The chemical reactor shown below has a cover that is held in place by a series of bolts. The cover is made of stainless steel (SG = 8.0), is 3 inches thick, has a diameter of 24 inches, and covers and seals an opening 20 inches in diameter. During turnaround, when the reactor is taken out of service for cleaning and repair, the cover was removed by an operator who thought the reactor had been depressurized using a standard venting procedure. However, the pressure gauge had been damaged in an earlier process upset (the reactor pressure had exceeded the upper limit of the gauge), and instead of being depressurized completely, the vessel was under a gauge pressure of 30 psi. - 24 in. - BOLTS |3 in. COVER REACTOR 20 in. BOURDON GAUGE (a) What force (Ib;) were the bolts exerting on the cover before they were removed? (Hint: Don't forget that a pressure is exerted on the top of the cover by the atmosphere.) What happened when the last bolt was removed by the operator? Justify your prediction by estimating the initial acceleration of the cover upon removal of the last bolt. (b) Propose an alteration in the turnaround procedure to prevent recurrence of an incident of this kind.
The chemical reactor shown below has a cover that is held in place by a series of bolts. The cover is made of stainless steel (SG = 8.0), is 3 inches thick, has a diameter of 24 inches, and covers and seals an opening 20 inches in diameter. During turnaround, when the reactor is taken out of service for cleaning and repair, the cover was removed by an operator who thought the reactor had been depressurized using a standard venting procedure. However, the pressure gauge had been damaged in an earlier process upset (the reactor pressure had exceeded the upper limit of the gauge), and instead of being depressurized completely, the vessel was under a gauge pressure of 30 psi. - 24 in. - BOLTS |3 in. COVER REACTOR 20 in. BOURDON GAUGE (a) What force (Ib;) were the bolts exerting on the cover before they were removed? (Hint: Don't forget that a pressure is exerted on the top of the cover by the atmosphere.) What happened when the last bolt was removed by the operator? Justify your prediction by estimating the initial acceleration of the cover upon removal of the last bolt. (b) Propose an alteration in the turnaround procedure to prevent recurrence of an incident of this kind.
Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
8th Edition
ISBN:9781259696527
Author:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Publisher:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Chapter1: Introduction
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1.1P
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Transcribed Image Text:1.
The chemical reactor shown below has a cover that is held in place by a series of bolts. The cover is
made of stainless steel (SG = 8.0), is 3 inches thick, has a diameter of 24 inches, and covers and seals
an opening 20 inches in diameter. During turnaround, when the reactor is taken out of service for
cleaning and repair, the cover was removed by an operator who thought the reactor had been
depressurized using a standard venting procedure. However, the pressure gauge had been damaged in
an earlier process upset (the reactor pressure had exceeded the upper limit of the gauge), and instead of
being depressurized completely, the vessel was under a gauge pressure of 30 psi.
24 in.
BOLTS
3 in.
COVER
REACTOR
20 in.
BOURDON
GAUGE
(a) What force (lbf) were the bolts exerting on the cover before they were removed? (Hint: Don't
forget that a pressure is exerted on the top of the cover by the atmosphere.) What happened when
the last bolt was removed by the operator? Justify your prediction by estimating the initial
acceleration of the cover upon removal of the last bolt.
(b) Propose an alteration in the turnaround procedure to prevent recurrence of an incident of this kind.
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