Pressure relief valves are designed to protect a pressure system against

excessive normal or subnormal pressure in the event of positive or negative

excursion of the system pressure. They are required to open at a predeter-
mined system pressure, to discharge or let enter a specified amount of fluid
so as to prevent the system pressure from exceeding a specified normal or
subnormal pressure limit, and to reclose after the normal system pres- sure
has been restored. Pressure relief valves must also be self-actuated for
maximum reliability except where permitted by the applicable Code of
Practice for specific applications.
The most commonly employed pressure relief valve type is the direct-
loaded pressure relief valve in which the fluid pressure acting on the valve
disc in the opening direction is opposed by a direct mechanical-loading
device such as a weight or spring. Direct-loaded pressure relief valves may
also be provided with an auxiliary actuator, which may be designed to intro-
duce a supplementary seating load on valve closing and/or to assist valve
opening. The power for actuating the auxiliary actuator is commonly of an
extraneous source. Should the external power source fail, the valves will
open and close without hindrance in the manner of direct-loaded pressure
relief valves.

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 The second type of pressure relief valve is the pilot-operated pressure
relief valve that consists of a main valve and a pilot. The main valve is the
actual pressure-relieving device while the pilot positions the disc of the
main valve disc in response to the system pressure.

TERMINOLOGY
Pressure Relief Valves
Pressure relief device. A device designed to open in response to exces-
sive internal normal or subnormal fluid pressure, and sized to prevent the
fluid pressure from exceeding a specified normal or subnormal limit. The
device may be either of the type that closes after the pressure excursion has
receded or of the non-reclosing type.
Pressure relief valve. Apressure relief device that recloses automatically
after the pressure excursion has receded.
Direct-loaded pressure relief valve. A pressure relief valve in which the
fluid pressure acting on the disc in the opening direction is opposed by a
direct mechanical-loading device such as a weight or a spring.
Safety valve. Adirect-loaded pressure relief valve that is intended mainly
for gas, vapor, or boiler and steam applications and characterized by pop-
opening action.
Relief valve. A direct-loaded pressure relief valve intended mainly for
liquid service.
Safety relief valve. A direct-loaded pressure relief valve that may be used
either in gas or vapor service or in liquid service. The valve will open in gas
or vapor service with a pop action, and in liquid service in proportion to the
rise in overpressure though not necessarily linearly.
Conventional safety relief valve. A pressure relief valve in which the
loading device is enclosed in a pressure-tight bonnet that is vented to the
valve outlet.
Balanced safety relief valve. A pressure relief valve that incorporates a
means for minimizing the effect of back pressure on the performance
characteristic.
1 Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation, Perryville Corporate Park, Clinton, NJ 08809.
2 Crosby Valve & Gage Company, Wrentham, MA 02093.
Supplementary loaded pressure relief valve. A direct-loaded pres- sure relief valve with an
externally powered auxiliary loading device that is designed to inhibit valve simmer by introducing
a supplementary seating load during normal operation of the pressure system. Depending on the
Code of Practice, the supplementary-loading force augmenting the spring force may be restricted or
unrestricted. The load is automatically removed at a pressure not greater than the set pressure of the
valve.1
Assisted pressure relief valve. A direct-loaded pressure relief valve with an externally powered
auxiliary assist device that is designed to inhibit valve chatter by introducing a supplementary lifting
force when the valve is called upon to open. When the safe operating pressure is restored, the assist
device is deactivated and the valve closes normally. If the power to the assist device should fail,
there is no interference with the normal operation of the valve.2
Pilot-operated pressure relief valve. A pressure relief valve consisting of a main valve that is the
actual pressure relieving device, and a self- actuated pilot that controls the opening and closing of
the main valve by either pressurizing or depressurizing the dome of the main valve.3
Pilot-operated pressure relief valve with direct-acting pilot. Apilot- operated pressure relief
valve in which the pilot represents a pressure- actuated three-ported valve that controls the operation
of the main valve.4
Pilot-operated pressure relief valve with indirect-acting pilot. A pilot-operated pressure relief
valve in which the pilot represents a spring- loaded pressure relief valve that controls the operation
of the main valve by the fluid being discharged.5
Power-actuated pressure relief valve. A pressure relief valve consist- ing of a main valve that is
the actual pressure-relieving device and an externally powered piloting device that controls the
opening and closing of the main valve by either pressurizing or depressurizing the dome of the main
valve.6