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Safety Valves Safety Valve Sizing
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An in-depth study of the sizing process for a range of applications, including sizing equations for AD Merkblatt, DIN , TRD, ASME, API, BS6759 and
valves.
others. Covers more complex issues such as two-phase flow and superheat.
Maintenance & Spares Use the quick links below to take you to the main sections of this tutorial:
Safety valve leaking? Call us to
visit and find out why, and then
fix it permanently! A safety valve must always be sized and able to vent any source of steam so that the pressure within the protected apparatus cannot exceed the maximum
allowable accumulated pressure (MAAP). This not only means that the valve has to be positioned correctly, but that it is also correctly set. The safety valve
must then also be sized correctly, enabling it to pass the required amount of steam at the required pressure under all possible fault conditions.
Once the type of safety valve has been established, along with its set pressure and its position in the system, it is necessary to calculate the required
discharge capacity of the valve. Once this is known, the required orifice area and nominal size can be determined using the manufacturer's specifications.
Feature
The Steam and Condensate In order to establish the maximum capacity required, the potential flow through all the relevant branches, upstream of the valve, need to be considered.
Loop Book
In applications where there is more than one possible flow path, the sizing of the safety valve becomes more complicated, as there may be a number of
alternative methods of determining its size. Where more than one potential flow path exists, the following alternatives should be considered:
The safety valve can be sized on the maximum flow experienced in the flow path with the greatest amount of flow.
The safety valve can be sized to discharge the flow from the combined flow paths.
This choice is determined by the risk of two or more devices failing simultaneously. If there is the slightest chance that this may occur, the valve must be sized
to allow the combined flows of the failed devices to be discharged. However, where the risk is negligible, cost advantages may dictate that the valve should
only be sized on the highest fault flow. The choice of method ultimately lies with the company responsible for insuring the plant.
For example, consider the pressure vessel and automatic pump-trap (APT) system as shown in Figure 9.4.1. The unlikely situation is that both the APT and
pressure reducing valve (PRV 'A') could fail simultaneously. The discharge capacity of safety valve 'A' would either be the fault load of the largest PRV, or
alternatively, the combined fault load of both the APT and PRV 'A'.
This document recommends that where multiple flow paths exist, any relevant safety valve should, at all times, be sized on the possibility that relevant
upstream pressure control valves may fail simultaneously.
A comprehensive best practice
guide to saving energy and
optimising plant performance,
this book covers all aspects of
steam and condensate systems.
Order your copy today
8/5/2012
