Function and Purpose of Safety Valves

What is a Pressure Safety Valve?

A safety valve belongs to the category of relief valves or pressure relief valves (PRV). It serves the purpose of controlling or limiting the pressure within a system. Otherwise, the pressure could accumulate and result in a process disruption, failure of instruments or equipment, or even a fire.

The safety valve is a particular kind of valve. Its opening and closing parts are typically kept closed under the influence of external force. When the pressure of the medium inside the equipment or pipeline rises above the specified level, it prevents the medium pressure in the pipe or equipment from exceeding that specified value by discharging the medium out of the system.

What’s the purpose and function of a safety valve?

The fundamental objective of a safety valve is safeguarding life, property, and the environment. It is engineered to open and discharge excessive pressure from vessels or equipment and then close again to halt the further release of fluid once normal conditions have been re-established.

A safety valve is a safety apparatus and, in numerous situations, the ultimate safeguard. It is crucial to guarantee that the safety valve can function at all times and in every circumstance. A safety valve is not a process valve or a pressure regulator and should not be wrongly employed as such. It must function with a single purpose: overpressure protection.

Safety valves fall under the classification of automatic valves. They are principally utilized in boilers, pressure vessels, and pipelines. By ensuring that the control pressure does not surpass the specified value, they play a vital part in protecting personal safety and the proper operation of equipment. It should be noted that they must undergo pressure testingbeforeo being put into use.