Citation

Chen JR, Lee C, Cheng C, Chou WK, Ho TC. Process. Saf. Environ. Prot. 2000; 78(6): 434-444.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Institution of Chemical Engineers and European Federation of Chemical Engineering, Publisher Hemisphere Publishing)

DOI

10.1205/095758200530989

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A high pressure Runaway and Venting Module (RAVEM) was designed and constructed for pilot-scale runaway reaction and venting tests. The reactor vessel was rated at 10.1MPa and 573.15K with 0.112m3 capacity. Venting of the vessel was actuated by a quick-opening valve that became fully open within 20 ms. The vented fluid was directed to a catch tank with a capacity of 1.1m3. Pressure and temperature were measured within the vessel, at the inlet and outlet of the quick-opening valve, and within the catch tank. A point level sensor measuring changes in the refractive index of the contact fluid was installed below the vessel cover. Experimental results for the venting of water, water and terephthalic acid at elevated pressure and temperature are presented. The point level sensor successfully recorded the exact duration of vapour/liquid two-phase venting in the water tests. When pure terephthalic acid (PTA), a water-soluble solid at high temperature, was added to the water, the venting was found to be three-phase. Preliminary analyses were also performed using the churn-turbulent vessel flow model and homogeneous equilibrium vent flow model of the SAFIRE code to elucidate the two- and three-phase venting characteristics.