GPSA · API 2000 · ASTM D323
Vapor pressure, RVP specifications, flash calculations, and stabilizer column design
It designs condensate stabilizers to meet Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) specifications, calculating reboiler duty, column sizing, and NGL recovery per GPSA and API standards.
RVP (Reid Vapor Pressure) is a measure of a liquid's volatility that must meet pipeline and storage specifications for safe condensate handling.
It performs flash separation calculations, reboiler duty estimates, and column sizing for condensate stabilization design.
Condensate stabilization removes light ends (C1-C4) from raw condensate to reduce vapor pressure for safe storage and pipeline transport. The process achieves a target Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) per ASTM D323 specifications, typically 10-12 psi for pipeline and 7-10 psi for storage.
The design temperature limit is 375°F with an absolute maximum of 400°F to prevent thermal cracking and coking. Higher temperatures degrade the condensate and foul equipment.
A typical condensate stabilizer uses 10-25 trays with feed located mid-column for optimal separation. Column sizing uses the Souders-Brown flooding correlation per GPSA guidelines.
Typical liquid yield is 85-95% of the feed volume. Lower target RVP values require more light ends removal, resulting in higher shrinkage but also recovering valuable NGLs.