Print pages 103-119of process layout book

In a refining operation, what does

feed surge drum do?

On a drawing (rough sketch really) for a Feed surge drum I see a nozzle connection for
steam out, but I dont see steam in - Is there something wrong? Or is it for the steam that
is removed from the naphtha?

A feed surge drum allows you to keep a constant feed. Please tell me that you get your
hands dirty changing your own oil in your car. It'll make me feel better. When you're
pouring several quarts of oil into your car using a funnel, you can pour a quart into the
funnel and it will slowly continue on into the engine. While you put the first quart down and
pick up the second one the liquid level in the funnel will go down. Then you refill it with the
next quart. All the while, the flow rate of oil into your engine will remain more or less
constant. Same concept for the feed surge drum. It allows you to maintain relatively
constant flow into your system while your supply can vary a bit.
feed surge drum is used for
1-ahead for the liquid under processing
2- it provides residence time for freewater settlement and draining
3- it provide sealing with either f.gas or N2for the liquid under processing
feed surge drum is used for
feed surge drum used for providing ahead for the following pumps especially high pressure
pump , also it is veryimportant to stabilize the incoming material from other unit to remove
somesuspended un desired material therefore the surge drum becomevital

What is blanketing gas? What is its purpose?

Blanketing gas covers a liquid to reduce the liquid from flashing as much. Process
engineers might fill this one in better.
Steams out connections are used when the vessel is out of service. You are "steaming out"
the crud left in the vessel to prepare it for entry, as mentioned in a reply to one of your
other posts. Often you will see vessels which will be steamed out designed for 1/2 or full
vacuum 'cus if the vessel is blocked in the steam can condense and implode the vessel if it
isn't capable of withstanding the vacuum.
At an outlet nozzle connection I see a vortex breaker - What is its purpose? What
if the fabricator does not provide it - Is it an absolute must?

Vortex breakers break the vortex. You know, that conical shape the water takes when you
pull the plug on the bathtub... What you are trying to avoid here is sucking vapor in with
the liquid which could cause a downstream pump to become unhappy. If your process folks
called for a VB on their specification, it is most likely because the line feeds a pump. If the
fabricator does not install the vortex breaker, the rotating equipment engineers at the
refinery will be unhappy.