FLARE GAS RECOVERY

International Headquarters PO Box 21220 Tulsa, OK 74121-1220 +1 918.234.2903

Mass to Volume Calculations
PV = mRT
V = m X (Ru / MW) X Tabs / Pabs
Pabs in kPa or psia : Tabs in K or R : V in m3 or ft3 : m in kg or lbm
MW in kg/kg-mol or lbm/lb-mol (numerically equal)
R = Ru / MW
Ru = 8.314 472 kPam3/(kg-molK) = 10.731 6 psiaft3/(lb-molR)
kPam3/(kg-molK) = kJ/(kg-molK)

SCFM = lbs/hr / 60 X ** / MW
Nm3/hr = kg/hr X ** / MW
mmscfd
= 1,177.529 Nm3/hr
[@ 1 atm & 60F]
[@ 1 atm & 15C]
scfm
= 1.607 466 Nm3/hr
[@ 1 atm & 60F]
[@ 1 atm & 0C]
mmscfd

**

API (Standard)

15 C 101.325 kPa (1 atm) 23.645 Nm3/kgmol

Asia (Normal)

15 C

EC (Normal)

0 C 101.325 kPa (1 atm) 22.414 Nm3/kgmol

1 bar

23.959 Nm3/kgmol

US customary

60 F 14.696 psia (1 atm) 379.482 scf/lbmol

CAGI & ISO

68 F

14.5 psia (1 bar)

390.439 scf/lbmol

IUPAC (Normal)

0C

100 kPa (1 bar)

24.277 Nm3/kgmol

NIST

20 C 101.325 kPa (1 atm) 24.055 Nm3/kgmol

Gas Volume Conversion (T&P in absolute terms)

P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2
V2 = V1 X P1 / P2 X T2 / T1
Remember (in absolute terms):
double the pressure, half the volume
double the temperature, double the volume
Theoretical Gas HP
(adiabatic, ideal gas, neglecting compressibility)
HP = P1 X V1 X k / (k-1) X 144 / 33000 X [ (P2 / P1)((k-1) / k) -1 ]
Theoretical Discharge Temperature (adiabatic)
T2 = T1 X { [(P2 / P1)((k-1) / k) -1 ] + 1 }
P in psia T in R V in actual ft3/min (acfm)
Converting SCFM to ACFM (and vice-versa)
SCFM = ACFM X 35.374 X (Pact psig + 14.7) / (Tact F + 460)
ACFM = SCFM X 0.0283 X (Tact F + 460) / (Pact psig + 14.7)
(STP - 14.7 psia & 60F)
lb/hr = SCFM X MW X 0.158
Air/Water Properties
property
dimension
MW
lb/lbmol
density @60F,14.7 psia
lb/ft3
K (Cp/Cv)
Cp V
BTU/lb/F
Cp L
BTU/lb/F
Cv
BTU/lb/F
therm cond (100 F)
BTU/hr/ft2/(F/ft)

air
28.964
0.075
1.4
0.241
0.172
0.0243

psi

Bar

kPa

kg/cm2

psi
1
0.06895 6.89476 0.07031
bar
14.504
1
100
1.01972
kPa
0.145
0.01
1
0.0102
kg/cm2 14.223 0.98067 98.0665
1
atm
14.696 1.01325 101.325 1.03323
in W.C.* 0.0361 0.00249 0.24884 0.00254

C
K
R

F
1

P = lbf/in2 ; m = mass (lbm) ; g = 32.17 ft/sec2 ; A = ft2 ; = lbm/ft3

gc = 32.17 lbm-ft / lbf-sec2 ; V = ft3 = A h ; h = ft
= ft3/sec ; v = ft/sec ; = lbm/sec ; r = ft
Cp
MW
NR = Reynolds no. ; D= ft ; = lbfsec/ft2
(BTU/lb/F)
Methane
0.5266 16.043
z = ft ; Hp = pump added head
Hf = friction head ; L = ft ; f = fric. factor
Ethane
0.4097 30.070
k = loss coefficient ; Leq = equiv. L
Propane
0.3881 44.097

H 2O
18.015
62.427
1.326
0.448
1.0
0.363

atm

in W.C.*

0.06804
0.986923
0.00986
0.967841
1
0.002458

27.707
401.856
4.01463
393.701
406.782
1

C
(F - 32) X 5 / 9

(C X 9 / 5) + 32
1
(K - 273.15) X 9 / 5 + 32
K - 273.15
R - 459.67
(R 459.67) X 5 / 9

BTU = British Thermal

Unit = energy required to
raise 1 lb of water 1F at
68F
kcal = energy required
to raise 1 kg of water 1C
at 20C

Fluid Flow
P = Force = Weight = m g = V g = A h g = h g
A gc
gc
Area
Area
A gc A gc
= A v = ( r2) v
=
( A v)in = ( A v)out
NR = v D NR < 2000 -> laminar; NR > 3500 -> turbulent
elevation
velocity
pressure
gc
head
head
head
z1 + v12 + P1 gc + Hp = z2 + v22 + P2 gc + Hf ID (in)
ID = 1.748 [Q(cfm)/v]
2g g
2g
g
ID = 1.341 [Q(m3/hr)/v]
Hf = f L v2 = k v2 ; Leq = k D ; k = f Leq
ID
= 0.639 [Q(gpm)/v]
D2g
2g
f
D

Typical Values of Leq / D

Globe Valve
Leq / D
Conventional 400
Y-Pattern 160
Gate Valve
Fully Open
13
75% Open
35
50% Open 160
25% Open 900
Standard Tee
Flow thru Run
20
Flow thru Branch 60
Check Valve
Conventional Swing 135
Clearway Swing 50
Butterfly Valve
>8 inch, fully open 40
90 Standard Ell
30
45 Standard Ell
16
Return Bend
50

* water @ 60 F

Temp
F

Identities
N kgm/s2
J N m kgm2/s2
kJ kPam3
Pa N/m2 kg/m/s2
Pa 100 mBar
W J/s kgm2/s3
W hr 3600 J
m3 1000 liter
cm3/g liter/kg
Torr mm Hg
(Angstrom)
1 x 10-10 m
0.0001 m
m (Micron)
1 x 10-6 m
0.001 mm

Pump Calculations
H = 2.31 X P / SG
where:
H in ft P in psi
SG = specific gravity

ACFM = gas volume at actual gas T & P

(ignoring humidity effects)
SCFM = gas volume at one of the listed STP
(Standard Temperature & Pressure)
< conditions
ICFM = T & P at compressor inlet flange

Multiply units in left column by proper factor below:

Pressure

Pipe Sizing Velocity

Liquid < 10 fps
Gas < 100 fps

k = Cp / Cv = MW X Cp / (MW X Cp - 1.99)
k = 1.4 air, k = 1.28 typical flare gas
for k = 1.0 to 1.1 gas easily compressed
for k > 1.35 gas difficult to compress
(large T incr. opposes compression process)

= 694.44 scfm

STP

Compressors
Centrifugal approximates
constant head,
variable volume.
PD variable head,
constant volume.

K
(F - 32) X 5 / 9 + 273.15

R
F + 459.67

C + 273.15
1
RX5/9

(C + 273.15) X 9 / 5
KX9/5
1

n-Butane

0.3867

58.124

i-Butane
n-Pentane

0.3872
0.3883

58.124
72.151

i-Pentane

0.3827

72.151

n-Hexane
Ethylene

0.3864
0.3622

86.178
28.054

Propylene

0.3541

42.081

1-Butene

0.3548

56.108

C-2-Butene

0.3269

56.108

T-2-Butene

0.3654

56.108

Isobutene
1-Pentene

0.3701
0.3635

56.108
70.135

CO
CO2
H2S

0.2484
0.1991
0.2380

28.010
44.010
34.076

Hydrogen

3.408

2.016

Oxygen
Nitrogen

0.2188
0.2482

31.999
28.013

Water
Air

0.4446
0.241

18.015
28.964

Latent heat - the

amount of heat added or
removed to produce only
a phase change.
Sensible heat - the heat
added or removed that
causes a temperature
change.

Conversions

CFM = 1.69 9 m3/hr

liter/s = 2.118 9 CFM
[flow rate]
gpm = 8.020 9 ft3/hr
3
m /hr = 4.402 gpm
in3/lb = 36.127 3 cm3/kg
[specific
m3/kg = 16.018 5 ft3/lb
volume]
m3/kgmol = 16.018 5 ft3/lbmol
lb/gal = 119.826 1 kg/m3
gr/cm3 = 62.428 0 lb/ft3
[density]
lb/ft3 = 16.018 5 kg/m3
grain/100 scf = 22.888 35 mg/m3
grain/gallon = 17.118 06 g/m3
ft3 H2O = 62.427 lb
gallon H2O = 8.345 lb
liter H2O = 1 kg
[mass]
kg = 2.204 6 lb
ton = 2,000 lb
metric ton = 1,000 kg
grain = 64.798 9 mg
m = 3.280 8 ft = 39.37 in
inch = 2.54 cm
m = 3.937 x 10-5 in
[length]
mile = 5,280 ft = 1.609 3 km
naut. mile = 1.852 km = 6,076.4 ft
fathom = 6 ft = 1.828 8 m
league = 3 mile = 5.556 km
gallon = 3.785 4 liter = 231 in3
in3 = 16.387 1 cm3
[volume]
m3 = 35.314 7 ft3 = 264.171 4 gallon
3
ft = 7.480 5 gallon = 28.316 8 liter
bbl = 42 gal = 0.159 m3
psi = 2.308 9 ft H2O = 70.375 8 cm H2O
ft H2O = 2.986 1 kPa
kPa = 7.5 mm Hg = 9.806 4 cm H2O
in Hg = 3.386 4 kPa
atm = 33.931 7 ft H2O
[pressure]
atm = 760 Torr = 29.921 3 in Hg
Torr = 133.322 Pa = 1,000 (micron)
bar = 750 Torr = 100 kPa
lb/in2 = 2.036 in Hg
kPa = 20.885 4 lb/ft2
kW = 1.341 hp = 3,412.14 BTU/hr
kW = 1.360 metric hp
[power]
W = 1.627 9 kcal/hr
hp = 550 ft lbf/s = 2,544.43 BTU/hr
hp = 1.014 metric hp
BTU/s = 1.055 056 kW
ton refrig = 12,000 BTU/hr = 3.516 9 kW
kWhr = 3,412.14 BTU = 3.6 MJ
kWhr = 2,655,223.74 ft lbf
hphr = 2,684.52 kJ
[energy]
ftlbf = 1.355 8 J = 1.355 8 Nm
kgfm = 7.233 ftlbf
kJ = 737.562 1 ft lbf
BTU = 1,055.056 J = 0.252 kcal
BTU = 778.169 4 ft lbf
kcal = 3.968 3 BTU = 4,186.8 J
calth = 4.184 J
therm (EU) = 100,000 BTU
therm (US) = 99,976.12 BTU
therm (EU) = 105.505 6 MJ
therm (US) = 105.480 4MJ
BTU/hrft2 = 2.712 5 kcal/hrm2 [heat flux]
kW/m2 = 316.998 BTU/hrft2
BTU/F = 1.899 1 kJ/C [heat capacity]
BTU/ft3 = 37.234 kJ/m3 [heat content]
BTU/lb/F = cal/gr/C
[entropy]
BTU/lb/F = 4.186 8 kJ/kg/C
cal/gr = 1.799 BTU/lb
[enthalpy]
BTU/lb = 2.325 98 kJ/kg
knot = 1.150 8 mph = 1.852 km/hr
ft/s = 1.097 3 km/hr
[speed]
speed sound = 1,125.3 fps
2
1/4 steel plate = 10.2 lb/ft
radian = 180/ = 57.295 8 degrees
rev = 360 = 2 radians
g = 32.174 ft/s2 = 9.806 7 m/s2
dia. human hair = 0.003 5 inch
= 0.088 9 mm

Flare Gas Recovery Its more than just a Compressor Skid

10.10.10 r7.53 reb

FLARE GAS RECOVERY

International Headquarters PO Box 21220 Tulsa, OK 74121-1220 +1 918.234.2903

Atmospheric Pressure at Site Elevation

Feet Meters psia Atm Bar (a) kPa kg/cm2 in Hg mm Hg
0

14.7

1.00

328

100

14.5 0.99

500

150

14.4 0.98

1.013

101

1.03

29.9

760

1.000

100

1.02

29.5

752

0.994

99.4

1.01

29.4

747

656

200

14.3

0.97

0.988

98.8

1.01

29.2

743

1,000

300

14.2 0.96

0.976

97.6

1.00

28.9

734

1,312

400

14.0 0.95

0.964

96.4

0.98

28.5

725

1,500

450

13.9 0.94

0.956

95.6

0.98

28.3

719

2,000

600

13.7

0.939

93.9

0.96

27.8

706
694

0.93

2,500

750

13.4

0.91

0.923

92.3

0.94

27.3

3,000

900

13.2

0.89

0.906

90.6

0.92

26.8

681

3,500

1,070

12.9 0.88

0.888

88.8

0.91

26.3

668

4,000

1,220

12.7

0.86

0.871

87.1

0.89

25.8

655

4,500

1,370

12.4

0.85

0.858

85.8

0.87

25.4

645

5,000

1,520

12.2

0.83

0.842

84.2

0.86

24.9

633

5,500

1,680

12.0

0.81

0.825

82.5

0.84

24.4

620

Retrieved 4.20.2010 from http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/iso-vg-grade-d_1206.html

6,000

1,830

11.8

0.80

0.811

81.1

0.83

24.0

610

6,500

1,980

11.5

0.78

0.794

79.4

0.81

23.5

597

7,000

2,130

11.3

0.77

0.781

78.1

0.80

23.1

587

ISO VISCOSITY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

Many petroleum products are graded according to the ISO Viscosity Classification
System. Each ISO viscosity grade number corresponds to the mid-point of a viscosity
range expressed in centistokes(cSt) at 40 deg C. For example, a lubricant with an ISO
grade of 32 has a viscosity within the range of 28.8-35.2, the midpoint of which is 32.
Rule of Thumb: The comparable ISO grade of a given product whose viscosity in SUS at
100F is known can be determined by using the following conversion formula:
SUS @ 100 deg F/5=cSt @ 40 deg C.
cst= 0.226xSUS-(195/SUS)

7,500

2,290

11.1

0.76

0.767

76.7

0.78

22.7

577

8,000

2,440

10.9 0.74

0.750

75.0

0.76

22.2

564

2,590

10.7

0.737

73.7

0.75

21.8

554

8,500

0.73

Retrieved 4.20.2010 from http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/visc.html

Retrieved 2.11.2009 from http://www.uigi.com/Atmos_pressure.html

Viscosity
Standard NEMA Motor Sizes (HP)
1
1.5
2

0.75

25
30
40

200
250
300

800
900
1000

3000
3500
4000

50

350

1250

4500

60

400

1500

5000
6000

7.5

75

450

1750

10

100

500

2000

7000

15
20

125
150

600
700

2250
2500

8000

Dynamic (absolute) viscosity () = Shear Stress () / Shear Rate ()

Kinematic viscosity () = Dynamic (absolute) viscosity () / Density ()
Pas = Ns/m2 = kg/m/s = 10 P
cP = mPa-s = 10-3 kg/m/s
P = g/cm/s
poise = dynes/cm2 = g/cm/s = 0.01 Pas
cSt = 10-6 m2/s = 1 mm2/s = 92,903.4 ft2/s
(SUS) = 4.63 (cP) / SG
liquid inversely proportional to temperature
gas directly proportional to temperature

SAE
ISO VG
Crankcase
Grade
Oil Grade
22
5W
32
10W
46
15W
68
20W
100
30
150
40
220
50
320
60

Retrieved 4.20.2010 from http://

www.engineeringtoolbox.com/iso-vg-grade-d_1206.html

Standard IEC Motor Sizes (kW)

15
132
400
1250
4000

1.1

18.5

160

450

1400

1.5

22

185

500

1600

2.2

30

200

560

1800

37

220

630

2000

45

250

710

2240

5.5

55

280

800

2500

7.5

75

300

900

2800

9.2
11

90
110

315
355

1000
1120

3150
3550

Power Factor (PF) = Watts / Volts/ Amps

3 Ph kW = V X I X PF X 1.732 / 1000
Synch. RPM = Hz X 120 / # poles
Torque (ft-lb) = HP X 5252 / RPM
Est. starting current or lock rotor current
= 6 X full load current

The information contained in these materials is for

informational purposes only and is provided "AS IS",
without warranties of any kind. John Zink Company, LLC
expressly disclaims any representations, warranties or
guaranties, including without limitation, the implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular
purpose. John Zink Company, LLC will have absolutely
no liability (whether direct, indirect or consequential) in
connection with the materials including without limitaRetrieved 2.11.2009 from http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-ohm.htm
tion, any liability for damage to person or property.

Flare Gas Recovery Its more than just a Compressor Skid

10.10.10 r7.53 reb