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Bursting disks for shell and tube heat exchanger overpressure protection: proposal for JIP

www.energyinst.org/sthe  

EI is seeking sponsors and participants for a process engineering joint industry project (JIP) 'Bursting Disks for Shell & Tube Heat Exchanger Overpressure Protection', which would commence in Q3 2011.

News

EI held a stakeholders meeting with potential JIP sponsors and participants on Tuesday 19th July. The key meeting objective was to understand if there is critical funding mass to proceed with the JIP: this was confirmed, such that EI will initiate the JIP by signing-up sponsors and participants and calling the JIP kick-off meeting.

Further sponsors and participants are welcome from operating companies, consultancies, EPC contractors or relief device equipment suppliers. 

To register, see Next Steps.

Introduction

The premise of the JIP is that issues have been introduced by the move to use bursting disks to protect the low pressure side of STHE from overpressure in the event of a tube rupture (guillotine fracture). Bursting disk failure has been implicated in several incidents: the frequency and consequences of such failures have raised concerns over how they are being applied to protect STHEs.

The JIP proposes to develop clearer design practice to reduce the number of bursting disk installations whilst maintaining or improving the inherent safety of STHEs. It would build on an earlier JIP that concluded in 2000 with publication of Guidelines for the design and safe operation of shell and tube heat exchangers to with stand the impact of tube failure.

JIP proposal

A detailed JIP proposal has been developed by an organising committee comprising representatives from an operating company, a safety regulator, a specialist analyst/modeller of overpressure and relief, a process engineering researcher and an independent consultant.

An outline revision of the JIP proposal was presented to a stakeholders' meeting in March 2010 with a view to understanding whether the issues with bursting disks for STHE overpressure protection were common, and if so whether there was a shared view on the need for the JIP to tackle these issues. Some twenty representatives indicated the JIP is needed, but suggested various amendments to the scope of work: these issues are captured in the Notes of the 1st stakeholders' meeting and in the final slides of the stakeholders' meeting presentation, and where pertinent, they have been adopted in the JIP proposal. In addition, further issues have been adopted in the JIP proposal following stakeholder correspondence.

The revised JIP proposal was presented to the 2nd stakeholders meeting in July 2011. Notes and meeting presentations are available. There were strong indications of support to proceed with the JIP from operating companies, design houses, and equipment manufacturers/suppliers and design software specialists.

Scope of work

The scope of work focuses on:

  • heat exchanger design,
  • relief device selection,
  • design guidelines.

Deliverables

  • A summary report will be prepared for each work package and made to the JIP sponsors and participants.
  • Revised Guidelines for the design and safe operation of shell and tube heat exchangers to withstand the impact of tube failure, which would be published by EI.

Sponsor and participant fees

A JIP Steering Committee would be established with representatives from sponsors and participants to integrate the various work packages and ensure that the final deliverables meet the objectives stated in the JIP proposal.

It is anticipated that there will be varying levels of sponsorship providing direct financial support and/or relevant in-kind support to the JIP.

  • The fee for operating companies or safety regulators sponsors is £30,000, of which £10,000 would be invoiced in Q3 2011 following contract signature and £20,000 would be invoiced in Q1 2012.
  • The fee for other participants (e.g. design houses) is £15,000, of which £5,000 would be invoiced in Q3 2011 following contract signature and £10,000 would be invoiced in Q1 2012.
  • Relevant in-kind contributions may be accepted from other participants, such as from relief valve manufacturers, heat exchanger design software specialists, etc.

Benefits to sponsors and participants

  • Nomination of a representative to participate in the JIP Steering Committee and further define the project, review interim findings, and agree content of deliverables.
  • Engaging with other discipline specialists on the JIP Steering Committee, whether from operating companies, safety regulators, design houses, relief valve manufacturers, heat exchanger design software specialists, etc. to tackle and find solutions to a shared issue.
  • Access to a secure web-based microsite that hosts project documents (proposals, minutes, summary reports, etc).
  • Levering project funding: taking part in a research project for a fraction of the total project cost.
  • Provision of a summary report for each work package.
  • Provision of revised Guidelines for the design and safe operation of shell and tube heat exchangers to withstand the impact of tube failure as a licensed pdf file suitable for company intranet uploading (this facility would also be available to EI Technical Partners or others with pertinent intranet licences).

Frequently asked questions

Q - I can see benefit in some aspects of the proposed JIP, but some of the scope of work is not relevant to me. Can I pay a reduced amount?
A - The JIP is offered as a package: maybe you should consider whether the aspects that interest you have a greater value than the pertinent sponsor or participant fee.

Q - Could I pay all the pertinent sponsor or participant fee earlier than the Q3 2011 and Q1 2012 instalments?
A - Yes. The instalment basis is provided to enable fees to be paid over 2 years, but earlier payment is acceptable.

Q - I can't commit to pay the pertinent sponsor or participant fee at the moment: can
I join the project when my company approves funding?
A - Yes. A facility will be established to accommodate late joining sponsors or participants.

Q - My company already has EI membership: would we have to pay a fee?
A - Yes. EI membership does not provide free of charge access to the JIP.

Q - My company is unable to provide a fee, but we may be able to offer a contribution-in-kind; what would we need to provide?
A - Look at the work packages set out in the JIP proposal and identify those that are in your area of specialism that you could offer as a contribution-in-kind. Get in touch (see Next Steps) and your offer will be reviewed by the JIP organising committee.

Further information

For further information regarding the project scope of work, schedule, etc. see the JIP proposal.

Next steps

To register interest in the proposed JIP contact Dr. Mark Scanlon, EI, e: mscanlon@energyinst.org t: +44 (0)20 7467 7129, +44 (0)20 7467 7100 (switchboard), m: +44 (0) 7795 272934

Communication activities

The JIP proposal has been presented at:

  • API Subcommittee on Pressure-Relieving Systems (SCPRS), 16-18th May 2011 (Seattle).
  • IChem E Workshop on relieving systems, 23rd June 2011 (Aberdeen).
  • ABB Pressure relief conference, 29th June 2011 (Edinburgh).
  • EI Meeting 11.01 (2nd Meeting) of stakeholders to scope a proposed joint industry project (JIP) on bursting disks for shell & tube heat exchanger (STHE) overpressure protection, 19th July 2011 (London).

Other resources

Special Interest Groups