Top 7 Factors to Consider For Selecting the Best Safety Relief Valve

Safety relief valves or pressure relief valves ensure the safety of pipelines, vessels and equipment that deal with pressure-sensitive workflows. Unregulated pressure flow in such systems can lead to overpressure that can cause an explosion or cause damage to the machinery. To ensure the safety of personnel, equipment and other assets, you need to select the perfect valve from reliable safety relief valve manufacturers.

Here are the top 7 factors to consider while selecting a safety relief valve:

1. Size

Based on common usage, there are standard valve sizes offered by valve manufacturers. The orifice size should be selected as per the minimum required flow rate. You can pick a suitable inlet and outlet for the valve from the various size options available in the market. Valves are also available in flanged and non-flanged designs. Also, are you looking for a male or female connection? Filter your valve options as per the size requirements. If you are searching for a safety valve for specialised equipment then consider custom valve designs.

2. Set Pressure

A safety relief valve opens when it reaches the set pressure point. Ensure that your chosen valve comes with a set pressure as per your needs. Incorrect pressure settings may not give you optimum performance and can become a safety risk.

3. End Application

Safety valves are used in various industries. Based on the process fluids that will be passing through them, the valve material should be chosen. The valve should be able to function smoothly while allowing safe passage of elements such as air and water or process fluids that can be corrosive media.

4. Temperature

Many a time, the environment in which the safety valves are installed may involve extreme temperatures. You need to choose a safety valve that can withstand such high or low temperatures and does not interfere with the quality of the contents passing through it.

5. Capacity

Experienced safety relief valve manufacturers have standard valve capacity tables. Check if you can find a valve model with your desired capacity by referring to these tables. Else, you can think about customisation of the valves. Do not try to get a standard model if it doesn’t meet your capacity needs because it can be risky. The valve must relieve the process fluid at a certain capacity to serve its purpose.

6. Back Pressure

Depending on whether the fluid will move upstream or downstream, the back pressure needs to be decided. The back pressure is the pressure on the outlet side of the valve and can be constant or variable. Discuss your requirement with the valve manufacturer to get the back pressure right. If the back pressure isn’t right, the chances of getting the valve damaged quickly are high.

7. Quality

While you have got your tech specs right, the quality of your safety relief valve depends on the quality tests. Make sure that your chosen pressure relief valve manufacturers are able to provide you with all the quality test certifications guaranteeing the durability and safety functionality of the valves.

Sudarshan is the author of this article on lpg vaporizer manufacturers .