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Sizing an Anti-Syphon Vent

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Nosey

Chemical
Feb 2, 2003
43
Gents,

I'd like your thoughts and comments on the following sizing methodology for an Anti-Syphon Vent.

A swan-neck was installed on the liquid piping downstream of a vessel to ensure that a liquid level was retained within the vessel at all times. The hydrocarbon laden gas from the vessel was routed into the vent system. I suspect that siphons are regularly forming thereby pulling the liquid out of the vessel. Using available tappings I propose to run a pipe from the top of the swan-neck into the gas line exiting the previously mentioned vessel.

Taking Froude No. Fr = (V^2)/(9.81*d)

Where Fr >0.31 gives full bore liquid flow in vertical pipes (Equation 5-158 from Perry’s 6th Ed.).

Setting Fr = 0.31 I established the minimum flowrate at which I expected a vacuum to be pulled.

The swan-neck was 300mm therefore any vacuum would have to form an equivalent change in pressure to empty the vessel. Therefore I sized the vent on the basis that it had to provide a flow of gas from the vent system into the swan neck at a rate equivalent to that of the highest expected liquid flowrate (240m3/hr) into the vessel AND at a pressure drop of less than 300mm H2O.

Consequently I came up with a 2” NB anti-syphon vent serving a 4” NB liquid line.

I’ve discussed this extensively with my colleagues and the only recommendation that came up was to make sure that the vent was at least 0.33 x NB of the liquid line.

What are your thoughts?
 
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If you flatten or reduce the pipe cross-section of the gooseneck pipe at its upmost position, you'll create a gas sucking "carburator-type" effect that will probably brake the continuity of the syphoned fluid.
 
Nosey,
Your methodology seems sound. If your air flow is at least equal to your maximum liquor flow under syphoning conditions, this will prevent syphoning from occurring. Your 1/3rd rule seems like a rule of thumb generated from doing a calculation similar to the one you have performed. As with all rules of thumb, they should be backed up with a proper design methodology, as you have done, for a final design. See thread378-48746 for an example of a similar (though not identical) scenario.
 
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