Chapter 5 – Surge Protection
Surge Analysis and the Wave Plan Method
Supplementary Material: Example Problems and Solutions
Chapter 5 – Problem 5.15
5.15 Hydraulically and thermodynamically, there is little or no difference in the operation of identically sized compressor surge tanks and bladder surge tanks when used to protect a pipeline system. The same maximum expanded gas volume should be used to determine the tank volume for both types of surge tanks. However, it is a common practice to provide 1.2 times (20% more) than the maximum expanded gas volume for compressor surge tank volumes while bladder tank volumes are generally set very close to the maximum expanded gas volume. Reasons for this could be (select all that apply):
i. Bladder surge tank technology is relatively new and much more advanced than compressor surge tank technology leading to more efficient design.
ii. Compressor surge tanks need a higher degree of maintenance which dictates an additional safety factor.
iii. If the compressor surge tank volume is the same as the maximum expanded gas volume, there is a higher chance of losing compressed gas during peak unsteady flow conditions – a completely drained tank may fail to prevent the compressed gas from escaping into the mainline. On the other hand, a bladder acts as a barrier between the compressed air and the mainline, preventing the loss of compressed gas even when the tank fully drains during peak unsteady flow conditions.
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