Question

Steam is supplied to the heating coils of a reactor vessel at 125 psig, saturated. The coils are 0.5-in. schedule 80 pipe (internal diameter= 0.546 in.). The steam is supplied from a main header through similar pipe with an equivalent length of 53 ft. The heating coils consist of 20 ft. of the pipe wound in a coil within the reactor. If the heating coil pipe shears accidentally, the reactor vessel will be exposed to the full 125-psig pressure of the steam, exceeding the vessel's pressure rating. As a result, the reactor must be equipped with a relief system to discharge the steam in the event of a coil shear. Compute the maximum mass flow rate of steam from teh sheared coils using two approaches: a. Assuming the leak in the coil is represented by an orifice b. Assuming adiabatic flow through the pipe

Answer 1