We have a shell and tube heat exchanger to cool compressed gas at 135 barg. At tube rupture the exchanger is protected by four 10"NB bursting discs. On bursting, the scenario is that the inventory of the cooling medium (density 1038 kg/m^3), within the exchanger (approx. 2800 kg), will be forced through the bursting discs at max. gas velocity (93 m/sec), i.e. slug flow. The downstream pipework is sch 40 (9.27 mm thick) therefore the resulting loads you will appreciate will be enormous (approx. 70 tonne) and I believe unrealistic.
We would usually analyse using a time history analysis and consider loading on each bend up to the flare knock out drum.
Has anybody had similar problems? and, more to the point, any suggestions as to how to resolve the problem?