DYNAMICS OF FLUID RELEASE FROM CATENARY VESSELS

The dynamic material balance equations for fluid drainage or leakage f rom process vessels of catenary shape through an opening at an arbitra ry elevation were solved numerically and the results summarized in gra phical form. Cases of both complete and partial (e.g., as from a punct ure hole in the vessel side wall) drainage were investigated. It was f ound that catenary vessels can exhibit maxima in their leakage times, depending upon the elevation of the aperture for fluid efflux - a phen omenon previously observed for other vessel shapes. A summary of such reported maximum leakage times for a variety of geometrical vessel sha pes is also given.