CAPACITY CORRECTION FACTORS

Back Pressure
Back pressure is the pressure existing at the outlet of a
pressure relief valve due to pressure in the discharge
system or as a result of flashing in the valve body. Without
proper consideration of the effects of back pressure the
valve may experience (1) a change in set pressure, (2) a
change in closing pressure, (3) a decrease in relieving
capacity, and (4) dynamic instability.
In process applications there are two general back pressure
conditions:
1. Built-up back pressure is the additional pressure at
the outlet of the pressure relief valve resulting from the
resistance of the discharge system and piping or as a
result of flashing in the valve body.
2. Superimposed back pressure is the static pressure
existing at the outlet of a pressure relief valve at the
time the valve is required to operate. It is the result of
pressure in the discharge system from other sources.
The effect of back pressure on a pressure relief valve
depends upon a combination of several coexisting conditions:
1. Back pressure condition - constant vs. variable
2. Valve position - closed vs. open and relieving
3. Fluid phase - gases or vapors vs. liquids
4. Valve construction - balanced bellows or balanced
piston vs. conventional
For gases and vapors including steam, the capacity is
unaffected provided the back pressure is less than the
critical pressure of the flowing media. Under these
conditions no correction factor is required.
Conventional Valves
Style JOS and Series 800/900
Valve Closed
1. Superimposed Constant Back Pressure
The effect of constant back pressure on a conventional
pressure relief valve, before the valve opens, is
to increase the pressure at which the valve opens by
an amount equal to the back pressure. For this
condition the spring setting (cold differential test pressure)
is based on the set pressure minus the back
pressure.
2. Superimposed Variable Back Pressure
When the superimposed back pressure is variable,
the pressure at which the valve opens will change as
the back pressure changes. This variation may cause
the opening pressure to vary beyond allowable limits.
For this reason a balanced valve is generally recommended
for applications with superimposed variable
back pressure. However, if the superimposed variable
back pressure is low and the resulting variation
in the opening pressure of the valve can be tolerated,
then a conventional valve may be used.
Valve Open and Relieving
1. Built-Up Back Pressure
The effect of built-up back pressure on a conventional
pressure relief valve that is open and relieving is to
rapidly reduce the lifting forces which hold the valve
open. The back pressure under such conditons must
be limited to no greater than 10% of the set pressure
or cold differential test pressure whichever is lower.
Back pressure in excess of this requires specification
of a balanced style valve.
2. Superimposed Back Pressure
A flow correction factor may be required in calculating
the required valve size.
Gases and Vapors
If back pressure on the valve exceeds the critical
pressure (55% of the absolute relieving pressure), the
Flow Correction Factor Kb must be applied (see Table
T7-1). If the back pressure is less than critical pressure,
no correction factor is required: Kb = 1.00.
Liquids
Conventional valves in back pressure service on
liquids require no correction factor, when using the
accepted capacity formula: Kw = 1.
* Critical pressure is generally taken as 55% of accumulated
inlet pressure, absolute
Pb / P1 Kb Pb / P1 Kb Pb / P1 Kb
55 1.00 72 0.93 86 0.75
60 0.995 74 0.91 88 0.70
62 0.99 76 0.89 90 0.65
64 0.98 78 0.87 92 0.58
66 0.97 80 0.85 94 0.49
68 0.96 82 0.81 96 0.39