7 Sizing

7.4.6

Liquids
A=

1
Q

38 K c K d K v K w

G
P1 P2

(Eq. 7.4.6-1)

The correction factor due to the back pressure K w for the preliminary sizing can be read from Fig.
7.4.6-1. The correction factor due to viscosity K v can be either calculated from Eq. 7.4.6-2.
1

2.878 342.75

+
K v = 0.9935 +
(Eq. 7.4.6-2)
Re 0.5
Re1.5

by using the definition of the Reynolds number in Eq. 7.4.6-3

Re = 2800

QG

or

Re = 12700

Q
U

(Eq. 7.4.6-3)

or graphically estimated from Fig. 7.2.4-2. When a safety valve is to be sized for viscous liquids, it
should first be sized as the fluid were in viscid ( K v = 1 ) to obtain a preliminary minimum discharge
area using Eq. 7.4.6-1. The next larger effective orifice area is then selected from Table 7.4.1-1 to
calculate the Reynolds number in Eq. 7.4.6-3, which is used to determine the viscosity correction
factor in Eq. 7.4.6-2. This correction factor K v is introduced back into Eq. 7.4.6-1 to correct the
preliminary discharge area. If the corrected area exceeds the chosen standard orifice, this procedure
should be repeated using the next larger standard orifice area from Table 7.4.1-1.

Figure 7.4.6-1: Back pressure correction factor for liquids K w from API RP 520, Page 38

LWN 754.00

edition:

13.04.2010

7.4-8