

Paper copies of this document are uncontrolled. This copy is valid only at time of printing.

Document revised May 2013 / Entire document reaffirmed May 2013

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 SG9H
Vortex Breaker for Vessels and Tanks

1. Scope
This specification provides the basic design and application of a vortex breaker at the bottom or side
discharge nozzle of a vessel or tank.
2. General
2.1 A rotating cyclone-like vortex can form at the surface of the liquid in a tank/vessel which leads
down to the outlet nozzle from the tank. The formation of the vortex is principally governed by the
surface height above the nozzle and the velocity of the liquid in the nozzle neck.
2.2 This type of rotating, well-defined vortex, originating at the surface, is called an air core vortex
because the center of the vortex is hollow. The hollow core can extend all the way down to the
nozzle opening. The height of the liquid surface above the nozzle is referred to as the nozzle’s
submergence. There is a minimum submergence below which the hollow core of the vortex will
extend to the nozzle opening and will introduce air/gas into the exiting liquid stream. This air/gas
entrainment will reduce the flow rate (GPM) (liters/sec) exiting the tank and adversely effect the
pump and process. Calculation of minimum submergence is explained in Section 4 - Design.
2.3 The Hydraulic Institute publishes a Standard, “HI 9.8 Intake Design”, that has a good
explanation of minimum submergence including the derivation of the governing equation and
sketches to illustrate how the equation is applied. See section 4.4 for an excerpt from the HI
Standard.
2.4 Liquids with a viscosity over 200 cPs usually do not form vortexes because the viscous drag
prevents achieving the rotational velocities necessary to form a vortex.
3. Requirements
3.1 Vortex breakers are required whenever it is desired to operate a tank at a level below minimum
submergence. The vortex breakers shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 will allow drawing the level down
to about the elevation of the vortex breaker.
3.2 A vortex breaker should be installed if consideration of nozzle orientation and flows indicate the
probable development of rotational force components in addition to the natural forces (gravity and
earth rotation) acting on the liquid in the base. For example a tangential inlet nozzle will increase
rotational forces acting on the liquid in the vessel.
3.3 Construction and welding details of the vortex breaker must be such that vortex breaker
installation will not compromise the corrosion resistance of the vessel.
4. Design
4.1 Vortex breakers for bottom discharge nozzles for most vessel or tank sizes are shown in
Figure 1.
4.2 Vortex breakers for side discharge nozzles for most vessel or tank sizes are shown in Figure 2.
4.3 The vortex breaker can be flat plate if the nozzle is located in the center of a bottom head on a
vertical vessel or tank. The gap at the edge of the plate with the bottom of the vessel shell or head
should be in the range of 0.3 to 0.5 times the inside diameter of the nozzle. Contouring of the plate
may be necessary when the discharge nozzle is located in the bottom of a horizontal tank or is offset
from the centerline of the bottom head in a vertical vessel.
4.4 If the minimum submergence is not satisfied, then a vortex may form and vapor may be pulled
through the outlet nozzle into the pump and downstream equipment. This vapor may contribute to
deterioration of pump performance, unstable flow, or loss of prime. The process performance and
downstream equipment may also be adversely impacted such as inaccurate instrument readings.

Document revised May 2013 / Entire document reaffirmed May 2013

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 SG9H
Vortex Breaker for Vessels and Tanks
Raising a vessel above the pump suction nozzle will not increase the submergence. Submergence
can only be increased by increasing the liquid level above the vessel or tank outlet nozzle. The
necessary minimum submergence S to prevent an air core vortex can be obtained from the
relationship:
S = 1.0 + 2.3FD where FD = Froude number = V
gD 
0.5
[Eq. 1]
D
V = liquid velocity in the pipe
D = pipe inner diameter (actual ID, not nominal pipe size)
g = acceleration due to gravity
Caution: all the dimensions must be in consistent units
More convenient form of the equation is:

S = D + (0.574) Q 1.5
[Eq. 2] (English Units)
D
1
Or S = D + (1069) Q 1.5
[Eq. 3] (Metric Units)
D
S = submergence in inches (m)
D = pipe inner diameter in inches (m)
Q = flow in GPM (liters/sec)
Equations and graphic used with permission from the Hydraulic Institute.
Note: The equations are based on quiet, not-turbulent liquid.

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 SG9H
Vortex Breaker for Vessels and Tanks
Table 1. Submergence of outlet nozzles

Document revised May 2013 / Entire document reaffirmed May 2013

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 SG9H
Vortex Breaker for Vessels and Tanks
Figure 1. Vortex breaker for bottom discharge nozzles

Document revised May 2013 / Entire document reaffirmed May 2013

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 SG9H
Vortex Breaker for Vessels and Tanks
Figure 2. Vortex breaker for side discharge nozzles

Document revised May 2013 / Entire document reaffirmed May 2013

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