Pressure Relief

Grace under pressure

Ernest Hemingway
 Pressure relief valves (also called Pressure Safety
Valves, PRVs, or PSVs) are a critical last line of
defense in any high-pressure plant environment.
They are designed to pop open when a certain set
pressure is reached, and release high pressure fluid
to a safe disposal location, like a burning flare stack
for hydrocarbons. By opening and releasing, they
prevent the pressure getting so high that equipment
bursts, breaks, or explodes.
What are Relief Events?
External fire
Flow from high pressure source
Heat input from associated equipment
Pumps and compressors
Ambient heat transfer
Liquid expansion in pipes and surge
Pressure Terminology
MAWP
Design
presure
Operating
pressure
Set pressure
Overpressure
Accumulation
Relieving Pressure
Relieving pressure shall not exceed
MAWP (accumulation) by more than:
3% for fired and unfired steam boilers
10% for vessels equipped with a single
pressure relief device
16% for vessels equipped with multiple
pressure relief devices
21% for fire contingency
Relief Design Methodology
LOCATE
RELIEFS
CHOOSE
TYPE
DEVELOP
SCENARIOS
SIZE RELIEFS
(1 or 2 Phase)
CHOOSE
WORST CASE
DESIGN RELIEF
SYSTEM
Locating Reliefs Where?
All vessels
Blocked in sections of cool liquid lines
that are exposed to heat
Discharge sides of positive
displacement pumps, compressors,
and turbines
Vessel steam jackets
Where PHA indicates the need
Type of Relief Valves
Conventional safety relief valves -
these are usually employed when the discharge is from a
high pressure source to a low pressure system
tolerate back pressure, Ps 10% of valve set pressure
Balanced safety relief valves -
these valves incorporate a mechanism for minimising the
effect of back pressure on the performance of the relief valve
tolerate back pressure of 30-50% of valve set pressure
Pilot operated relief valves -
operate closer to design pressure however do suffer from
problems with ice and hydrate formation in pilot lines
used where back pressure is high (up 70%) or variable and
when it is not desirable to vent vessel contents to check the
valve
Conventional Type
Picture: Conventional Relief
Valve
Balanced Bellows Type
Picture: Bellows Relief
Valve
Pilot Operated Relief Valve
Relief Event Scenarios
A description of one specific relief event
Usually each relief has more than one relief
event, more than one scenario
Examples include:
Overfilling/overpressuring
Fire
Control failure
Blocked lines with subsequent expansion
Tube Rupture
Etc

DEVELOP
SCENARIOS
Sizing Pressure Relief Devices
All the scenarios that may cause overpressure have
to be considered when sizing a relief valve device
The worst case scenario is used as the required
relieving rate and dictates the size of the relief
device
Allowable overpressures are incorporated into the
sizing of relief valves (see API 520)
check vessel design code
Size also depends on service valve is to be used
under ie gas, liquid, two phase, steam etc
API 520 and 521 contain all necessary information
to allow relief valves to be correctly sized
Sizing Relief Valves
Once the required relief area is calculated, an orifice size and
valve body can be selected
Allow approximately 10% difference between calculated and installed
areas
If orifice is too large then valve can chatter and mechanical failure of
the valve could occur
Often more than one relief valve is used for any service ie two
100% valves or three 50% valves can be used to allow valve
maintenance / repairs without requirement for process
shutdown
For mixed phase relief, various techniques are used ie-
sum of two areas can be used as area required (rough guide but
generally conservative)
or the HEM method - more accurate estimation (IP Guide)
Sizing Inlet and Outlet
Pipework
Careful consideration must also be given to the
sizing of inlet and outlet pipework on a pressure
relief valve
Inlet Pipework -
Line losses in the inlet pipework must be < 3% of relieving
pressure (API Guideline)
Must slope towards vessel to prevent liquid build-up
Outlet Pipework -
Generally sized based on velocity but is dependant on
client
Refer to Flare and Vent module for header sizing
Superimposed Back
Pressure
Pressure in
discharge header
before valve opens
Can be constant or
variable

CHOOSE
TYPE
Built-up Back Pressure

Pressure in discharge
header due to
frictional losses after
valve opens
Total = Superimposed
+ Built-up

CHOOSE
TYPE
Rupture Devices
Rupture Disc

Rupture Pin

CHOOSE
TYPE
Conventional
Metal Rupture Disc

CHOOSE
TYPE
Conventional
Rupture Pin Device

CHOOSE
TYPE
When to Use a Rupture
Disc/Pin
Capital and maintenance savings
Losing the contents is not an issue
Benign service (nontoxic, non-
hazardous)
Need for fast-acting device
Potential for relief valve plugging
High viscosity liquids
CHOOSE
TYPE
When to Use Both Types
Need a positive seal (toxic material,
material balance requirements)

Protect safety valve from corrosion

System contains solids

CHOOSE
TYPE
A Special Issue: Chatter
Spring relief devices require 25-30%
of maximum flow capacity to maintain
the valve seat in the open position
Lower flows result in chattering,
caused by rapid opening and closing
of the valve disc
This can lead to destruction of the
device and a dangerous situation
Chatter - Principal Causes
Valve Issues
Oversized valve
Valve handling widely differing rates

Relief System Issues

Excessive inlet pressure drop
Excessive built-up back pressure
??Anything
Plugged wrong
Bellows, Failed
Signs of
Maintenance
Inspection,
here? Maintenance
Issues

Bellows plugged
in spite of sign

Failed
Inspection
Program
?? Discharges Pointing
Anything
Discharges
wrong
Down
Anything wrong
here? Pointing
here?Down
?? Long MomentLongArm
Moment Arm

Anything wrong
here?
?? Will these bolts hold in a
Will these
relief
bolts event
hold
in a
relief event?

Anything wrong
here?
Mexico City Disaster
Major Contributing Cause:
Missing Safety Valve
END OF PRESENTATION