The maximum pressure a 2.5 m^3 storage tank in a chemical process plant can hold

Question

The maximum pressure a 2.5 m^3 storage tank in a chemical process plant can hold is 15.5 MPa and, passing this threshold limit will results in the rupturing of the disc placed below the pressure gauge. As a safety engineer you were requested to check the pressure within the tank if filled with 176 kg of methane (refined natural gas) maintained at 150 degree C. What will be the pressure using ideal gas equation of state van der Waals equation, Redlich-Kwong equation generalized compressibility chart generalized density correlation chart and Steam tables. Assume that the pressure obtain from the thermodynamic properties table of methane is the most accurate value for the state of the methane, determine percentage deviation of the pressure obtain from (i) to (v) with pressure from the steam table. In the absence of thermodynamic properties table of methane which method would you be comfortable with to estimate the pressure of the refined natural gas in the tank.

Explanation / Answer

a)

i) ideal gas

p=(n*R*T)/V=(16000*8.314*(273+150))/(2.5)=15.4MPa

ii) Vander walls

for methane

a=2.283 ; b=0.04278

(P+a(16000^2)/(2.5^2))*(2.5-(16000*b))=16000*8.314*(273+150)

calculate P

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