Technical Paper #6: Don Faust and Brian Peterson Gartner Refrigeration & Manufacturing, Inc. Plymouth, Minnesota

Technical Paper #6
Relief Vent Piping per ASHRAE 15-2004
Don Faust and Brian Peterson

Gartner Refrigeration & Manufacturing, Inc.
Plymouth, Minnesota
Abstract
Sizing ammonia relief vents, once a simple process, has become more complicated as safety codes
have evolved. In recent years, code officials have been scrutinizing vent pipe sizing much more
heavily. The latest release of the ASHRAE Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems devotes
considerable ink to the sizing of relief vents, and provides the user with an equation for determining
pressure drop in relief piping. This paper will show how to use the ASHRAE equation to solve for the
pressure drop in relief vent piping, how to select a relief valve and three-way valve, and also show
some strategies to bring existing nonconforming installations into compliance with the code.
2005 IIAR Ammonia Refrigeration Conference & Exhibition, Acapulco, Mexico
© IIAR 2005 213

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The success of the technical program of the 27th Annual Meeting of the
International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration is due to the quality of the technical
papers in this volume. IIAR expresses its deep appreciation to the authors,
reviewers, and editors for their contributions to the ammonia refrigeration industry.
Board of Directors, International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration
ABOUT THIS VOLUME
IIAR Technical Papers are subjected to rigorous technical peer review.
The views expressed in the papers in this volume are those of the authors, not the
International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration. They are not official positions of
the Institute and are not officially endorsed.
EDITORS
M. Kent Anderson, President
Chris Combs, Project Coordinator
Gene Troy, P.E., Technical Director
International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration

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2005 Ammonia Refrigeration Conference & Exhibition

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Acapulco, Mexico
Relief Vent Piping per ASHRAE 15-2004 — Don Faust and Brian Peterson
Introduction
Back in the old days, sizing ammonia relief vents was a simple process. Designers
would calculate the outlet area of each relief valve in the system and make sure that
the relief header had at least that much area, and that was the end of it. No
complicated equations, no computerized solutions. However, the codes have evolved,
and much more scrutiny has been given to the sizing of relief vents in recent years.
The latest release of ASHRAE Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems, ASHRAE 15,
devotes considerable ink to the sizing of relief vents, and provides the user with an
equation for determining pressure drop in relief piping. (ASHRAE, 2004) This paper
shows how to use the ASHRAE equation to solve for the pressure drop in relief vent
piping, how to select a relief valve and three-way valve, and some strategies to bring
existing nonconforming installations into compliance with the code.
There are three steps to sizing a relief vent system:

1. Determine the required capacity of relief valve for each piece of equipment
2. Select relief valves and three-way valves and determine the actual capacity of the
valves selected
3. Size the relief vent piping system
In this paper, steps 2 and 3 above are assisted by a design tool, SRVQuick, which is
freeware, a beta version of which is available through the IIAR website.
Step 1: Determine Required Capacity
Throughout this paper, three different relief valve capacities will be discussed. For
clarity, they are defined as follows:
• Required Capacity: the calculated amount needed to protect the device.
• Rated Capacity: the capacity of the relief valve with no restrictions (i.e., the
capacity of the valve as read directly from the manufacturer’s charts).
Technical Paper #6 © IIAR 2005 215

• Adjusted Capacity: the capacity of the relief valve after accounting for inlet
restrictions.
Where are relief valves required?
ASHRAE 15 states that an approved pressure relief device must protect the following
devices:
• All pressure vessels subject to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (vessels
less than 6″ [152 mm] in diameter may use a fusible plug)
• Shell and tube evaporators
• Shell and tube condensers
• Positive displacement compressors (if equipped with a stop valve on the
discharge)
• Certain evaporators, if located near a heating coil
Local codes also may require relief valves on other pieces of equipment (i.e.,
evaporative condensers).
Pressure Vessels and Heat Exchangers
The required relief capacity is calculated according to the formula:
C=fDL (1)
where:
C = minimum required discharge capacity of the relief valve, lbs.
air/min [kg/s]
f = constant, based upon the refrigerant. For ammonia, f = 0.5
[f = 0.041]
D = diameter of the vessel, ft [m]
L = length of the vessel, ft [m]
216 © IIAR 2005 Technical Paper #6

As a reference to the designer, Table 1 contains values of f for several refrigerants.
Additionally, ASHRAE 15 specifies that when combustible materials are used within
20 feet [6.1 m] of a pressure vessel, then the value of f must be multiplied by 2.5.
This has lead to some concern because engine rooms are often used to store
refrigerants, refrigerant oils, and even flammable fuels. OSHA makes a distinction
between flammable and combustible. Most refrigerants, oils and even fuels are not
classified as combustible, and thus the 2.5 factor does not apply. Refer to OSHA’s
regulations for a complete description and classification of combustible and
flammable materials. (OSHA, 1996) It is interesting to note that if a receiver were
located above a tar roof, then the 2.5 factor would apply. Wood and paper would be
considered to be combustible solids as well.
Example Vessel Calculation
Find the required relief capacity for a 42≤ [1.07 m] diameter, ASME vessel,
12 ft [3.66 m] in length, containing ammonia refrigerant.
Equation 1 applies in this situation:

C=fDL
C = (0.5) (3.5) (12) [C = (0.041) (1.07) (3.66)]
C = 21 lbs. air/min [0.16 kg/s]
Note: To convert lbs. air/min [kg/s] to standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM) [l/s],
multiply by 13.1 ft3/lb [816 l/kg] (assuming dry air at 60°F [16°C]). Thus, for the
above example:
C = (21) (13.1) [C = (0.16) (816)]
C = 275.1 SCFM [C = 130 l/s]

Positive Displacement Compressors
Section 3 of ASHRAE 15 defines a positive displacement compressor as one “in

which the increase in pressure is attained by changing the internal volume of the
compression chamber.” Screw compressors and reciprocating compressors both fall
into this category. When such a compressor is equipped with a stop valve on the
discharge line, as most industrial refrigeration compressors are, a relief device must
protect it.
Section 9.8 of ASHRAE 15 separately addresses compressors that meet, and those
that do not meet, all of the following criteria:
• Must be equipped with capacity regulation
• Can regulate capacity to minimum flow at discharge pressures equal to 90% of
the pressure relief setting
• Must be equipped with a pressure-limiting device installed and set per Section 9.9.
If the compressor cannot regulate flow per the standard, then the relief valve must
be sized for the full flow of the compressor. If the compressor does meet the criteria,
then the required capacity is the minimum flow of the compressor. In either case,
the compressor flow is calculated based upon the following conditions:
• High Stage: Flow is based upon 50°F [10°C] saturated suction at the compressor
• Booster: Flow is based upon saturated suction equal to the design operating
intermediate temperature.
For swing compressors, which can operate either as a booster or a high stage
compressor, the relief valve should be sized for the worst case. This would typically
be the high stage rating.
Appendix F of ASHRAE 15 shows an approved method of calculating the discharge

capacity of a positive displacement compressor, and the reader is referred to that
document for calculations from scratch. The authors requested data from all

compressor manufacturers showing the required relief capacity from each of their
models of compressors. Data from the manufacturers who responded are shown in
Tables 2a through 2d.
Step 2: Selecting Relief Valves and Determining their Capacity
A look-up table is provided that lists the commonly used relief valves and their
ratings in lbs. air/min [kg/s]. (Table 3) Selecting a relief valve could be as simple as
finding one in the table with at least as much capacity as is required. However, the
designer and owner should be aware that inlet and outlet restrictions could have a
significant effect on the actual capacity of the relief device. There are certain
combinations of relief valves and three-way valves that can reduce the rated capacity
of the relief valve by as much as 40%.
Calculating Inlet Restrictions
The capacity of any relief valve is reduced by the losses in the piping and valves
between the relief device and the equipment it protects. ASHRAE provides a method
of calculating the reduction in relief valve capacity imposed by inlet restrictions.
Calculating inlet restrictions is important for two reasons:
• It assures that the relief valve selected actually has the required capacity.
• Code allows the designer to use the adjusted (reduced) capacity of the relief
valve to size the relief vent.
There are three components of inlet losses to the relief valve:

• Entrance losses at the nozzle of the vessel
• Pipe and fitting losses in the piping to the three-way valve
• Losses in the three-way valve

Two methods are commonly used to evaluate inlet restrictions. One uses k, a
resistance factor, and the other uses Cv, a flow coefficient. This paper illustrates how
to solve for inlet restrictions using Cv. Table 4 shows Cv values for flow restrictions
commonly found on inlets.
Using Cv to Find the Effect of Inlet Restrictions: The overall equation for adjusting Cv
for a series of flow restrictions is:
1
C2v0 = 1 1 1 (2)
C2v1 + C2v2 + C2v3 +...
where:
Cv0 = adjusted system flow coefficient
Cv1,2,3 = flow coefficients for a series of pipes and valves
With the above equation, if we know the Cv of every item in the piping leading up
to and including the relief valve, we can calculate the overall flow coefficient.
To assist with this, Table 5 lists flow coefficients for piping common to relief inlets,
and Table 6 lists the flow coefficients of many of the three-way valves in current use.
Note that most three-way valves have different flow coefficients for the two different
sides. This is because of the shaft that runs through one side and not the other. The
table lists the flow coefficient for the worst-case side of the three-way valve.
For the relief valve, Cv is determined by Equation (13) in the Users Manual for
ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2001, Appendix H (ASHRAE, 2003):
22.53 Cr
Cv = (3)
P1

where:
Cv = flow coefficient for the relief valve
Cr = rated valve capacity, lbs. air/min [kg/s]
P1 = valve set pressure (psig) *1.1 + atmospheric pressure
[P1 = valve set pressure (barg)*1.1 + 1 bar]
When you know the adjusted system flow coefficient, Cv0, the adjusted flow, Ca,
through the relief valve assembly can be calculated using the following equation:
Ca = Cr (Cv0/Cv) (4)
where:
Ca = adjusted system flow
Cr = relief valve rated flow
Cv = relief valve flow coefficient determined by Equation 3
Cv0 = adjusted system flow coefficient calculated in Equation 2
Example Inlet Restriction Calculation
Determine the actual capacity of a 250-psig [17.0-barg] relief valve (Henry 5601,
1
⁄2 ″ x 1⁄3 ″[13 mm x 19 mm]) with a 1⁄2 ″ [13 mm] three-way valve (Henry 8021A),
connected to a 1⁄2 ″ [13 mm] nozzle on a vessel.
From Table 3, at 250 psig [17.0 barg], this model has a capacity of 57.6 lbs.
air/min [0.436 kg/s].
Cr = 57.6 lbs. air/min [0.436 kg/s]

From Equation 3 the Cv for the relief valve is:

Cv = 22.53 (57.6) / (250*1.1 + 14.7)
Cv = 4.48
From Table 4, the 1⁄2 ″ nozzle has a Cv of 12.6.
From Table 6, the Henry 8021A three-way valve has a Cv of 5.34.
Using these values, we apply Equation 2:
1
C2v0 = 1 1 1
+ +
4.482 12.62 5.342
C2v0 = 10.96
Cv0 = 3.31
The adjusted capacity of the valve is found by applying Equation 4:
Ca = Cr(Cv0/Cv)
Ca = (57.6) (3.31/4.48)
Ca = 42.6 lbs. air/min [0.322 kg/s]
In this example, the relief valve lost roughly 25% of its capacity due to inlet
losses.

Use of Rupture Discs on Relief Valve Inlets
Notably, ASHRAE 15 does not address reducing the capacity of the relief valve when
rupture discs are installed in series with them. Some installations include a rupture
disc between the three-way valve and the relief valve along with a non-resetting
pressure gauge. This is useful in helping to determine which relief valve lifted in a
large system. When this arrangement is employed, the capacity of the relief valve is
to be reduced to 90% of its rated capacity. It is ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Code that dictates this, not ASHRAE 15. (ASME, 2004)
To quote the ASME Code, Section VIII – Division 1, Part UG-127: Nonreclosing
Pressure Relief Devices:
(3) Application of Rupture disks
(b 2) The marked capacity of a pressure relief valve (nozzle type) when

installed with a rupture disk device between the inlet of the valve and the
vessel shall be multiplied by a factor of 0.90 of the rated relieving capacity of
the valve alone…
Step 3. Sizing the Relief Vent Piping System
Appendix H of ASHRAE 15 lists the formula to use when figuring out the allowable
equivalent length of discharge piping. The equation is a form of the simplified
isothermal compressible flow equation.
0.2146d5 (P 02 – P 22) d . ln(P0 – P2)

L = – (5)
fC 2r 6f

where:
L = equivalent length of discharge piping, ft [m]
Cr = rated capacity of the relief device, lbs. air/min [kg/s]*
f = Moody friction factor in fully turbulent flow
d = inside diameter of pipe, inches
P2 = absolute pressure at the end of the piping run, psia
P0 = absolute pressure at the beginning of the run, psia
* Note that the adjusted capacity of the relief valve may be used if the calculations
shown in Section 2 are done.
Most of the time, all terms in this equation are known except for P0, the pressure at
the beginning of the pipe run. It is not possible, algebraically speaking, to isolate P0
on one side of the equation. In order to solve for the pressure drop in the pipe, the
pressure drop in the pipe must be already known! The only way to solve this
equation is to iterate: guess what the pressure drop might be, plug it into the
equation, see if the result is close to the guess, then guess again at the pressure drop
and continue the cycle until the guess and the actual result are reasonably close to
being equal. This is where the computer program SRVQuick comes in, as it doesn’t
get bored and can try hundreds of solutions in a split second and determine the
answer to more decimal places than should ever be needed.
The total allowable backpressure in the piping system is defined as a percentage of

the set pressure (Ps) of the valve.
• Conventional relief valves: 15% of Ps
• Balanced relief valves: 25% of Ps
• Pilot-operated reliefs, fusible plugs, rupture members: 50% of Ps
For each of these cases, atmospheric pressure (14.7 psi) must be added to the
allowable backpressure in psig [barg] to convert to psia, the units normally used for
P0. Thus, the equations to calculate allowable backpressure in psia would be:

Conventional: P0 = 0.15 x Ps + 14.7 (6a)

Balanced: P0 = 0.25 x Ps + 14.7 (6b)
Pilot, etc.: P0 = 0.50 x Ps + 14.7 (6c)
It is interesting to note that the 15% allowable backpressure for conventional relief
valves is not a universal recommendation. The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Code (in the non-mandatory appendices) recommends that the allowable
backpressure be only 10%.
Example Calculation
What is the allowable backpressure in psia [bar] for a 250-psig [17.0 barg]
conventional relief valve?
Equation 6a may be applied to this situation:
P0 = (0.15) (250) + 14.7 = 52.2 psia [3.55 bar]
The vast majority of relief valves used in industrial ammonia systems are the
conventional type of relief valve; thus, for this paper it is assumed that the total
allowable backpressure in the system is 15% of the set pressure.
There are two points to keep in mind here. First, the relief vent must be sized based
upon either the rated capacity or the adjusted capacity of the relief valve, not the
required capacity as calculated in the section on vessels, heat exchangers, and
positive displacement compressors. Thus, oversized relief valves will require the
system to have larger relief vents, even though the required capacity may be
considerably smaller. Secondly, a 150-psig [10.2-barg] relief valve has half of the
allowable pressure drop of a 300-psig [20.4-barg] relief valve. In analyzing relief vent
systems, those that have 150-psig [10.2-barg] vessels will have the most difficulty
conforming to the code.

Table 3 of ASHRAE 15 lists pressure relief valve discharge line capacities for various
set pressures, pipe sizes, and lengths of run. If the system being analyzed has each
relief valve individually piped with a single pipe size to its own atmospheric vent,
these tables are quite useful. If, however, the system has more than one relief valve
piped to a common header, then a different approach to solving the problem must
be used.
Chapter 6 of IIAR’s Ammonia Refrigeration Piping Handbook, as well as the ASHRAE

15 User’s Guide, lists a method of sizing a common discharge line for two or more
relief valves. (IIAR, 2004; ASHRAE, 2003) The method is based on an algebraic
rearrangement of Equation 5, and assumes a constant friction factor
(f = 0.02) for all sizes of pipe. Using that simplification, the method creates a
dimensionless resource that can be consumed by each section of piping. In practice,
this reconfiguration of the ASHRAE formula yields good results for pipe sizes around
11⁄2 ″ [38 mm]. As pipe sizes get further away from 11⁄2 ″ [38 mm], the approximation
of the constant friction factor adversely affects the accuracy of the results.
Example Calculation
What is the maximum allowable length of 6 ″ [152 mm] pipe carrying

1,420 lbs/min of air [10.8 kg/s] from a 300-psig [20.4-barg] relief valve? Assume
a maximum pressure drop of 45 psi [3.1 bar].
From Table 3 of the Standard, the maximum allowable length is 100′ [30.5 m].
The Standard uses a Moody friction factor of 0.0149 for 6 ″ [152 mm] pipe.
However, if this problem is recalculated using a friction factor of 0.02, per the
IIAR Ammonia Refrigeration Piping Handbook method, then the maximum
allowable length of 6 ″ [152 mm] pipe is 75′ [22.9 m]. The assumption in the
IIAR method of a constant friction factor will cause pipes larger than 2 ″ [51 mm]
to appear to have less capacity than they actually have, and pipes smaller than
1 1⁄2 ″ [38 mm] to appear to have more capacity than they actually have.

One could argue that there are not many systems with 6 ″ [152 mm] relief vents, but
for those that are that big, one should at least be aware of the errors.
The design tool mentioned previously, SRVQuick, solves the compressible flow
equation for sections of pipe, and calculates equivalent feet of pipe and fittings,
using the ASHRAE recommended Moody friction factors, thus eliminating the error
from the friction factor approximation. SRVQuick has the advantage of calculating
the pressure drop in each section of pipe in psi, and is easy to use.
To begin solving for pressure drop in the system, start at a point where the pressure
is known. For a relief vent system, that point is the outlet of the vent, which is
referred to as the terminal pressure. It either vents to atmosphere (14.7 psia, 0 psig
[0.0 barg]) or into a tank of water, with a defined height of water over the outlet of
the relief valve.
To figure out the terminal pressure P2 (in psia) [bar] of a relief vent that discharges
into a water tank of height H, use the following equation:
H
P2 = + 14.7 (7)
2.31
Example Calculation
Determine the terminal pressure of a relief vent that discharges into a tank of
water with 10′ of water over the relief vent outlet.
Applying equation 7 to the problem:
H
P2 = + 14.7 = (10) / (2.31) + 14.7 = 19.0 psia [1.29 bar]
2.31

Once the terminal pressure is known, then the calculation is a matter of going
backwards through the system, determining the resultant pressure at each node,
until the relief valve is reached. If the calculated pressure drop is less than the
allowable 15%, then the system conforms. If not, then some of the pipe sizes must
be increased to accommodate the flows.
Relief Vent System Calculation: Summary Example
Size the relief system for the following ammonia refrigeration machinery room:
• Vessel V-1: 42 ″Ø x 14′ vertical HP Receiver, 300 psig [barg], ASME
• Vessel V-2: 30 ″Ø x 12′ vertical, +20°F recirculator vessel, 250 psig [barg], ASME
• Comp. C-1: Frick RWF-100 High Stage Compressor, Liquid Injected
• Vent pipe discharges to atmosphere
• Assume all relief valves lift simultaneously
Step 1. Determine Required Capacities
Vessel V-1: HP Receiver

C = f D L = 0.5 (3.5) (14)
C = 24.5 lbs. air/min [0.186 kg/s]
Vessel V-2: +20°F Recirculator

C = f D L = 0.5 (2.5) (12)
C = 15 lbs. air/min [1.02 kg/s]
Compressor C-1
Reading from Table 2a, the required capacity is 25.8 lbs. air/min [1.76 kg/s].

Step 2. Select Relief Valves and calculate actual capacities
Results were obtained using SRVQuick.
V-1 HP Receiver
Select R/S SR21⁄2 ″ x 1 ″ 300-psig relief valve [13mm x 25mm, 20.4 barg] with R/S
M1 three-way valve. Assume 1⁄2 ″ [13mm] nozzle and a 90° elbow on the inlet
Required Capacity 24.5 lbs. air/min [0.186 kg/s]
Rated Capacity 36 lbs. air/min [0.27 kg/s]
Adjusted Capacity 33.1 lbs. air/min [0.251 kg/s]
V-2 +20°F Recirculator
Select Hansen H5600R 1⁄2 x 3⁄4 250-psig [13mm x 19mm, 17.0-barg] relief with
Hansen H8021 three-way valve. Assume 1⁄2 ″[13mm] nozzle and a 90° elbow on
the inlet.
Required Capacity 15 lbs. air/min [0.11 kg/s]
Rated Capacity 17 lbs. air/min [0.13 kg/s]
C-1 Compressor
Manufacturer supplies Shank Model 813 1⁄2 x 1 ″ 300-psig [13 x 25mm, 20.4-barg]
relief valve with Shank 843 1⁄2 ″ [13mm] three-way valve. Assume 1⁄2 ″ [13mm]
nozzle and no 90° elbow.
Required Capacity 25.8 lbs. air/min [0.195 kg/s]
Rated Capacity 52.4 lbs. air/min [0.397 kg/s]

Step 3. Size Vent Piping
Figure 1 shows a diagram of the piping. Nodes were labeled A, B, C. The only
place where the pressure is known is at the outlet of the relief vent, which would be
0 psig [0 barg] (discharges to atmosphere). Start at that point and work backwards
through the main. Results were obtained using SRVQuick. (Table 7)
Checking the results, we need to determine if P0 is higher than allowable at each

relief valve. For V-1 and C-1, (300-psig [20.4-barg] ASME design) the allowable
backpressure is:
(300) * 0.15 = 45 psig [3.1 barg]
Both V-1 and C-1 pressures are lower than that.
For V-2 (250-psig [barg] ASME design), the allowable backpressure is:
(250) * 0.15 = 37.5 psig [2.55 barg]
V-2 pressure is lower than that. Thus, the piping system meets code as designed.
Piping Relief Valves – Dos and Don’ts
There are a number of items that the code specifically prohibits in the relief valve
piping system. First, there can be no stop valves between the relief valve and the
item it is protecting. Three-way valves are not considered to be stop valves. In
general, there may not be stop valves on the outlet of the system, but there is an
exception if the valve is locked open, a full area valve, and only closed if there is a

parallel relief valve system protecting the equipment or the system has been
depressurized and vented to atmosphere.
A second area of confusion pertains to the use of reducers around relief valve
systems. For example, if a vessel has a 1 ″ relief connection on it, does that mean
that a 1 ″ [25mm] three-way valve and a 1 ″ [25mm] inlet relief valve must be used?
The answer is “not necessarily.” Section 9.7.6 of ASHRAE 15 states:
All pipe and fittings between the pressure relief valve and the parts of the system
it protects shall have at least the area of the pressure relief valve inlet area.
This means that if a 3⁄4 ″ [19mm] inlet relief valve has the required capacity, then at
some point between the vessel and the relief valve, the pipe size must reduce from
1″ to 3⁄4 ″ [25mm to 19mm]. However, a 1 1⁄4 ″ [32mm] inlet relief valve could not be
installed, because the 1 ″ [25mm] nozzle on the vessel is smaller than the inlet to
the relief valve. Locating the reducer would be up to the piping designer, but it
would be best, due to inlet pressure losses, to use a 1 ″ [25mm] three-way valve, and
reduce to 3⁄4 ″ [19mm] at the inlet to the valve.
Further, outlet (vent) piping may not reduce in size (per Section 9.7.8.4). The piping
must be at least as large as the relief vent outlet. To meet the current code, most
relief valve outlets pipes will have to be immediately increased in size. Many local
codes require, and the author considers it good practice, to install a drip leg on the
outlet of the relief valve. This will prevent condensation from collecting on the seat
of the relief valve, which will accelerate corrosion possibly leading to premature
failure of the relief valve.

Bringing Existing Systems into Compliance
The majority of refrigeration systems installed before 1999 do not meet the current
code. There is no requirement within the current version of ASHRAE 15 that
grandfathered systems be brought into conformance. However, there are some
scenarios under which an existing system might need to be brought up to current
standards:
• New construction that adds equipment to the relief vent system
• A safety review or mechanical integrity inspection that recommends or requires
that the system meet ASHRAE 15-2001 or -2004
There are two strategies that can be employed to minimize the amount of re-piping
necessary to update older systems:
1. Properly Size the Relief Valves
2. Examine Relief Scenarios
These strategies are examined below.
Properly Size the Relief Valves
Many relief valves on older vessels are severely oversized. This is especially true of
smaller vessels and heat exchangers, as reduced capacity relief valves have only
recently become available. Remember that the relief vent is sized for the actual
capacity of the relief valve, not the required capacity. Thus an oversized valve
unnecessarily taxes the capacity of both the riser and the relief main. As shown
above, it is a straightforward calculation to determine the required capacity for the
vessel, and Table 3 shows the capacity of relief valves commonly used in ammonia
refrigeration. If the existing relief valve is considerably oversized, select and install a
relief valve closer to the required capacity. Note that this will likely require a
Management of Change (MOC) procedure for plants subject to the requirements of
OSHA’s PSM regulations, and should be duly noted by those implementing IIAR’s

Ammonia Refrigeration Management program, and that paperwork and analysis

should be completed prior to replacing the valve. (OSHA, 1992; IIAR, 2004)
For compressors, it is best to check with the manufacturer to verify the required
capacity of the specific model and serial number of compressor under consideration.
Tables 2a through 2d list the required capacity of popular screw compressors, but
there are other factors to consider when replacing a relief valve on a compressor.
The type of controls and safeties the compressor is equipped with, and the method
of unloading the compressor, come into play. For example, some screw compressors
use a plug valve to unload, rather than a slide valve, and thus may have higher
required capacities than the table suggests.
Examine Relief Scenarios
The simplest way to examine a relief vent system is to assume that all relief valves
lift simultaneously. However, in larger systems, this assumption may lead to very
large relief vent mains. Section 9.7.8.4 of ASHRAE 15 requires that:
The sizing of the common discharge header downstream from each of the two or
more relief devices…that are expected to operate simultaneously shall be based on
the sum of their outlet areas with due allowance for the pressure drop in all
downstream sections.
The key phrase is “that are expected to operate simultaneously”. This leaves the door
open to establish relief scenarios, where a hazard analysis is performed to establish
which relief valves are expected to operate simultaneously, and to subsequently size the
vent system to accommodate the various scenarios. For example, during a fire in the
engine room, would the compressors still have electrical power? The answer would
depend on many site-specific factors, but these can be reviewed in a Process Hazard
Analysis. This approach may be more work than it is worth in small to medium sized
plants, but for larger plants or new installations the effort may be worthwhile.

Conclusion
Sizing relief vent systems has gone from being very simple to becoming one of the
more complex tasks in designing a refrigeration system. The safety relief system must
be able to perform as intended to avoid potentially disastrous consequences. The
equations required to design the system lend themselves very well to computerized
solution, and it is hoped that the use of the SRVQuick program saves designers and end
users time in designing or verifying compliance with the Standard.
Relief valve manufacturers have responded to the Standard, and many are designing
new valves with reduced capacities to fit smaller heat exchangers and vessels better.

References
ASHRAE. ANSI/ASHRAE 15, Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems. American

Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). 2004.
ASME. Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code: Section VIII, Pressure Vessels. American
Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). 2004.
Fenton, D., and W. Richards. User’s Manual for ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2001, Safety
Standard for Refrigeration Systems. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and
Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). 2003.
IIAR. Ammonia Refrigeration Piping Handbook. International Institute of Ammonia

Refrigeration (IIAR). 2004.
IIAR. Ammonia Refrigeration Management Program. International Institute of

Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR). 2004.
OSHA. Process Safety Management (PSM) Regulation, 29 CFR 1910.119.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 1992.
OSHA. Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals, 29 CFR

1910.1200. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). 1994 (amended
1996).

Figure 1: Relief Vent System in Summary Example
Table 1: Refrigerant Data

Table 2a: Required Relief Capacities (Frick)

Table 2b: Required Relief Capacities (FES, smaller sizes)

Table 2c: Required Relief Capacities (FES, larger sizes)

Table 2d: Required Relief Capacities (M&M)

Table 3: Relief Valves

Table 4: Cv of Inlets

Table 5: Flow Coefficients for Pipe and Fittings

Table 6: Cv of Common Three-way Valves
Table 7: Results for Summary Example

Notes:

Technical Paper #6: Don Faust and Brian Peterson Gartner Refrigeration & Manufacturing, Inc. Plymouth, Minnesota

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Technical Paper #6

Relief Vent Piping per ASHRAE 15-2004

Don Faust and Brian Peterson

2005 IIAR Ammonia Refrigeration Conference & Exhibition, Acapulco, Mexico

© IIAR 2005 213

Board of Directors, International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration

ABOUT THIS VOLUME

IIAR Technical Papers are subjected to rigorous technical peer review.

International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration

2005 Ammonia Refrigeration Conference & Exhibition

There are three steps to sizing a relief vent system:

Step 1: Determine Required Capacity

Technical Paper #6 © IIAR 2005 215

Where are relief valves required?

Pressure Vessels and Heat Exchangers

The required relief capacity is calculated according to the formula:

216 © IIAR 2005 Technical Paper #6

As a reference to the designer, Table 1 contains values of f for several refrigerants.

Example Vessel Calculation

Equation 1 applies in this situation:

Technical Paper #6 © IIAR 2005 217

Positive Displacement Compressors

Section 3 of ASHRAE 15 defines a positive displacement compressor as one “in

Appendix F of ASHRAE 15 shows an approved method of calculating the discharge

218 © IIAR 2005 Technical Paper #6

Step 2: Selecting Relief Valves and Determining their Capacity

Calculating Inlet Restrictions

There are three components of inlet losses to the relief valve:

Technical Paper #6 © IIAR 2005 219

220 © IIAR 2005 Technical Paper #6

Example Inlet Restriction Calculation

Cr = 57.6 lbs. air/min [0.436 kg/s]

Technical Paper #6 © IIAR 2005 221

From Equation 3 the Cv for the relief valve is:

From Table 4, the 1⁄2 ″ nozzle has a Cv of 12.6.

From Table 6, the Henry 8021A three-way valve has a Cv of 5.34.

Using these values, we apply Equation 2:

The adjusted capacity of the valve is found by applying Equation 4:

222 © IIAR 2005 Technical Paper #6

Use of Rupture Discs on Relief Valve Inlets

(3) Application of Rupture disks

(b 2) The marked capacity of a pressure relief valve (nozzle type) when

Step 3. Sizing the Relief Vent Piping System

0.2146d5 (P 02 – P 22) d . ln(P0 – P2)

Technical Paper #6 © IIAR 2005 223

The total allowable backpressure in the piping system is defined as a percentage of

224 © IIAR 2005 Technical Paper #6

Conventional: P0 = 0.15 x Ps + 14.7 (6a)

Equation 6a may be applied to this situation:

P0 = (0.15) (250) + 14.7 = 52.2 psia [3.55 bar]

Technical Paper #6 © IIAR 2005 225

Chapter 6 of IIAR’s Ammonia Refrigeration Piping Handbook, as well as the ASHRAE

What is the maximum allowable length of 6 ″ [152 mm] pipe carrying

226 © IIAR 2005 Technical Paper #6

Applying equation 7 to the problem:

Technical Paper #6 © IIAR 2005 227

Relief Vent System Calculation: Summary Example