PRESSURE SAFETY VALVES

CONSTRUCTION AND
WORKING

Delivered By:
Atta Ullah Khosa
Syed Waqar Azeem
 Contents
 What is PSV ?
 Types of PSV
 Major Parts of PSV
 Operation of PSV
 Spring Loaded type
 Pilot Operated
 Rupture Discs
 Rupture Pin Technology
 What is PSV?
 PSV is a final safety device
designed to protect
 equipments like
 Vessels
 Tanks
 Compressors
 Pumps
 Boilers
 Piping
 against high pressure (HP) as
compared to design pressure.
PSV’s at Compressor Hall
 PSV (Safety Valve)
 Safety Valve
 A safety valve is a
pressure relief valve
actuated by inlet static
pressure and
characterized by rapid
opening or pop action.
 Used for steam, gas and
air services.
 PRV (Relief Valve)
 Relief Valve
 A relief valve is a valve
actuated by inlet static
pressure having a
gradual lift generally
proportional to the
increase in pressure
over opening pressure.
 Used for liquid service.
 Spring Loaded PSV
A Spring Loaded PSV is a Safety Valve in which the
Spring acts as a main Loading Device.
 Pilot Operated
 Pilot Operated Relief Valve

 A pilot operated pressure

relief valve is a pressure
relief valve in which the
major relieving device is
combined with and is
controlled by a self actuated
auxiliary pressure relief
valve.
 Special types of PSV
 Sentinel PSV
 Thermal PSV
 Leak through PSV
 Rupture Disc PSV
 Rupture Disc PSV
 A non-mechanical over
pressure relief device
that ruptures when its
rating is achieved. A
thin diaphragm is
attached at one end
which
 Bursts when the set
pressure is achieved.
 Counterweight PSV
 Counterweight PSV
 A counterweight
pressure relief
valve is a pressure
relief valve in which
weights are used
instead of spring to
balance the fluid
pressure.
 A good example is
a Pressure Cooker.
 Cross-Sectional View of PSV
Cap
Adjusting
Screw

Spindle

Spring Bonnet / Yoke

Disc Nozzle Ring

Nozzle
Body
 PSV

Open Bonnet
Close Bonnet
 PSV Parts

Bonnet

Spindle
 PSV Parts

Adjusting Bolt

Lower Ring
(Nozzle Ring)
 PSV Parts

Disc

Nozzle Ring
Nozzle

Nozzle

Nozzle Ring

Nozzle
 Mechanical Parts

Cap

Disc
 PSV Parts

Washer spring

Guide
 PSV Spring

Spring
 Main Parts of PSV
 Nozzle

 Disc

 Stem

 Spring

 Spring Washer
 Adjustment Screw
Optional Parts of Body
 Disc Holder

 Bellows

 Nozzle Ring

 Guide Ring

 Hand Jack

 Lock Screw
 Types of Connections

 Threaded Connections

Threaded Connections
 Types of Connections

 Flanged Connections

Flanged Connections
Lifting Gear / Manual Operation

Lifting Gear or Lever is used for manual

operation of PSV.

When the lever is operated, it will open PSV or

in other words it will pass the process via PSV.

It is also used for checking the PSV

healthiness.
 PSV with Hand jack

 Hand Jack for Manual Lift

 Operation of PSV

Spring
Spring Chamber
Spindle
Guide Disc Holder

Inner Seat
Chamber
Outlet

Inlet
Operation of PSV (Closed Position)
Operation of PSV (Opened Position)
Working of PSV
 Operation of PSV
 Spring holds the Disc in place

 In Normal Operation, Valve

remains closed, because
Spring Force > Process
Pressure

 Just before reaching Operating

Pressure, Fluid enters Huddling
Chamber… Causing the Valve
to Open Instantaneously.
 Bellow PSV
 Bellow PSV

A Bellow PSV is used for

Corrosive/Toxic Fluids

 Bellow PSV is preferred if

there is backpressure in
the line.
Pilot operated PSV
 Pilot Operated PSV
1. When inlet pressure (primary pressure) P1
rises above the set pressure, the pilot valve
operates and the main valve is opened to
release the excess pressure to the outlet
side and maintain the inlet pressure at the
set pressure.
 Pilot Operated PSV
2. Under normal conditions, pilot
A valve is open and pilot B
valve is closed so that inlet
pressure P1 is transmitted to
the top of the main valve to
keep the main valve closed.
When inlet pressure P1 exceeds
the set pressure, pilot A valve
closes and pilot B valve opens
to reduce the pressure acting
on the top of the main valve,
thus opening the main valve
and preventing the inlet
pressure from rising.
 VALVE VALVE
SPRING
“A” “B”

PILOT

MAIN
VALVE
MAIN PISTON /
VALVE DOME

INLET OUTLET

SEAT
Process Pressure
<
Set Pressure
  VALVE A REMAINS  VALVE B REMAINS
OPEN CLOSED

LINE 1

LINE 2 LINE 3 LINE 4

INLET OUTLET
Process Pressure
>
Set Pressure
  VALVE A IS CLOSED  VALVE B IS OPEN

LINE 1

LINE 2 LINE 3 LINE 4

 Pilot Operated PSV
 Operation
 System pressure acts on the
area contained by the main
valve seat at the bottom and on
the top of the piston.
 Since the top of the piston is
larger than the bottom (seat
area), there is a large
downward net force holding the
piston close.
 Seating force increases as the
system pressure increases and
approaches set point.
 At set pressure, pilot opens and
partially depressurize the dome
 Pilot Operated PSV
 Piston lift, resulting
flow through the main
valve

 Relief demand
satisfied, pilot closes,
full system pressure is
diverted to the dome
and the piston moves
downward closing the
main valve.
SYSTEM PRESSURE < SET PRESSURE
 System is at an
operating pressure
condition. The seat (B)
feeding the dome is
opened.
 The seat (A) feeding
the vent is closed, the
dome is pressurized
and the main valve
piston is on seat.
 The valve is in the
operational mode
closed position.
SYSTEM PRESSURE > SET PRESSURE
 The valve stem (1) and
Seat (A) remain open
and the dome is at
atmospheric pressure.

 The valve stem (2)

remains closed on seat
(B) and the main valve
piston is open. System
pressure is relieving
through main body.
SYSTEM PRESSURE = SET PRESSURE
 System pressure reaches
set point.
 The valve stem (1) opens
the vent seat (A) and
releases pressure of the
dome to atmosphere.
 Relief Seat A The valve
stem (2) is pushed on seat
(B) by the system pressure
isolating system pressure
from the dome and the
main valve piston begins to
open.
Piston Type Pilot Operated PSV
Pilot operated PSV
 Rupture Discs
 They are often used as the primary pressure relief device.
 Very rapid pressure rise situations like runaway reactions.
 When pressure relief valve cannot respond quick enough.

 They can also be used in conjunction with a pressure

relief valve to:
 Provide corrosion protection for the PRV.

 Prevent loss of toxic or expensive process materials.

 Reduce fugitive emissions to meet environmental

requirements.
Conventional Tension-Loaded
Metal Rupture Disc
Composite Rupture Disc
 Typical RD/PRV Installation
Vent to safe
location
PR
1/2" (13 mm)
Tubing CSO
To flare header
or atmosphere
(If Req'd) (no pockets)
Excess Min.
Flow
Valve NPS 3/4"
CSO (19 mm)

NPS 3/4"
(19 mm)
RD

Min
TW

NPS 3/4"
(19 mm)

(If Req'd) CSO

PI

From Process
(No Pockets)
4' - 0"

Grade (Or Frequently Used Platform)

0302040F2
Primary
Secondary
Damaged during
Installation
 Disc
Corroded
Through
 Classic
Alligatoring
 Rupture Discs Applications
When compared with PR valves, rupture discs have:

Advantages
+ Reduced fugitive emissions - no simmering or leakage prior to
bursting.
+ Protect against rapid pressure rise cased by heat exchanger tube
ruptures or internal deflagrations.
+ Less expensive to provide corrosion resistance.
+ Less tendency to foul or plug.
+ Provide both over pressure protection and depressuring.
+ Provide secondary protective device for lower probability
contingencies requiring large relief areas.
 Rupture Discs (Applications )

When compared with PR valves, rupture discs have:

Disadvantages

 Don’t reclose after relief.

 Burst pressure cannot be tested.
 Require periodic replacement.
 Greater sensitivity to mechanical damage.
 Greater sensitivity to temperature
 Rupture Pins

 A rupture pin is designed to be a non-reclosing

pressure relief device, similar to a rupture disc
 A piston is held in the closed position with a buckling
pin which will fail at a set pressure according to
Euler's Law
 An o-ring on the piston is used to make a bubble tight
seal
Rupture Pin Device
 Comparison of Rupture Pins To
Rupture Discs
Advantages
+ Not subject to premature failure due to fatigue
+ Can be operated closer to its set point
+ Setpoint is insensitive to operating temperature
+ Available as balanced or unbalanced device
+ Capable of operating as low as 0.1 psig (0.007 barg)
+ Suitable for liquid service
+ Resetting after release usually requires no breaking of
flanges
+ Replacement pins are 1/3 to 1/4 the cost of replacement
discs
 Comparison of Rupture Pins
To Rupture Discs
Disadvantages

 The elastomer o-ring seal limits the maximum

operating temperature to about 450oF (230oC)

 Initial cost of installation is greater than for a

rupture disc
 twice as costly for 2” carbon steel
 up to seven times as costly for 8” stainless
steel
 Potential Uses For Rupture Pins

 Replacement of rupture discs which have experienced

frequent failures
 Replacing rupture discs with rupture pins will allow
running slightly closer to design pressure possibly
resulting in a capacity increase
 Higher accuracy of rupture pins at < 40 psig (2.7
barg) gives significant advantage over rupture discs
 When installed under a PSV the rupture pin can be
reset without removing the PSV
Q&A Session
Orifice Sizes