What height was reached by a projectile of a pressurized system (pics)

In summary, there was an incident at work where a pressurized system operating at 500 psi caused a valve (weighing 5,000 lbs) to launch through the roof due to a failure at the body to bonnet connection. It is not possible to calculate the height reached with the given information, as additional factors such as aerodynamic drag, energy absorption, and air expansion would need to be known. Another approach could be estimating the time interval between the launch and landing of the valve to get a rough idea of its altitude.
  • #1
VanillaXtract
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There is a pressurized system at work that operates at 500 psi. The line is 22" in diameter. One of the valves failed at the body to bonnet connection and launched the valve (5,000 lbs) up and through the roof. I was curious if it is possible to calculate the height reached.
 

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  • #2
Whoa, seems like quite a blast! Hope everyone was ok! But with this information alone you cannot calculate the height, you need at least:
- the aerodynamic drag of the valve
- the amount of energy absorbed by the generation of the hole in the roof
- the amount of air(?) that has expanded from 500psi to atmospheric which was able to transfer its momentum to the valve.
 
  • #3
Amazingly, I have witnessed a somewhat similar incident. Another way to address your question would be, do you have any estimate of the time interval between the initial launch and landing of the valve? You could get a rough idea of the altitude that way.
 

FAQ: What height was reached by a projectile of a pressurized system (pics)

What is a projectile?

A projectile is any object that is thrown, shot, or launched into the air and is subject to the force of gravity. Examples of projectiles include cannonballs, bullets, and rockets.

How is the height of a projectile determined?

The height of a projectile can be determined using the equation h = v02sin2(θ)/2g, where h is the height, v0 is the initial velocity, θ is the angle of launch, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

What is a pressurized system?

A pressurized system is a closed container or space that contains a gas or liquid at a higher pressure than the surrounding environment. This pressure is created by compressing the gas or liquid using a pump or other mechanism.

How does pressure affect the height reached by a projectile?

The pressure inside a pressurized system can affect the height reached by a projectile by altering the initial velocity of the projectile. A higher pressure can result in a higher initial velocity, leading to a greater height reached.

Can you provide an example of a pressurized system and its projectile?

One example of a pressurized system and its projectile is a water gun. The pressurized system is the container of water, which is compressed by a pump, and the projectile is the stream of water that is shot out of the gun when the trigger is pulled.

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