- Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP)
- Design Pressure (PD)
- Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP)
- Maximum Operating Pressure (PO,Max)
- Normal Operating Pressure (PO)
- Minimum Operating Pressure (PO,Min)
- Minimum Allowable Operating Pressure (MinAOP)
Recommended :
- Subscribe FREE - Chemical Processing
- Tips on Succession in FREE Subscription
A mechanical engineer may have different understanding than a process engineer. A process engineer from an organization may have slightly different understanding than a process engineer from another organization. A process engineer educated and/or practising engineering in a country i.e China may have different interpretation than another process engineer educated and / or practising engineering in another country i.e. USA, UK, etc. This always creates a lot of confusion, unnecessary argument and rework. In worst event could lead to hazard. Thus, first far most important thing is to define correctly the meaning of each terms so that everyone have same understanding.
Following are the simple definition of above mentioned terms. Whenever a post contains one or more of these terms, the following shall be referred.
Normal Operating Pressure (PO) - System pressure as expected to be operated at during normal operation throughout the design life of the system.
Maximum Operating Pressure (PO, Max) - Maximum system pressure as expected during normal operation, may occur in some process transient period or different operating mode or campaigns and it built into the design to cater for any uncertainties due to start-up, fouled, decayed, etc. It provides some level of flexibility for a proper operation of the system throughout the entire life of the system.
Minimum Operating Pressure (PO, Min) - Minimum system pressure as expected during normal operation, may occur in some process transient period or different operating mode or campaigns and it built into the design to cater for any uncertainties due to start-up, fouled, decayed, etc. It provides some level of flexibility for a proper operation of the system throughout the entire life of the system.
Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) - Maximum system pressure that can be allowed to ensure a proper operation of an a device or system.
Minimum Allowable Operating Pressure (MinAOP) - Minimum system pressure that can be allowed to ensure a proper operation of an a device or system.
Design Pressure (PD) - A pressure chosen / specified (normally chosen by process engineer) to have certain margin (i.e. 10%) above the PO,Max (or MAOP). It is a maximum pressure in the system that :
- is NOT expected during normal operation
- may only occur during emergency situation such as fire, loss of utilities, valve failure, any abnormal operation corresponding to a short duration, mal-operation, etc
Design pressure becomes MINIMUM pressure that can be hold by any components within the system without mechanical failure. It is used to define the minimum MAWP of components within the system. For example, design pressure is used to calculate minimum vessel wall thickness.
Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP) - A maximum gauge pressure permissible by a equipment / device (at coincident temperature specified for that pressure) and is governed by code i.e. ASME, JIS, GB, etc
In many cases...
MinAOP <= PO,Min <= PO <= PO,Max < MAOP < PD <= MAWP
Example :(Note : all parameters have been selected arbitrary. Just for illustration only.)
- Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP) = 12 barg
- Design Pressure (PD) = 11 barg
- Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) = 10 barg (~90% of 11 barg)
- Maximum Operating Pressure (PO,Max) = 8 barg
- Normal Operating Pressure (PO) = 7 barg
- Minimum Operating Pressure (PO,Min) = 6 barg
- Minimum Allowable Operating Pressure (MinAOP) = 5 barg
- Several Strategies To Minimize Relief Capacity in Back-Flow Scenario
- Only Consider Non-Recoverable Losses in PSV Inlet Line Loss Determination
- How to Resolve Issue with PSV Inlet Line Loss Exceeded 3% of Set pressure
- Concerns & Recommendations on PSV INLET line
- Few Concerns & Recommendations of PSV Discharge Tail pipe
- Relate PSV Relieving Flow to Stamped Capacity
This post is a very helpful summary! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIn europe, the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) defines PS as "Maximum allowable pressure PS means the maximum pressure for which the equipment is designed, as specified by the manufacturer.
It is defined at a location specified by the manufacturer. This must be the location of connection of protective and/or limiting devices or the top of equipment or if not appropriate any point specified."
I would tend to think it corresponds to the MAWP.
But PED also states that design pressure is higher that that PS.
I was then wondering what would be the equivalent term of PS in the United States.
Could you please clarify?