Report

on
PURGING A GAS STORAGE TANK

submitted to
Proffesor Rakesh Pangasa
EGR 188-001

March 1, 2010

by
Katrin Henry

0205021C1
Knh4

Engineering 188-001, Spring 2010

 Student: Katrin Henry
EGR-188-001 Purging a Gas Storage Tank Student ID: 0205012C1
Spring 2010 Modeling Assignment #3 E-mail ID: Knh4
Submission: 2-15-2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

I. CONTEXT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

III. UPPER AND LOWER ESTIMATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

IV. REPRESENTATION OF MODEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

IV. CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

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 Student: Katrin Henry
EGR-188-001 Purging a Gas Storage Tank Student ID: 0205012C1
Spring 2010 Modeling Assignment #3 E-mail ID: Knh4
Submission: 2-15-2020

ABSTRACT

Purging of a gas storage tank filled with methane (CH4) to be diluted by nitrogen (N) to a 1/100th
part called for the evaluation of (1) the total capacity of the gas storage tank, 3000cm3, (2)
necessary amounts of nitrogen needed to reach the objective of 1/100 parts of methane
concentration [CH4], and (3) the total amount of gases used to comparatively analyze the
complete volume of nitrogen and methane used in the purging process. Concentration of less
than 1/100 part was reached when levels of nitrogen were added at a stage of 100cm3 and where
the total volume of gases reached 7,100cm3.

CONTEXT

The assigned task, not solely an assignment, but an opportunity to glean practical knowledge as
an engineer in practice, allows for the student to learn the practical applications and understand
the fundamental concept of exponential “growth and/or decay” as it is mathematically developed
in EXCEL using basic algebraic principles. Upon completion of the assignment, the student will
have been able to mathematically develop a series of steps (as calculated in EXCEL one row at a
time) to demonstrate the gradual process of allowing nitrogen and concentration of methane to
dilute to a 1/100th part, according to the instructions of imposed safety regulations. In total effort,
and as a student of engineering, I will have been able to increase expertise in the EXCEL
program supplemented by previous knowledge of algebraic principles to expand practical
application of mathematics to present-day situation.

UPPER AND LOWER ESTIMATES

The upper and lower estimates are used to graphically analyze the largest possible amount of
gasses used in this model against the smallest possible amount of gasses. In this representation,
the upper and lower estimates simultaneously take consideration of the amount of Nitrogen (N)
and Methane concentration [CH4]. To approach the problem logically, (1) the volume of the
storage tank must remain at a constant 3000cm3 (otherwise the pressure will build) and (2) the
ultimate goal is a ratio of 1 part of 100 [CH4].

To calculate the lower estimate, 3000cm3 is made equivalent the VT. This would yield the
formula VT-(1/100*VCH4)=VN. Since the total volume of the tank VT=3000cm3, and the 1/100th
part is 30cm3, application of this formulas calculates 30cm3 [CH4] and 2970cm3 N. Subtracting
VT and 30cm3 yields a difference of 2790cm3 representative of the amount of nitrogen.
Therefore, the lower estimate is calculated as the lowest possible amount of [CH4] and N at
30cm3 and 2970cm3, respectively.

3000cm3-(1/100*3000cm3)=2970cm3

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 Student: Katrin Henry
EGR-188-001 Purging a Gas Storage Tank Student ID: 0205012C1
Spring 2010 Modeling Assignment #3 E-mail ID: Knh4
Submission: 2-15-2020

The upper estimate, also the largest estimation of volume possible for use of [CH4] and N is
calculated by making equivalent 3000cm3 the 1/100 part [CH4]. If 3000cm3 is the 1/100 part or
1%, then the 100/100 part or 100% would equal 300,000cm3 as the total volume of the gases.
The difference of 3000cm3 [CH4] from 300,000cm3 (Total volume of gases) equals 297000cm3
and is representative of N. Therefore the upper estimates are calculated at 3000cm3 [CH4] and
297000cm3 N. To verify:

3000cm3/300,000cm3=1/100 parts and

300,000cm3-3,000cm3=297,000cm3

REPRESENTATION OF MODEL

This establishes the reasoning behind the lower and upper estimates for the mathematical model,
and is graphed below, where the blue region is the region of feasibility, in this model the
difference between the upper estimate and the lower estimate (red region toward very the lower
bottom of the graph). Any estimates can fall within the enclosed area, but none can go beyond
the calculated estimates.

GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF LOWER AND UPPER ESTIMATES

300000

250000

200000

150000
Series 2
100000 Series 1

50000

0
0.00 3000.00

(Note: the lower estimate (Series 2), plotted on the y-axis and represented in red, only encloses
the area up to number 30 and is dwarfed in comparison to the number 279,000, indicative of the
second vertices and plotted along the same axis.)

The calculations for the input of Nitrogen as they affected the concentration of methane were
calculated and determined using levels of input N at a range of 3000cm3 decreasing to a stage of
1cm3. The point where [CH4] reached less than the 1/100th part was at the stage of when 100cm3
were added to the gas storage tank, a point that had accumulated a total volume of 7,100cm3 of
both N and CH4 usage.

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 Student: Katrin Henry
EGR-188-001 Purging a Gas Storage Tank Student ID: 0205012C1
Spring 2010 Modeling Assignment #3 E-mail ID: Knh4
Submission: 2-15-2020

N %[CH4] Add N %[CH4] Purge Gases Total Gases Now N Now [CH4]
2800 6.666667 200 1.5625 3000 7000 46.875 2953.125
2900 3.333333 100 0.78125 3000 7100 23.4375 2976.5625
2950 1.666667 50 0.390625 3000 7150 11.71875 2988.28125

Therefore, it was calculated that at the point where levels of N reached the 100cm3 of gas flow,
the required quota of 1/100th part of [CH4] was met, and safely regulation were completely met.

CONCLUSION

The conclusion to this assignment was that safety regulations were met once N flow had
diminished to 100 cm3 in the gas storage tank. Since the capacity of the tank could only
withstand a volume of 3000cm3, it had to be where excess levels of gases were combined to yield
a total volume of 7, 100cm3. The appropriate levels of [CH4] were reached, and safety
regulations were met.

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