Top-venting of flashing high-viscosity fluids

Abstract Experimental data are presented for top-venting of flashing high-viscosity fluids. In addition, a practical vent-sizing method is described which is applicable to such problems. The method employs a ‘viscosity factor’ which is correlated to the experimental data for fluids with viscosities ranging up to 750 cP at initial conditions. Although principally aimed at venting of non-reacting vapour pressure systems, this work is of interest also for chemically reacting systems.