Pressure protection manager system & apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining and documenting overpressure protection due to causes of overpressure associated with equipment and pressure relief devices the apparatus comprising:
- a computer system comprising a memory device, a processing device, a program in communication with the processing device and memory device, the processing device performing tasks required by the program, the memory device further comprising;
a relational database structure, the relational database structure comprising;
(a) an equipment database,(b) a pressure relief devices database,(c) a linker database communicating with the pressure relief devices database and the equipment database, and(d) a causes of overpressure database communicating with the equipment database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The Pressure Protection Manager comprises an apparatus and method for determining and documenting overpressure protection due to causes of overpressure associated with equipment and pressure relief devices used in industries such as, for example, process plants having process fluids. The apparatus is used in association with a computer system having a memory device, a processing device, and a program in communication with the processing device and memory device program, the processing device performing tasks required by the program and the computer system further having input and output devices, the memory device comprises: a relational database structure, the relational database structure comprising an equipment database, a pressure relief devices database, a linker database communicating with the pressure relief devices database and the equipment database, and a causes of overpressure database communicating with the equipment database.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining and documenting overpressure protection due to causes of overpressure associated with equipment and pressure relief devices the apparatus comprising:
- a computer system comprising a memory device, a processing device, a program in communication with the processing device and memory device, the processing device performing tasks required by the program, the memory device further comprising;
a relational database structure, the relational database structure comprising; (a) an equipment database, (b) a pressure relief devices database, (c) a linker database communicating with the pressure relief devices database and the equipment database, and (d) a causes of overpressure database communicating with the equipment database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- a computer system comprising a memory device, a processing device, a program in communication with the processing device and memory device, the processing device performing tasks required by the program, the memory device further comprising;
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6. A method for determining and documenting overpressure protection due to causes of overpressure associated with equipment and pressure relief devices, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) identifying all potential causes of overpressure for each piece of equipment, (2) quantifying the required relief rate for each identified cause of overpressure, (3) quantifying and evaluating adequacy of pressure relief device, and (4) identifying and evaluating global scenarios and release from individual pressure relief devices as associated with discharge piping and relief headers. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for determining and documenting overpressure protection comprising the steps of:
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(a) defining each piece of process plant equipment in an equipment record in an equipment database, (b) defining one or more causes of overpressure for each piece of equipment in a causes record in an identification of causes of overpressure database and linking the causes records to the corresponding equipment record in the equipment database, (c) defining one or more relief devices in a device record in a pressure relief devices database, (d) quantifying required relief device for each piece of equipment for each cause of overpressure in the causes of overpressure database, (e) linking each equipment record in the equipment database to its respective device records in the pressure relief devices database, (f) sizing each relief device for applicable relief scenarios, and (g) evaluating entire relief system including pressure relief devices and discharge piping. - View Dependent Claims (17, 21)
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16. A method for determining and documenting overpressure protection due to causes of overpressure associated with equipment and pressure relief devices comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting a piece of equipment associated with the causes of overpressure, (b) defining equipment information, (c) identifying applicable causes of overpressure for a particular piece of equipment, (d) quantifying a required relief rate, (e) choosing the appropriate sizing equations for particular piece of equipment, (f) entering physical property data, as needed, (g) calculating required relief rate, (h) selecting relief devices, (i) selecting a piece of equipment, (j) evaluating pressure relief device requirements, (k) identifying global scenarios, (l) quantifying global scenarios, (m) calculating back pressure and velocity for global scenarios, and (n) validating device performance.
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18. A method for determining and documenting overpressure protection due to causes of overpressure associated with equipment and pressure relief devices comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying all potential causes of overpressure for each piece of equipment, (b) quantifying a required relief rate for each identified cause of overpressure, (c) defining operating pressure and set pressure associated with relief device, (d) defining constant and built-up back pressure, (e) defining predetermined blowdown, (f) selecting discharge destination and predesignated design code, (g) selecting allowable overpressure for rate that the relief device is being sized, (h) determining if the fluid is a stream, (i) defining required flow rate and cause of overpressure units for pressure relief device being sized, (j) determining nonstandard sizing requirements, (k) determining if pressure relief devices goes to flare, and (l) verifying adequacy of existing pressure relief devices. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 22)
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23. An apparatus for determining and documenting overpressure protection due to causes of overpressure associated with equipment and pressure relief devices, the apparatus comprising:
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a computer system comprising a memory device, a processing device, a program in communication with the processing device and memory device, the processing device performing tasks required by the program, the memory device further comprising; a relational database structure, the relational database structure comprising; (a) one or more pressure relief devices records; (c) one or more causes of overpressure database records; (b) one or more equipment database record, wherein the equipment database record further comprises; (1) a link to one or more pressure relief devices records, wherein the program may access the pressure relief devices records through the equipment database record; (2) a link to one or more causes of overpressure records, wherein the program may access the causes of overpressure records through the equipment database record.
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Specification