Reid Vapour Pressure Methods in HYSYS

Yesterday I was asked to explain why the Reid VP at 37.8 C in the Standard HYSYS
properties was different from that same property in the Cold Property utility. Once I found
the explanation I did vaguely remember that this has indeed changed at some point in time,
so this explanation is only valid for more recent versions of HYSYS, I'd say that 2006.5 and
higher should be like this.
Both values are calculated using the ASTM D323-73/79, BUT, the RVP in Standard property
is calculated on a dry basis! The RVP in the cold properties utility is calculated using the
original ASTM D323-73/79 which uses the fluid as is (including any water present). NOTE
that the Cold Properties page in the Boiling Point Curve Utility also shows the RVP calculated
on a dry basis!
Below is a full description of the various methods available in HYSYS:

TVP
The TVP is the bubble-point pressure of the stream (i.e. when the liquid is saturated vapour
fraction = 0). This is calculated by flashing the stream at the reference temperature and with a
vapour fraction of 0.

HYSYS RVP Method

The RVP calculation in the HYSYS Standard stream correlation and Boiling Point Curves
utilities is defined as the pressure at 100F at which the vapour volume will be 4 times as much
as the liquid volume (i.e. the pressure at which 80% of the stream by volume is vapour at
100F). This is the same as the ASTM D323-73/79 method, but as mentionned above the
HYSYS RVP method is always done on a dry basis (i.e. any water content of the stream is
ignored), and always uses the HYSIM Flash. (i.e. the flash method that is used if HYSIM Flash
is selected on the Stab Testtab of the Fluid Package, within the Simulation Basis Environment.)

API 5B1.1 (Naphtha)

This method is useful for gasolines and finished petroleum products but not crudes or
oxygenated blends. TVP is correlated against RVP, Temperature and the slope of ASTM D86
distillation curve at the 10% point. This extension solves the corrected version of the API
databook equation of the correlation, for the RVP. A recognized limitation of the API Naphtha
method is that the D86 10% point can have a similar gradient for vastly different streams.

This method is the default in other simulation tools and is at the other end of the RVP spectrum
from the HYSYS 4:1 method (10% vapour evolution vs. 80% vapour evolution). This is why
default RVP methods cannot be compared across process simulators.

API 5B1.2 (Crude)

Generally used for condensate and crude oil systems, (typically wide boiling pre-processed
hydrocarbons). TVP is correlated against RVP and Temperature. This extension solves the API
databook equation of the correlation for RVP.
The correlation is based on very old data from 1959 but is popular with Engineers for quick and
dirty calculations.

ASTM D323-82
This is the standard and accepted procedure for RVP lab measurement. Liquid hydrocarbon is
saturated with air at 33F and 1 atm pressure. Since the lab procedure does not specify that the
test chamber is dry, the air used to saturate the hydrocarbon is assumed to be saturated with
water.
This air-saturated hydrocarbon is then mixed with dry air in a 4:1 volume ratio, and flashed at the
RVP reference temperature such that the total volume is constant (since the experimental
procedure uses a sealed bomb). The gauge pressure of the resulting mixture is then reported as
the RVP.

ASTM D323-73/79
Otherwise known as P323. The pressure is adjusted at the RVP reference temperature until the
vapour:liquid ratio is 4:1 by volume.This method is essentially the same as the default HYSYS
method, except it is not on a dry basis and the flash method used is the same as for the rest of the
flowsheet.

ASTM D4953-91
This method was developed for oxygenated gasolines. It is the same as D323-82 method except
that everything is on a completely dry basis i.e. the air is not saturated with water.

ASTM D5191-91

This was developed for gasolines and gasoline-oxygenate blends as an alternative to the D495391 method. In the experimental procedure, the hydrocarbon is saturated with dry air then placed
in an evacuated bomb with five times its volume. The total pressure is then converted to a dry
vapour pressure equivalent (DVPE) and then reported as the RVP.
In this extension the method used is to mix near vacuum air at 0.01 psia and 100F with
hydrocarbon at 1 atm and 33F in the ratio 4:1.This is then flashed at constant volume at the RVP
reference temperature. The pressure is then converted to the DVPE and reported as the RVP.