Limit single-source peak flaring load with staggered depressurization

A. Vyas, Technip Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE Emergency depressurization is an important safeguarding measure to reduce the failure potential of a vessel. It decreases the internal stresses of the vessel at a given temperature in case of emergency, such as a fire or an exothermic runaway reaction. The staggered blowdown of multiple process units is a generally acceptable practice to limit the cumulative flaring load from various flaring sources within the flare design capacity. However, the uninterruptable power supply backup of the instrumented protective system (IPS) should be sized for 30 min or longer, depending on the overall depressurization cycle time. Limiting the flaring load of a fa