Dispersion from safety valves and other momentum emission sources: Continuous

Abstract

Safety valves are atypical pollutant emission sources in petroleum refineries and chemical plants. Their releases are characterized by very high velocities (from 20ms −1 to sonic) and near-ambient temperatures, so they are referred to as momentum sources, as opposed to bouyant sources. Since releases from these sources to the atmosphere may contain relatively high (often 100%) pollutant concentrations we have developed a method of accurately predicting the critical ground level concentrations of pollutants resulting from such sources. (The critical ground level concentration is the highest ambient pollutant concentration at any downwind location or meterological condition.) Since no data were available on which to base an air dispersion model for predicting ground level concentrations for momentum sources, an experimental program was undertaken, consisting of a full scale simulation of a momentum source emission using an inert tracer gas and downwind sampling to determine resulting critical ground level concentrations. Based on the data collected, a dispersion calculation method for estimating ground level concentrations from momentum sources was developed. The general form of this correlation is similar to the previously suggested, but not validated, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) momentum plume equation. The modified equation contains an additional parameter to account for the large gas density differences often encountered with momentum source releases. The equation was designed to be somewhat conservative to compensate for the randomness of atmospheric phenomena, the limited amount of experimental data, and the fact that safety valve releases can include dangerous substances. The calculation method described in this report is recommended to predict peak ambient concentrations for any source dominated by momentum plume conditions.