Relief valve

The relief valve (RV) is a type of valve used to control or limit the pressure in a system or vessel

which can build up for a process upset, instrument or equipment failure, or fire.

The pressure is relieved by allowing the pressurised fluid to flow from an auxiliary passage out of

the system. The relief valve is designed or set to open at a predetermined set pressure to

protect pressure vessels and other equipment from being subjected to pressures that exceed

their design limits. When the set pressure is exceeded, the relief valve becomes the "path of least

resistance" as the valve is forced open and a portion of the fluid is diverted through the auxiliary

route. The diverted fluid (liquid, gas or liquid–gas mixture) is usually routed through

a pipingsystem known as a flare header or relief header to a central, elevated gas flare where it is

usually burned and the resulting combustion gases are released to the atmosphere.[1] As the fluid

is diverted, the pressure inside the vessel will stop rising. Once it reaches the valve's reseating

pressure, the valve will close. The blowdown is usually stated as a percentage of set pressure

and refers to how much the pressure needs to drop before the valve reseats. The blowdown can

vary from roughly 2–20%, and some valves have adjustable blowdowns.

In high-pressure gas systems, it is recommended that the outlet of the relief valve is in the open

air. In systems where the outlet is connected to piping, the opening of a relief valve will give a

pressure build up in the piping system downstream of the relief valve. This often means that the

relief valve will not re-seat once the set pressure is reached. For these systems often so called

"differential" relief valves are used. This means that the pressure is only working on an area that

is much smaller than the openings area of the valve. If the valve is opened the pressure has to

decrease enormously before the valve closes and also the outlet pressure of the valve can easily

keep the valve open. Another consideration is that if other relief valves are connected to the outlet

pipe system, they may open as the pressure in exhaust pipe system increases. This may cause

undesired operation.

In some cases, a so-called bypass valve acts as a relief valve by being used to return all or part

of the fluid discharged by a pump or gas compressor back to either a storage reservoir or the inlet

of the pump or gas compressor. This is done to protect the pump or gas compressor and any

associated equipment from excessive pressure. The bypass valve and bypass path can be

internal (an integral part of the pump or compressor) or external (installed as a component in the

fluid path). Many fire engines have such relief valves to prevent the overpressurization of fire

hoses.

In other cases, equipment must be protected against being subjected to an internal vacuum (i.e.,

low pressure) that is lower than the equipment can withstand. In such cases, vacuum relief

valvesare used to open at a predetermined low pressure limit and to admit air or an inert gas into

the equipment so as control the amount of vacuum.

In the petroleum refining, petrochemical and chemical manufacturing, natural gas

processing and power generation industries, the term relief valve is associated with the

terms pressure relief valve (PRV), pressure safety valve (PSV) and safety valve:

Pressure relief valve (PRV) or pressure safety valve (PSV): The difference is that PSVs have

a manual lever to activate the valve in case of emergency. Most PRVs are spring operated.

At lower pressures some use a diaphragm in place of a spring. The oldest PRV designs use

a weight to seal the valve.

Set pressure: When the system pressure increases to this value, the PRV opens. The

accuracy of the set pressure often follows guidelines set by the American Society of

Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Relief valve (RV): A valve used on a liquid service, which opens proportionally as the

increasing pressure overcomes the spring pressure.

Safety valve (SV): Used in gas service. Most SVs are full lift or snap acting, in that they pop

completely open.

Safety relief valve (SRV): A relief valve that can be used for gas or liquid service. However,

the set pressure will usually only be accurate for one type of fluid at a time.

Pilot-operated relief valve (POSRV, PORV, POPRV): A device that relieves by remote

command from a pilot valve which is connected to the upstream system pressure.

Low-pressure safety valve (LPSV): An automatic system that relieves by the static pressure

of a gas. The relieving pressure is small and near the atmospheric pressure.

Vacuum pressure safety valve (VPSV): An automatic system that relieves by the static

pressure of a gas. The relieving pressure is small, negative and near the atmospheric

pressure.

Low and vacuum pressure safety valve (LVPSV): An automatic system that relieves by the

static pressure of a gas. The relieving pressure is small, negative or positive, and near the

atmospheric pressure.

Pressure vacuum release valve (PVRV): A combination of a vacuum pressure and a relief

valve in one housing. Used on storage tanks for liquids to prevent implosion or over pressure.

Snap acting: The opposite of modulating, refers to a valve that "pops" open. It snaps into full

lift in milliseconds. Usually accomplished with a skirt on the disc so that the fluid passing the

seat suddenly affects a larger area and creates more lifting force.

Modulating: Opens in proportion to the overpressure.