difference between safety valve and relief valve marine for sale

As you already know, there are a multitude of pressure relief valves out there. In the industry, we tend to use terms like safety valve and relief valve interchangeably. And for the most part, this makes sense. Most pressure relief valves are designed to do the same thing — release pressure in a system.

But is there a difference between some of these commonly used terms, and if so, what does it mean for you? Here’s a quick breakdown of two popular terms: safety valve vs. relief valve.

While both terms refer to valves used to release pressure from a pressurized system, their technical definitions are a bit different. In general, the term relief valve refers to a valve within a pressurized system that is used to control pressure for the optimal functionality of the system. Relief valves are designed to help your facility avoid system failures, and protect equipment from overpressurized conditions.

The term safety valve, on the other hand, refers to pressure valves that are designed to protect people, property, and processes. In other words, the term safety valve refers to a failsafe, last resort valve that will release pressure to prevent a catastrophe, usually in the event that all other relief valves have failed to adequately control pressure within a system.

The general purpose of both safety valves and relief valves are the same. Both are pressure relief valves, and they are designed to let off pressure in any situation where a system becomes overpressurized. That said, relief valves and safety valves do function slightly differently:

Relief Valves are designed to control pressure in a system, most often in fluid or compressed air systems. These valves open in proportion to the increase in system pressure. This means they don’t fly all the way open when the system is slightly overpressure. Instead, they open gradually, allowing the system to return to the preset pressure level. When that level is reached, the valve shuts again.

Safety Valves are used for one reason — safety. Instead of controlling the pressure in a system, they’re designed to immediately release pressure in the event of an emergency or system failure. Unlike relief valves, safety valves open immediately and completely to avoid a disaster, rather than to control the pressure of a system.

While both safety valves and relief valves work to release excess pressure, the way they go about it is a little different. Check out this table, courtesy of Difference Between, for a little more information about the differences between the two valves:

Both the terms are used interchangeably in the process industry as every pressurized system requires safety devices to protect life, property, and environment. Relief valves and safety valves are the two principle safety devices designed to prevent overpressure conditions in process industries. Although, both the devices are used almost for the same purpose, the difference lies mainly in how they operate.

Relief valves, or commonly known as pressure relief valves (PRVs), belong to the family of protective devices specifically designed to protect pressure-sensitive systems and equipment from the damaging effects of overpressure conditions. A relief valve device is basically immune to the back pressure effects of a system and is subject to periodic stripdown. Pressure relief valves are one of the most critical parts of a pressure system that are set to open at a preset pressure level in order to avoid system failures. Every pressure system is set with a predetermined design limit called a setpoint, above which the valve begins to open to prevent overpressure conditions.

A safety valve is the last resort of people, property, and processes in the process industry comprising of power plants, petrochemicals, boilers, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and many more. It’s kind of a fail-safe device that actuates automatically in order to prevent the accumulation of pressure in a vessel or system beyond a preset limit. The device is so designed so that the safety valve trips automatically when the given pressure is attained. It simply allows the excess pressure to escape in order to prevent any damage to the vessel. Additionally, it also makes sure the pressure remains within the limits in the future. Even a slight increment in pressure lifts the safety valve and it closes as soon as the pressure is reduced to the prescribed limit.

A relief valve, also known as pressure relief valve (PRV) or safety relief valve, is type of a safety valve device used to limit or control the pressure level in a system within a safe threshold limit to avoid an overpressure condition. In simple terms, a relief valve is a device designed to control the pressure in a vessel or system to a specific set level. A safety valve, on the other hand, is a device used to let go excess pressure from a vessel or equipment when the pressure crosses a certain predetermined limit. It simply allows liquids or gases to escape if the pressure gets too high to prevent any damage.

Pressure relief valves are mainly used in hydraulic systems to limit the pressure in the system to a specific preset level and when the pressure reaches the safety design limit, the relief valve responds by releasing the excess flow from an auxiliary passage from the system back to the tank in order to prevent equipment failure. The main purpose of a safety valve is to protect life, property, and environment against failure in the control system pressure. Simply put, a safety valve opens when the pressure exceeds the designed set pressure limit.

For a safety relief valve, the opening is directly proportional to the increase in the vessel pressure. This means the opening of the valve is rather gradual than sudden, allowing it to open only at a preset pressure level and release fluids until the pressure drops to the desired set pressure. A safety valve, on the other hand, will open immediately when the system pressure reaches the set pressure level in order to system failure. It is safety device capable of operating at all times and is the last resort to prevent catastrophic failure in systems under overpressure conditions.

A pressure relief valve is designed to open at a certain pressure level which is generally called as a “setpoint”. A setpoint should not be confused with the set pressure. In fact, a setpoint of a relief valves is adjusted to the lowest maximum pressure rating meaning it is set below the maximum system pressure allowed before the overpressure condition occurs. The valve begins to open when the pressure reaches up to some level above the setpoint. The setpoint is measured in pounds per square inch (PSIG) and must not exceed the maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP). In safety valves, the setpoint is usually set at 3 percent above the working pressure level whereas in relief valves, it is set at 10 percent.

Both relief valves and safety valves are high-performance pressure-sensitive safety devices so designed to control or limit the pressure inside the system or vessel by releasing the excessive pressure from the auxiliary passage out of the system. Although both are common terms used for safety valves, the difference lies mainly in the capacity and setpoint. While the former is operator-assisted and is designed to relieve pressure in order to avoid overpressure condition, the latter is a self-operated device which opens automatically when the maximum allowable pressure is reached. Relief valves are mostly used in fluid or compressed air systems, whereas safety valves are mainly used to release vapor or steam into the atmosphere.

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Whenever we talk about the pressure in the process industries we come across two types of safety equipments and that is the safety v/v and the relief v/v.

Most of us think that both are same thing but that’s not the case. Though their functions are same yet there are certain differences among them. Both of them are used in the industry to prevent the accumulation of excess pressure, but there are operational differences between them.

Relief valves which are also known as Pressure relief valves are one of the protective devices which are used to protect a pressurize working system and equipments from getting damaged due to an over-pressure or excessive pressure conditions.

In every pressurized working system there is a set pressure under which the system works properly and efficiently, this set pressure is known as set point and when the pressure is above set point the relief valve opens and the excess pressure is released.

It is made very sensitive such that even for a slight increment in the pressure lifts the safety valve and gets closed quickly as soon as the pressure is released to maintain the desired pressure in the vessel.

1. A relief valve is a device used to limit the pressure in the system within certain specified limit or a set level.A safety valve is a device designed to actuate automatically when the pressure becomes excess.

2. The opening of a relief Valve is directly proportional to the increase in the vessel pressure.2. A safety valve opens almost immediately and fully in order to prevent over pressure condition.

3. A relief valve opens when the pressure reached the specific limit and it is usually operated by an operator.3. The purpose of the safety valve is mainly to safeguard people, property and the environment. It operates without any human intervention.

4. The set point of a relief valve is usually set at 10% above working pressure.4. The set point of safety valve is usually set at 3 % above working pressure.

5. Relief valves are categorized into pop-type, direct-operated, pilot-operated, and internal relief valves.5. Safety valves are divided into wide variety of types based on their applications and performance in different areas of use.

From the definition of both the valves we can conclude that the relief v/v which is also known as the pressure relief v/v is a safety device which is used to maintain a proper preset pressure in the vessel or the system within a prescribed limit condition to prevent a situation of over pressure.

On the other hand, the safety valve is a protective device which is used in a system to control the pressure inside the system under a predetermined limit.

The pressure relief valves are generally used in the hydraulic systems to control the pressure within specified limit and when the pressure increases than the preset value.

It lifts up and provide an escape of the excess pressure through an alternate channel or bypass provided in the system back to the source from where the input is coming or may be a different chamber provided to accept the excess of the liquid.

On contrary in case of safety valve, the main function of the safety valve is to provide safety to the property, life, and the environment which can get damaged due to failure of the system because of the excess pressure.

The pressure relief valves are generally used in the hydraulic systems to control the pressure within specified limit and when the pressure increases than the preset value, it lifts up and provide an escape of the excess pressure through an alternate channel or bypass provided in the system back to the source from where the input is coming or may be a different chamber provided to accept the excess of the liquid.

On contrary in case of safety valve, the main function of the safety valve is to provide safety to the property, life, and the environment which can get damaged due to failure of the system because of the excess pressure.

We used the set point in case of the relief valve, the “Set Point” basically refers to a point set to the lowest maximum pressure rating which means that the pressure is set below the maximum operative pressure which is allowed for a system to operate without being get into the state of overpressure.

In Simple words we can say that the relief valve pressure is set to maintain and control the pressure inside the system, the set pressure is dependent on the working pressure of the system.

On the other hand , the pressure of safety valve is set on the basis of various factors of consideration like the material used, the environment in which it has to be used, the type of work it has to perform.

The boilers material used for 6 Bar will have the materials which can withstand upto 12 Bar (it depends on the manufacturer) So the Safety valve will be set to 7-8 bar so as to prevent the boiler failure.

Whenever a gas or liquid is used as a working fluid for a machine, it is transported under pressure, regardless of its size. Sometimes the pressure in these systems and interconnecting pipes can be so large that a rupture can cause catastrophic damage or even death. This was the main cause of the failure of steam operating systems (such as large boilers) in the 19th century. In order to regulate the pressure in the system and in the pipe, equipment must be introduced to automatically reduce the pressure by allowing the working fluid in the system to escape when the system reaches its critical limit.

The safety valve and the relief valve are two types of equipment that fall into the pressure relief valve (PRV) category and are operated on the basis of the use of static inlet pressure to drive the equipment.

When the critical pressure is reached, the pressure relief valve, which is controlled by the inlet static pressure, opens completely. This is what we called “THE SAFETY VALVE”. The opening of the valve is accompanied by a popping sound caused by a sudden opening, which is a feature of this type of valve.

Safety Valves are commonly used in systems that use compressible gases, such as steam and air, as working fluids. When connected to a pressurized system (such as a boiler), static pressure within the system presses the valve against the spring-loaded mechanism. When internal pressure exceeds the critical value, the disc is separated from the seat, exposing the pressure to a larger surface area of the disc. This larger area results in a larger force applied to the spring mechanism, and as a result, the valve is fully open.

The pressure relief valve used in a liquid system with the same function as the safety valve is called the RELIEF VALVE. Its primary function is to control or limit the internal pressure of the system or container and prevent the system from reaching the critical limit due to abnormal process, instrument or equipment failure or fire. In contrast to the Safety Valve, the relief valve opens gradually.

Safety valves and relief valves have similar structure and performance, both of which discharge internal media automatically when the pressure exceeds the set value to ensure the safety of the production device. Because of this essential similarity, the two are often confused and their differences are often overlooked as they are interchangeable in some production facilities. For a clearer definition, please refer to the ASME boiler and pressure vessel specifications.

Safety Valve: An automatic pressure control device driven by the static pressure of the medium in front of the valve is used for gas or steam applications, with full open action.

The basic difference in their operating principle: The safety valve relieves the pressure into the atmosphere i.e. out of the system, it can be a pressure relief device of fluid vessels, when the set pressure value reached then the valve opens almost fully. On the contrary, relief valve relieves the pressure by relieving the fluid back into the system, that’s the low-pressure side. Relief valve opens gradually if the pressure increased gradually.

The difference is also generally shown in capacity and setpoint. A relief valve is used to relieve pressure to prevent an overpressure condition, the operator may be needed to assist in opening the valve in response to a control signal and close back once it relieves the excess pressures and continues to operate normally.

A safety valve can be used to relieve the pressure that does not need a manual reset. For example, a thermal relief valve is used to bleed off pressure in a heat exchanger if it is isolated but the possibility of thermal expansion of the fluid could cause overpressure conditions. The safety valve on a boiler or other types of fired pressure vessels must be capable of removing more energy that is possible to be put into the vessel.

In short, Safety valves and relief valves are the two most commonly used types of control valves. The safety valve belongs to the pressure release device, which can only operate when the working pressure exceeds the allowable range to protect the system. The relief valve can make the high-pressure medium quickly to meet the pressure requirements of the system and its working process is continuous.

Thus, its operation is automatic; it will open only to release the pressure and not exceed the liquid force; therefore, its use is more common with fluids (although, they can also be used with vapours or moderate gases). In terms of capacity, they can withstand low pressures and their processes are continuous.

Relief Valve–is the term used to describe relief device on a filled vessel. For such a valve the opening is proportional to increase in the vessel pressure. Hence the opening of valve is not sudden, but gradual if the pressure is increased gradually.

Safety Valve–is the term used to describe relief device on a compressible filled vessel. For such a valve the opening is sudden. When the set pressure of the valve is reached, the valve opens almost fully.

The difference is generally in capacity and setpoint.  A relief valve is ment to relieve pressure to prevent an over pressure condition.  A relief valve may have an operator on it to assist in opening the valve in response to a control signal.  A safety valve is ment to relieve pressure without operator assistance and a safety valve, or combination of safety valves, must be have a capacity to relieve more than the energy input to the volume being protected.

For example, a thermal relief valveis used to bleed off pressure in a heat exchanger if the heat exchanger is isolated but the possibility of thermal expansion of the fluid could cause over pressure conditions.  The capacity of thermal reliefs are generally small.

A safey valve on a boiler or other types of fired pressure vessels must be capable of removing more energy that is possible to be put into the vessel.  110 percent of boiler rated capacity may be acceptable.  The ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code would be the source to check for adaquatley sizing safety valves.

Because a safety valve is often the last device to prevent catastrophic failure under pressure conditions, it is important that the valve works at all times i.e. it must be 100% reliable.

Safety valves should be installed wherever the maximum allowable working pressure of a system or pressure containing vessel is likely to be exceeded, in particular under fault conditions due to the failure of another piece of equipment in the system.

The term “Safety Valve” and “Relief Valve” are generic terms to describe a variety of pressure relief devices. A wide range is available based on the application and required performance criteria. The different designs are required to meet numerous national standards.

The images below show the devastating results of a failed Safety valve (due to poor maintenace) or ones which have been incorrectly sized, installed or maintained.

A spring-loaded pressure relief valve which is designed to open to relieve excess pressure and to reclose and prevent the further flow of fluid after normal conditions have been restored. It is characterised by a rapid-opening "pop" action or by opening in a manner generally proportional to the increase in pressure over the opening pressure. It may be used for either compressible or incompressible fluids, depending on design, adjustment, or application.

Relief valve - A pressure relief device actuated by inlet static pressure having a gradual lift generally proportional to the increase in pressure over opening pressure.

Safety relief valve - A pressure relief valve characterised by rapid opening or pop action, or by opening in proportion to the increase in pressure over the opening pressure, depending on the application, and which may be used either for liquid or compressible fluid.

Safety valve - A valve which automatically, without the assistance of any energy other than that of the fluid concerned, discharges a quantity of the fluid so as to prevent a predetermined safe pressure being exceeded, and which is designed to re-close and prevent further flow of fluid after normal pressure conditions of service have been restored.

The images below show a standard Relief valve and a standard Safety valve from a well-known UK manufacturer. Each manufacturer does things slightly differently however all of the basic components and principles of operation are the same. As described previously, a safety valve differs from a relief valve in that it opens rapidly once the set pressure has been reached. For the same inlet size and with the valve in the closed position, the surface area that the pressure on the inlet side will see is the same. When the set pressure is reached and the valve starts to open, the disk on a Safety valve is larger (see the diagrams below) and hence the same pressure then sees a much larger surface area and consequently the force increases greatly causing the valve to open quickly and hence the characteristic pop action.

The image below shows the above Safety valves and Relief valves dismantled. The disk diameter on the 1" (DN25) Safety valve is only 7mm larger than on the Relief valve which doesnt sound like much, but when you calculate the areas it is an increase of 36%.

This diagram represents a Safety valve in its very simplest form. The force acting on the inlet side of the disk is acting against the force applied by the spring plus the force applied by the back pressure on the top of the disk.

The valve remains closed when(PI x Ab) < Fs + (PB x At), is in equilibrium when(PI x Ab) = Fs + (PB x At) and opens when(PI x Ab) > Fs + (PB x At) were PI = Inlet pressure, PB = Back pressure, At = Top of disk area, Ab = Bottom of disk area. Things to notice from this design are that if PB is variable and quite large relative to PI, then this will cause the pressure at which the valve opens to vary which is undesirable. The following two designs (Fig 3 & Fig 4) are available that eliminate the effect of back pressure on the set pressure.

The bellows prevents backpressure acting on the top side of the disk. In relation to the piston there is no top side within the main body of the valve hence again the back pressure cannot affect the set pressure. Bellows failure is an important concern in critical applications where a very precise set pressure is required. In these cases some mechanism to detect a leak of process medium out of the top vent would be implemented. Piston designs are not usually found in conventional Safety valves but are more common in Pilot Operated Safety valves.

API 520 Practice Guidelines: a conventional design should not typically be used when the built-up backpressure is greater than 10% of the set pressure at 10% over pressure. European standard EN ISO 4126: the built-up backpressure should be limited to 10% of the set pressure when the valve is discharging at the certified capacity.

In a conventional design (no bellows), the superimposed backpressure will affect the opening characteristic and set value, but the combined backpressure will alter the closing (blowdown) and re-seat value.

Overpressure is the percentage over the set pressure by which the valve is fully open. The blowdown is the percentage below the set pressure by which the valve is fully closed.

The basic elements of the design are right angle pattern valve body, inlet can be either a full nozzle or a semi-nozzle type. With a full nozzle design has the “wetted” inlet tract formed from one piece (as per figure 6) with the seat integrated into the top of the nozzle. The internal bore of the nozzle and the disc is the only part of the valve that is exposed to the process fluid with the valve in the closed position. A semi-nozzle design consists of a seating ring fitted into the body.The disc is held onto the seat by the stem, with the downward force coming from the compression on the spring mounted in the bonnet. The amount of compression on the spring is adjusted by the spring adjuster under the cap.

Unless bellows or diaphragm sealing is used, process fluid will enter the spring housing (or bonnet). The amount of fluid depends on the particular design of safety valve. If emission of this fluid into the atmosphere is acceptable, the spring housing may be vented to the atmosphere - an open bonnet. This is usually advantageous when the safety valve is used on high temperature fluids or for boiler applications as, otherwise, high temperatures can relax the spring, altering the set pressure of the valve. However, using an open bonnet exposes the valve spring and internals to environmental conditions, which can lead to damage and corrosion of the spring.

When the fluid must be completely contained by the safety valve (and the discharge system), it is necessary to use a closed bonnet, which is not vented to the atmosphere. This type of spring enclosure is almost universally used for small screwed valves and, it is becoming increasingly common on many valve ranges since, particularly on steam, discharge of the fluid could be hazardous to personnel.

A lifting mechanism is recommended to test for correct valve operation at all times where corrosion, caking, or any deposit could prevent the opening operation.

Foreign particles can lodge under the seat of the valve when it discharges. The lifting lever allows you to lift the valve and flush the obstruction. Pressure relief valves for Section VIII require a lift lever on all air, steam, and hot water valves used at temperatures over 60 degC. Typically used where periodic testing of the valve in location is desired to assure its operation. With an Open lifting lever design, when the valve discharges, fluid media will escape into the atmosphere around the open lifting lever assembly. If this is not desirable or when back pressure is present you would select a Packed Lifting Lever design.

As described above, this type is selected where leakage of the media to the atmosphere during valve discharge or during back pressure would be un-desirable. A packed lever design is a completely sealed assembly.

Some people consider a bolted and gasketed design better to the standard screw cap for applications with back pressure and / or vibration hence some manufacturers offer this as an option.

Under certain circumstances i.e. under the start-up conditions of a plant or to pressure test the system in a controlled environment, it may be required that the valve is prevented from opening.This is achieved by screwing the bolt (shown on the wire) into the cap which screws down onto the stem and prevents it lifting. Obviously it is important that test gags are removed prior to placing the valve into service.

The bellows is designed to cover the same area on the back of the disc equal to the seat area hence the back pressure will have no effect on the set pressure. See the previous section “Basic Safety Valve Principles”. Bellows also protects the spindle, spindle guide and spring from the process medium.

A disc is held against the nozzle by a spring, which is contained in a cast bonnet. The spring is adjusted by a compression screw to permit the calibration of opening or set pressure. An adjustable nozzle ring, threaded onto the nozzle, controls the geometry of the fluid exit control chamber (also known as a huddling chamber). The control chamber (huddling chamber) geometry is very important in controlling valve opening and closing pressures and stability of operation. The nozzle ring is locked into position by a ring pin assembly as shown in Figure 15 below.

Under normal system operation the valve remains in the closed position because the spring force (Fs) is greater than the system pressure acting on the internal nozzle seating area (PA). If system pressure increases to a point when these forces are equal, then the set pressure is reached. The disc lifts and fluid flows through the valve. When pressure in the system returns to a safe level, the valve closes.

Just prior to reaching set point, the pressure relief valve leaks system fluid into the huddling chamber. The fluid now acts on a larger area of the disc inside the huddling chamber (PAh), causing the valve to experience an instantaneous increase in the opening force. Refer to the figure 16 above to see relationship between Nozzle Area (A) and the Huddling Chamber Area (Ah). System pressure acting on the larger area will suddenly open the safety relief valve at a rapid rate.

Although the opening is rapid and dramatic, the valve does not open fully at set point. The system pressure must increase above set point to open the valve to its full lift and capacity position. Maximum lift and certified flow rates will be achieved within the allowable limits (overpressure) established by various codes and standards. All pressure relief ales are allowed an overpressure allowance to reach full rated flow. The allowable over pressure can vary from 10% to 21% on unfired vessels and systems, depending on the sizing basis, number of valves, and whether a fire condition is encountered.

Once the valve has controlled the pressure excursion, system pressure will start to reduce. Since the huddling chamber area is now controlling the exit fluid flow, system pressure must reduce below the set point before the spring force is able to close the valve. The difference between the set pressure and the closing pressure is called blowdown, and is usually expressed as a percentage of set pressure. The typical blowdown can vary from 7% to 10%, the industry standard.

The nozzle ring adjustment changes the shape and volume of the huddling chamber, and its position will affect both the opening and the closing characteristics of the valve. When the nozzle ring is adjusted to its top position, the huddling chamber is restricted to its maximum. The valve will usually pop very distinctly with a minimum simmer (leakage before opening), but the blowdown will increase. When the nozzle ring is lowered to its lowest position, minimal restriction to the huddling chamber occurs. At this position, simmer increases and the blowdown decreases. The final ring position is somewhere between these two extremes to provide optimal performance.

On liquid service, a different dynamic situation exists. Liquids do not expand when flowing across orifices, and a small amount of fluid flow across the nozzle will produces a large local pressure drop at the nozzle orifice. This local pressure drop causes the spring to reclose the valve if the fluid flow is minimal. Liquids leaking into the huddling chamber can quickly drain out by gravity and prevent fluid pressure from building up in the secondary area of the huddling chamber. Liquid relief valves are thus susceptible to a phenomenon called chatter, especially at low fluid flow rates. Chatter is the rapid opening and closing of the pressure relief valve and is always destructive.

Because of the difference in the characteristics of gases and liquids, some valve designs require a special liquid trim in order to meet ASME Code Section VIII performance criteria of full rated liquid flow at 10% overpressure. With liquids since no visible or audible pop is heard at set point, the set pressure is defined as the pressure when the first heavy flow occurs (a pencil sized steady stream of water that remains unbroken for approximately one inch).

Manufacturers usually state their recommended testing procedure and testing intervals in their Installation, Operating and Maintenance Instructions (IOM). Typically, they recommend a manual test every 3 or 6 months (assuming it has a lifting lever) and a set pressure test every 12 months. It is sensible to incorporate these into your maintenance plan so they are not missed. Sometimes your insurance company may require them to be tested even more regularly than this i.e. every 6 months. Testing in most cases involves removing them from your system and having them recertified in an approved workshop.

If you have a system that is shut down for annual maintenance then this is an ideal time to remove your Safety valves and have them inspected and recertified.

For systems that can only be off for short periods of time, it is sensible to keep a spare valve to swap over and then the removed valve can be inspected and recertified.

For systems that cannot be shut down, you will need to use a changeover valve which allows you to swap between Safety valves allowing one to be removed for inspection and testing.

For larger Safety valves on systems that run continuously, you may consider using in-situ testing. This method does have some limitations however since you cannot visually inspect the inside of the valve, but it will tell you if the valve is opening at the correct set pressure.

(a) A valve passing (leaking) on the outlet side when the valve is supposed to be closed. This can happen to valves of any age (new or old) and occurs if debris contained in the medium passes through the valve at a point when the valve lifts, and the debris either traps or damages the internals of the valve. On soft seated valves, hard particles may embed themselves in the soft material causing re-sealing issues. If your valve has a lifting lever and it is safe to do so, then it is worth lifting the handle for a few seconds which will hopefully clear any debris allowing the valve to reseal correctly. If this isn’t an option or it doesn’t cure the problem, then the valve will need to be removed and returned for maintenance and recertification. The time we often see this the most is during the startup of a system and there is a pressure spike, hence this is why it is extremely important that a system is flushed out well before hand.

Safety valves are used in a variety of applications, including air/gas, vapor, steam and liquid service.  Flotech has been approved by the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors to perform safety and relief valve testing, repair and certification.

Our valve experts will focus on getting your valves tested, repaired and quickly set to the exact specifications.  We evaluate the repair condition of every valve and will recommend the right solution to manage your maintenance program.

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Boiler explosions have been responsible for widespread damage to companies throughout the years, and that’s why today’s boilers are equipped with safety valves and/or relief valves. Boiler safety valves are designed to prevent excess pressure, which is usually responsible for those devastating explosions. That said, to ensure that boiler safety valves are working properly and providing adequate protection, they must meet regulatory specifications and require ongoing maintenance and periodic testing. Without these precautions, malfunctioning safety valves may fail, resulting in potentially disastrous consequences.

Boiler safety valves are activated by upstream pressure. If the pressure exceeds a defined threshold, the valve activates and automatically releases pressure. Typically used for gas or vapor service, boiler safety valves pop fully open once a pressure threshold is reached and remain open until the boiler pressure reaches a pre-defined, safe lower pressure.

Boiler relief valves serve the same purpose – automatically lowering boiler pressure – but they function a bit differently than safety valves. A relief valve doesn’t open fully when pressure exceeds a defined threshold; instead, it opens gradually when the pressure threshold is exceeded and closes gradually until the lower, safe threshold is reached. Boiler relief valves are typically used for liquid service.

There are also devices known as “safety relief valves” which have the characteristics of both types discussed above. Safety relief valves can be used for either liquid or gas or vapor service.

Nameplates must be fastened securely and permanently to the safety valve and remain readable throughout the lifespan of the valve, so durability is key.

The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors offers guidance and recommendations on boiler and pressure vessel safety rules and regulations. However, most individual states set forth their own rules and regulations, and while they may be similar across states, it’s important to ensure that your boiler safety valves meet all state and local regulatory requirements.

The National Board published NB-131, Recommended Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Legislation, and NB-132, Recommended Administrative Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Rules and Regulationsin order to provide guidance and encourage the development of crucial safety laws in jurisdictions that currently have no laws in place for the “proper construction, installation, inspection, operation, maintenance, alterations, and repairs” necessary to protect workers and the public from dangerous boiler and pressure vessel explosions that may occur without these safeguards in place.

The documents are meant to be used as a guide for developing local laws and regulations and also may be used to update a jurisdiction’s existing requirements. As such, they’re intended to be modifiable to meet any jurisdiction’s local conditions.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) governs the code that establishes guidelines and requirements for safety valves. Note that it’s up to plant personnel to familiarize themselves with the requirements and understand which parts of the code apply to specific parts of the plant’s steam systems.

High steam capacity requirements, physical or economic constraints may make the use of a single safety valve impossible. In these cases, using multiple safety valves on the same system is considered an acceptable practice, provided that proper sizing and installation requirements are met – including an appropriately sized vent pipe that accounts for the total steam venting capacity of all valves when open at the same time.

The lowest rating (MAWP or maximum allowable working pressure) should always be used among all safety devices within a system, including boilers, pressure vessels, and equipment piping systems, to determine the safety valve set pressure.

General guidance on proper installation may seem like common sense to experienced installers and inspectors. A few of the most important guidelines and best practices include:

Avoid isolating safety valves from the system, such as by installing intervening shut-off valves located between the steam component or system and the inlet.

Contact the valve supplier immediately for any safety valve with a broken wire seal, as this indicates that the valve is unsafe for use. Safety valves are sealed and certified in order to prevent tampering that can prevent proper function.

Avoid attaching vent discharge piping directly to a safety valve, which may place unnecessary weight and additional stress on the valve, altering the set pressure.

A. In a shaft design (Series RVT), a non-sticking solid PTFE shaft passes through three (3) U-cup seals which effectively isolates the liquid from the spring. An elastomer seat at the end of the shaft seals across the valve orifice.

B. In a diaphragm design of either PTFE or an elastomer the diaphragm becomes both the seal isolating the spring as well as the seal across the valve orifice.

Angle (90°) Porting Relief Valves have historically been the most popular design. Design and performance are the same. The benefit of a 90° angle pattern would be for simplifying the piping scheme by using the Relief Valve body in lieu of a 90° elbow. In-line valves can be installed anywhere in a straight piping run.

All styles are normally-closed and begin opening once the set pressure is reached. They use spring force to push down upon a shaft or diaphragm. The pressure setting is done manually by turning the adjusting bolt clockwise to raise the pressure setting, and counter-clockwise to lower it. This simply varies the compressive force of the internal spring across the valve orifice. The more it is compressed, the higher the set pressure will be.

When the inlet pressure reaches the set pressure, the force created by the inlet pressure is equal to the force exerted by the spring. Liquid then begins to trickle through the valve. As inlet pressure continues to increase, the valve opens farther, allowing more flow.

In addition to relieving excess/dangerous pressure from closed-top vessels or piping systems, these normally-closedvalves provide system control benefits as shown. Depending upon the function performed, they are given different names.

As shown in the application diagram above, this is a very versatile and widely utilized valve. Its compact size, ease of setting and re-adjustment and repeatability, all contribute to its popularity. There are Air-Loaded (aka. Dome Loaded) Relief Valves selectively available but require numerous accessory items (air regulators, filters, lubricators, etc.) for their operation.

For futher assistance with your specific application involving Relief Valves please contact our Technical Sales Dept. at (973) 256-3000 or E-mail us at info@plastomatic.com

(1) Boiler safety valves and safety relief valves must be as indicated in PG-67 through PG-73 of section I of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (incorporated by reference; see 46 CFR 52.01-1) except as noted otherwise in this section.

(3) On river steam vessels whose boilers are connected in batteries without means of isolating one boiler from another, each battery of boilers shall be treated as a single boiler and equipped with not less than two safety valves of equal size.

(4) (Modifies PG-70.) The total rated relieving capacity of drum and superheater safety valves as certified by the valve manufacturer shall not be less than the maximum generating capacity of the boiler which shall be determined and certified by the boiler manufacturer. This capacity shall be in compliance with PG-70 of section I of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.

(5) In the event the maximum steam generating capacity of the boiler is increased by any means, the relieving capacity of the safety valves shall be checked by an inspector, and, if determined to be necessary, valves of increased relieving capacity shall be installed.

(6) (Modifies PG-67.) Drum safety valves shall be set to relieve at a pressure not in excess of that allowed by the Certificate of Inspection. Where for any reason this is lower than the pressure for which the boiler was originally designed and the revised safety valve capacity cannot be recomputed and certified by the valve manufacturer, one of the tests described in PG-70(3) of section I of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code shall be conducted in the presence of the Inspector to insure that the relieving capacity is sufficient at the lower pressure.

(8) Lever or weighted safety valves now installed may be continued in use and may be repaired, but when renewals are necessary, lever or weighted safety valves shall not be used. All such replacements shall conform to the requirements of this section.

(10) (Modifies PG-73.2.) Cast iron may be used only for caps and lifting bars. When used for these parts, the elongation must be at least 5 percent in 51mm (2 inch) gage length. Nonmetallic material may be used only for gaskets and packing.

(1) (Modifies PG-68.) Superheater safety valves shall be as indicated in PG-68 of section I of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code except as noted otherwise in this paragraph.

(2) The setting of the superheater safety valve shall not exceed the design pressure of the superheater outlet flange or the main steam piping beyond the superheater. To prevent damage to the superheater, the drum safety valve shall be set at a pressure not less than that of the superheater safety valve setting plus 5 pounds minimum plus approximately the normal load pressure drop through the superheater and associated piping, including the controlled desuperheater if fitted. See also § 52.01-95(b) (1).

(3) Drum pilot actuated superheater safety valves are permitted provided the setting of the pilot valve and superheater safety valve is such that the superheater safety valve will open before the drum safety valve.

(1) (Modifies PG-71.) Safety valves shall be installed as indicated in PG-71 of section I of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code except as noted otherwise in this paragraph.

(2) The final setting of boiler safety valves shall be checked and adjusted under steam pressure and, if possible, while the boiler is on the line and the steam is at operating temperatures, in the presence of and to the satisfaction of a marine inspector who, upon acceptance, shall seal the valves. This regulation applies to both drum and superheater safety valves of all boilers.

(3) The safety valve body drains required by PG-71 of section I of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code shall be run as directly as possible from the body of each boiler safety valve, or the drain from each boiler safety valve may be led to an independent header common only to boiler safety valve drains. No valves of any type shall be installed in the leakoff from drains or drain headers and they shall be led to suitable locations to avoid hazard to personnel.

(1) (Modifies PG-72.) The operation of safety valves shall be as indicated in PG-72 of section I of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code except as noted in paragraph (d)(2) of this section.

(2) (Modifies PG-73.) The lifting device required by PG-73.1.3 of section I of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code shall be fitted with suitable relieving gear so arranged that the controls may be operated from the fireroom or engineroom floor.