Surge Tanks - when to use?
Surge Tanks - when to use?
(OP)
I'm not a pipeline person (more inside-the-fence terminal piping design), but I've noticed that some pipeline receipt points or pump stations have surge tanks, and some do not. Not familiar with the pipeline-side of the business, I was curious what drives the decision to use it some places and not others. Is it typically an end-of-the-line feature only (and not at midpoint boosters), only at the "low elevation" points along the route, or strictly dictated by transient analysis but with no real commonality on where they end up?
Thanks!
Thanks!





RE: Surge Tanks - when to use?
You cannot guess these things. Every system and system boundary is different. The surge mitigation device is used to absorb energy. The energy is a result of momentum being changed to kinetic energy. Hence if the pipeline velocity is higher then there is a greater need for such mitigation as the momentum is higher.
Generally a surge vessel, not tank, is used when the valve closing time is such that is causes a pressure wave greater than the design pressure of the system. The surge vessel absorbs the energy and keeps the system pressure lower than design.
If you really mean a surge tank it may be to take the flow from a surge anticipation valve that opens in advance of a high pressure epak occurring. Surge tanks are generally used on water pipelines not petrochem lines.
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RE: Surge Tanks - when to use?
Commonly found on relatively short high velocity lines, but normally less so on longer distance pipelines.
The limiting pressure for most pipeline design is design pressure plus 10% for transient events.
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Also: There's usually a good reason why everyone does it that way
RE: Surge Tanks - when to use?
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RE: Surge Tanks - when to use?
The surge tank is typically placed on the suction side of the circulation pumps and is sized for 5-6 times the system oil expansion.
A short, vertical axis tank, with pressure indication and a fill hatch seems to work best.
More good information available from the fine and helpful people at PARATHERM:
http://www.paratherm.com/resources/articles-white-...
MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer
RE: Surge Tanks - when to use?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Surge Tanks - when to use?
Penstocks surge chambers are common as the changes in flowrate often need to be made very quickly to keep generator output balanced with load. Higher available heads can generate similar power outputs with equal, or even lesser mass rates at equal or even still lower velocities, therefore with lower velocities prevalent in the system, surge tank perhaps not required on high head installations.
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