Petrochemical, Chemical & refining Industries
Many processes in Petrochemical, Chemical & Refining industry are prone for unsafe working condition, due to danger associated with chemical reaction. Over-pressurisation of process vessels, containment tanks, fluid transfer piping, pumps and other related items is a potential hazard with catastrophic results. Rupture disc is used either as a primary device or in combination with another safety device, to protect plant, personal & machinery.
1.Process vessels
Chemical reaction often results in release of gas or generation of heat, which increase the internal pressure of the vessel. Rupture disc is used to release the excess pressure thereby protecting the vessel, piping, valves and other instruments.
2.Chemical Reactors
Chemical reactors whether they are Exothermic, Endothermic, Batch reactors, continuously stirred tank reactors & Fluidized bed reactors often lead to increase the internal pressure of the vessel. Rupture disc is used to release the excess pressure thereby protecting the vessel, piping, valves and other instruments.
3.Dehydrators
Dehydrators are used to remove moisture from fluids. They experience rapid pressure surge. Safety relief valve can’t handle such rapid increase in pressure. Rupture disc is used as a secondary relief device.
4.Cooling towers
Rupture disc is used to protect piping, vessels, other pressure containing components, chillers, refrigeration systems & condensers in cooling towers against over-pressure and vacuum braking hazard.
5.Chemical Heat exchangers & Steam jacketed vessel
Safety hazard related to over-pressurisation in Heat exchangers and steam jacketed vessels is addressed by Rupture disc
6.Chemical Chillers
Chiller is used to remove heat from the liquid coming out of the heat exchanger, before they are fed back or to other processes. Rupture disc is used to protect the chillers from over-pressurisation hazard
7.Bulk storage tanks
Flammable Raw material / intermediate processed material stored in bulk storage tanks can trigger explosion / deflagration. Explosion panels / vents are used to protect against such hazard.
8.Cokers
Cokers or delayed coking units (DCU) handle feed material with high temperature and high pressure and transfer the treated feed stock to the coking drum. Rupture disc is used to protect against the pressure hazard relating to the cracking process
9.Distillation columns
Rupture disc is used in distillation columns to mitigate over-pressure hazard arising due to condenser failure or interruption of cooling water or runaway exothermic reaction or excessive heating or excessive vapour flooding
Additional Application
10.Rectifiers
11.Compressors
12.Separators
13.Catalytic & Thermal crackers
14.Flares
