Vacuum Breaker for an Open Tank Loop - CR4 Discussion Thread

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pipeit Power-User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 142 Good Answers: 1	Vacuum Breaker for an Open Tank Loop 02/19/2014 2:02 PM
	I would like to know if there is a critical or set distance for an inverted trap as it relates to the height for the trap and the horizontal distance? This is for a large cooling loop that returns to an open tank. Our objective is to keep from dumping the whole loop into the hot well cold well tank in the event we lose power to the pumps.We are figuring on building the inverted trap at the pipe drops with a vacuum breaker at the top of the inverted trap. This would drain only the pipe drops if the pumps fail. Any advice would be appreciated. Thnx P I
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PWSlack Guru Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In the bothy, 7 chains down the line from Dodman's Lane level crossing, in the nation formerly known as Great Britain. Kettle's on. Posts: 32175 Good Answers: 839	#1 Re: Vacuum Breaker for an Open Tank Loop 02/19/2014 2:49 PM
	Well, yes. It depends upon the density, viscosity, temperature, flowrate and its pressure drop as it passes along the down leg of the loop into the tank, which is a function of pipe size and length. As none of these things can be seen from here, consult a qualified Process Engineer locally. __________________ "Did you get my e-mail?" - "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place" - George Bernard Shaw, 1856
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PWSlack Guru Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In the bothy, 7 chains down the line from Dodman's Lane level crossing, in the nation formerly known as Great Britain. Kettle's on. Posts: 32175 Good Answers: 839	#2 Re: Vacuum Breaker for an Open Tank Loop 02/20/2014 5:54 AM
	If the power to the pumps is lost, then the ability to cool will be much reduced as well. Rather than solve the problem from a perhaps-blinkered Mechanical Engineering perspective, subjecting the whole design to the rigorous analysis of a HazOp Study (see the article in Wikipedia as introductory reading) comes highly recommended. Also, apply the principle of Inherent Safety - can the facility be redesigned such that the cooling doesn't require the pumps to be present? Etc., etc. __________________ "Did you get my e-mail?" - "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place" - George Bernard Shaw, 1856
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PWSlack Guru Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In the bothy, 7 chains down the line from Dodman's Lane level crossing, in the nation formerly known as Great Britain. Kettle's on. Posts: 32175 Good Answers: 839	#3 Re: Vacuum Breaker for an Open Tank Loop 02/20/2014 7:50 AM
	Another way of doing it would be to turn it into an overflow weir, perhaps? __________________ "Did you get my e-mail?" - "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place" - George Bernard Shaw, 1856
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