Typically in oil & gas, a drain will consist a block valve (ball or gate subject to service, ball in most cases) and a globe valve.
Block valve for isolation purposes while globe valve for thlottling to avoid excessive flow (gas pushing flashing liquid) to closed drain system. Drain is normally minimum 2" (general practice). Sudden opening of 2" block valve would results excessive flow to close drain system. It subsequently leads to noise, vibration, erosion-corrosion, etc.
If order to minimize excessive flow, normally the drum to be drained would be
- transfer liquid to next drum until drum to be drained is at minimum level
- depressurized pressure to about 2-3 barg
- then only drain the inventory
Block valve shall be located minimum distance from isolated equipment and globe valve is normally located downstream of block valve. Reason being throttling process leads to subzero temperature due to JT effect (for certain service only), potential icing form at the block valve stem and unable to close the block valve if required (in case of block valve downstream of globe valve). In addition, 600 minimum distance is maintain between block and globe (in case globe valve is located downstream of block valve).
Above is just one way of doing thing. Different company & industry might do it differently.
Hope this help.