Overpressure Protection Assessment
Overpressure Protection by System Design
CANEIL boasts a skilled team of multidisciplinary Integrity Professionals with expertise in Process, Mechanical, Chemical, and Materials Engineering, offering comprehensive support on OPPSD. Additionally, we employ software professionals to automate data collection, filtration, and semi-automate report writing. By utilizing in-house software, CANEIL delivers OPPSD assessments with exceptional efficiency and minimal error.
OPP vs OPPSD
Jurisdictions require thorough assessments and documentation to ensure that pressure equipment is adequately protected against overpressure and loss of containment. Overpressure protection can be provided by devices such as pressure safety valves (PSV), pressure relief valves (PRV), rupture discs, or pin devices.
In certain permitted cases, overpressure protection may also be provided through system design (OPPSD). CANEIL’s OPPSD team is trained to assess the acceptability of existing overpressure protection and offer recommendations for additional safeguards to ensure compliance with overpressure protection requirements.
OPPSD is divided into two categories:
Self Limiting
Self-Limiting OPPSD applies to systems where all sources of pressure have an inherent maximum limit (e.g., the maximum impeller size on a centrifugal pump)
Non-Self Limiting
Non-self-limiting applies to systems where the source of pressure is not inherently self-limiting; where protection will be provided by some combination of safety instrumented systems, administrative controls, and PSVs.
The Process
The OPPSD Assessment process begins with identifying loops, including the identification of PRDs and the equipment they protect, partially protect, or leave unprotected. Pressure equipment not fully protected by a PRD is evaluated for all relevant overpressure scenarios outlined in API 521, as well as any jurisdiction-specific scenarios, to determine the maximum upset condition.
An Overpressure Risk Assessment (ORA) is then generated, documenting any existing or required safeguards to meet the overpressure assessment results. CANEIL also ensures that the client’s integrity management system incorporates OPPSD-specific requirements, in compliance with the jurisdiction.
CANEIL's Approach
To provide the highest level of service to our clients, we partner with industry-leading simulation software. Our experts utilize Aspentech’s Hysys, Aveva’s ProII, and IPRSM by Curtiss-Wright. These tools enable us to efficiently model vessel and pipeline designs, run various scenarios, and generate highly accurate drawings.
Below are a few examples of the work where the software mentioned above were used to create accurate models:
