The Critical Role of Safety Relief Valves

SRVs are critical elements to the overall process safety of a chemical plant. The decisive functions of these safeguards are described in Valve Magazine [22], which begins with this attention-getting paragraph  

Perhaps no one valve plays as critical a role in the prevention of industrial accidents as the pressure relief valve. This silent sentinel of industry, sometimes referred to as the safety or safety relief valve, is essential in helping us minimize industrial accidents caused by the overpressurization of boilers and pressure vessels. 

Relief valves serve the unique function of providing the last line of defense against the dangerous accumulation of excessive pressures within pressure vessels, tanks, and piping. They are self-contained and self-operating when other warning and control systems fail to provide the necessary protection. 

The following observations were reported by Bruce Van Boskirk at an AIChE Meeting in Southeast Texas [23] 

Relief valves are very deceiving in appearance. Because they look like pipe fittings, they are often handled and stored in the same manner. This misconception can lead to significant abuse and damage. RELIEF DEVICES ARE DELICATE INSTRUMENTS AND MUST BE TREATED AS SUCH. 

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