Relief Valves

A relief valve is a mechanism that ensures system fluid flow when a preselected
differential pressure across the filter element is exceeded;

From: Advanced Industrial Control Technology, 2010

Related terms:

Reactor, Compressors, Explosions, Temperature, Higher Pressure, Overpressure,

Set Pressure

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Learn more about Relief Valves

Gases and Gas Equipment

Richard P. Brookman, Bruce Tibbott, in Semiconductor Safety Handbook, 1998

Relief Valves.
Relief valves provide overpressure protection for semiconductor gas systems. Most
relief valves have a poppet valve seat that is backed by a spring that opposes the gas
pressure. When overpressure occurs the spring force is overcome and the excess
pressure is vented. Relief valves can be used to protect components downstream of
the regulator from damage, should regulator failure occur. They should be sized to
handle the entire flow rate they could possibly have to vent at a pressure below the
maximum pressure to which the system should be exposed. Many relief valves, once
opened by pressure, are designed to reseat when the pressure drops below the set
value. Once the condition causing the relief valve to open has been corrected, the
relief valve should always be checked for proper pressure setting and sealing. Relief
valve outlets should always be piped into venting systems appropriate for the gas
being handled. Sometimes faulty relief valves allow small amounts of process gas
to pass into the vent, going undetected for long periods of time causing premature
depletion of cylinder contents. Also exposure to corrosive or pyrophoric gases may
cause improper relief valve operation. Because of the critical nature of this device, it
should be checked frequently for proper operation. Relief valves supplied as a part
of gas delivery systems should never be relied upon to protect pressure sensitive
equipment downstream from the gas delivery system.

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Valves
Roy A. Parisher, Robert A. Rhea, in Pipe Drafting and Design (Third Edition), 2012

Relief Valves
have a purpose quite different from the previous valves. They are designed to release
excessive pressure that builds up in equipment and piping systems. To prevent major
damage to equipment, and more importantly, injury to workers, relief valves can
release elevated pressures before they become extreme. Relief valves use a steel
spring as a means to automatically open when pressures reach unsafe levels. These
valves can be adjusted and regulated to pop off when internal pressures exceed
predetermined settings. Once internal pressures return to operational levels, the
relief valve closes. Figure 5.19 shows the internal mechanism of a relief valve.
Figure 5.19. Relief valve.

Courtesy of Farris Safety-Relief Valves.

Another valve that performs the same basic function as the relief valve is the pressure
safety valve. Although similar in design and appearance, the two valves operate differ-
ently. Relief valves are used in piping systems that service liquid commodities and are
designed to open proportionally, that is, as pressure from the commodity increases
so does the opening of the valve. The higher the pressure, the larger the opening. The
pressure safety valve, however, is used with higher-pressure commodities such as
steam and gas. Pressure safety valves are designed to open completely when internal
pressures exceed the setting for which the internal spring has been set. As with the
relief valve, once internal pressures return to operational levels, the valve will close
itself. Figure 5.20 provides drawing symbols used to represent the relief valve and
pressure safety valve.
Figure 5.20. Relief and pressure safety valve drawing symbols.

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Relief Systems
Rutger Botermans, Peter Smith, in Advanced Piping Design, 2008

9.4.1 Pressure Relief Valve Installation

For general requirements of relief valves installation at vessel or pipework, see
Figures 9-1 through 9-8.

Figure 9-1. Recommended typical relief valve installation with and without stop
valve.

(based on API Recommended Practice 520)

Figure 9-2. Recommended typical relief valve installation when mounted on the
overhead vapor line.

(based on API Recommended Practice 520)

Figure 9-3. Recommended typical relief valve installation when mounted on the
process vapor line.

(based on API Recommended Practice 520)

Figure 9-4. Recommended typical relief valve installation when mounted on long
inlet piping.

(based on API Recommended Practice 520)

Figure 9-5. Recommended typical installation to avoid process laterals connected to

pressure relief valve inlet piping.

(based on API Recommended Practice 520)

Figure 9-6. Recommended typical relief valve installation on pulsating compressor
discharge.

(based on API Recommended Practice 520)

Figure 9-7. Recommended typical installation to avoid excessive turbulence at the

entrance to the pressure relief valve lateral when mounted on a line.

(based on API Recommended Practice 520)

Figure 9-8. Recommended typical relief valve installation.

(based on API Recommended Practice 520)

Relief valves should be mounted in a vertical position only.

• For optimum performance, relief valves must be serviced and maintained

regularly. To facilitate this, relief valves should be located to enable easy access
and removal. Sufficient platform space must be provided around the valve.
• The provision of a lifting device should be considered for large relief valves. For
typical installation of relief valves and piping, see Figures 9-1 through 9-8.
• The system inlet and outlet piping should be designed to provide for proper
valve performance. To this end, a complete relief system isometric showing
the inlet and discharge piping of all relief valves included in the system should
be produced. The figures show part of such a system, overall dimensions and
line sizes should be included.
• The system must first be approved by the Process Department for pressure
drop, then by the Stress Section for system flexibility. Should the piping be
rerouted due to stress requirements, the Process Department must reapprove
the system.
• The inlet piping to a relief valve should be designed so that the pressure drop
does not exceed 3% of the relief valve set pressure, see Figures 9-1, 9-2, and
9-4.
• The most desirable installation is that in which the nominal size of the inlet
branch piping is the same as or greater than the nominal size of the valve
inlet flange and the length does not exceed the face-to-face dimensions of
a standard tee and weld neck flange of the required pressure class. The
configuration shown on the flow diagram always must be followed.
• Relief valve systems designed to discharge against a constant pressure cannot
tolerate a back pressure greater than 10% of the set pressure. Balanced bellows
or Balanseal relief valves, which operate practically independent of the back
pressure, tolerate a much higher figure; but generally, the higher is the back
pressure, the lower the capacity of the relief valve. Due to this, the discharge
piping should be kept as direct as possible, see Figures 9-6 and 9-7.
• The flow diagram determines if the discharge is to the atmosphere or a closed
discharge header, see below figures for details.
• It is poor practice to mount the relief valve at the end of a long, horizontal inlet
pipe through which there is normally no flow.
• Foreign matter may accumulate or liquid may be trapped and may interfere
with the operation of the valve or be the cause of more frequent valve main-
tenance.
• Process laterals generally should not be connected to relief valve inlet piping,
see below Figure 9-4.
• Proximity of other valves and equipment, the recommendations laid down in
below Figures 9-4, 9-6 and 9-7 should be followed if possible for the minimum
number of straight pipe diameters between the device causing turbulence and
the relief valve. The above does not apply to relief valves fitted with stop valves,•
see Figures 9-1 and 9-4.
Relief valves discharging into a relief header must be located at an elevation
above the relief header so that the discharge line is free draining. Under no
circumstances may the discharge line or the relief header be pocketed.

> Read full chapter

API 576 Inspection of Pressure-Reliev-

ing Devices
Clifford Matthews, in A Quick Guide to API 510 Certified Pressure Vessel Inspector
Syllabus, 2010

Section 4.3: relief valves

Relief valves (see Fig. 8.3) are direct spring-loaded valves that begin to open when
the set pressure is reached. They open progressively and do not exhibit a pop action.
Full lift is obtained with an overpressure of 10 % or 25 % depending on the type of
valve. The valve will close after blowdown is complete but at a pressure lower than
the set pressure. They are sometimes called thermal relief valves as they may relieve
small pressure increases caused by thermal expansion of process liquid.

Figure 8.3. A thermal relief valve

Normally, relief valves have a closed bonnet to prevent the release of product that is
toxic, corrosive, flammable or expensive. For tightness of the seat, resilient O-rings
can be fitted to replace the conventional metal-to-metal seat.
Applications: mostly used on incompressible liquids.

Limitations: relief valves should not be used on the following services:

• Vapour services including steam, air and gas.

• Systems that discharge into a closed header unless the back pressure build-up
has been allowed for.
• As a bypass or pressure control valve.

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Preparation for Maintenance

Trevor Kletz, in What Went Wrong? (Fifth Edition), 2009

1.2.4 Identification of Relief Valves

Two relief valves, identical in appearance, were removed from a plant during a
shutdown and sent to the workshops for overhaul. One relief valve was set to
operate at a gauge pressure of 15psi (1 bar) and the other at 30psi (2 bar). The set
pressures were stamped on the flanges, but this did not prevent the valves from
being interchanged.

A number of similar incidents have occurred in other plants.

Such incidents can be prevented, or at least made much less likely, by tying a
numbered tag to the relief valve when it is removed and tying another tag with the
same number to the flange.

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Piping
Seán Moran, in Process Plant Layout (Second Edition), 2017

34.8.7 Relief Devices

Conventional relief valves must be installed with the stem in the vertical position.
Care should be taken to ensure that the valves are not subjected to significant
thermal expansion stresses or required to support significant weight of piping.
Otherwise, valve tightness could be affected and pocketing of the discharge in
depressed portions of the line may result.

All relief valves, safety valves, or bursting discs discharging to atmosphere should be
piped to safety as discussed in Section 13.3.1 and illustrated in Fig. 34.15. Relief
valves discharging into a closed system should be installed so as to prevent liquid
being trapped on the outlet side of the valve.

Figure 34.15. Piping vents to a stack.

Courtesy: The Boots Company.

If locating a relief valve below the header is unavoidable, then a manually operated
drain valve should be installed at the valve outlet and piped away to the appropriate
effluent system. Relief valve headers should always slope toward the blowdown
drum. Reaction forces from relieved fluids escaping to atmosphere may require
special support of discharge piping.

Relief valve inlet piping must be kept to a minimum and should never be smaller
than the valve inlet size. No valve or restriction of any kind (excepting a bursting disc)
is permissible between single relief valves and the equipment they protect (see the
case study in Section 10.13.4). When twin relief valves are used, a positive isolation
arrangement must be provided before the relief valves. This is usually in the form
of two interlocked isolating valves so that one relief is always available for operation.
Each must therefore be capable of the total duty. Interlock arrangements cannot be
applied for relief duty spread over more than two valves.

If vent lines can be piped to an accessible but safe point, visual observation can
make testing and operation easier. Access for inspection to relief valves may be by
fixed ladder for DN 80 or smaller bores, but should preferably be from platform or
floor for larger bores. In buildings, mobile platforms can be used. For maintenance
purposes, a hitching point or davit should be considered for valves weighing over
9 kg.
> Read full chapter

PROCESS SAFETY AND PRES-

SURE-RELIEVING DEVICES
A. Kayode Coker, in Ludwig's Applied Process Design for Chemical and Petrochem-
ical Plants (Fourth Edition), Volume 1, 2007

9.1 TYPES OF POSITIVE PRESSURE-RELIEVING DEVICES

(SEE MANUFACTURERS' CATALOGS FOR DESIGN DETAILS)
Relief Valve: A relief valve is an automatic spring-loaded pressure-relieving device
actuated by the static pressure upstream of the valve, and which opens further with
increase in pressure over the opening pressure. It is used primarily for liquid service
[1, 8] (Figures 9-1a and b). The rated capacity is usually attained at 25% overpressure.

Figure 9-1a. Relief valve.

(Courtesy of Crosby-Ashton Valve Co.)

Figure 9-1b. Accessories for all types of safety relieving valves.

(Courtesy of Crosby-Ashton Valve Co.)

Safety Valve: This is an automatic pressure-relieving device actuated by the static

pressure upstream of the valve and characterized by rapid full opening or “pop”
action upon opening [1, 8], but does not reseat. It is used for steam or air service
(Figure 9-2). The rated capacity is reached at 3, 10, or 20% overpressure, depending
upon applicable code.
Figure 9-2. Safety valve.

(Courtesy of Crosby-Ashton Valve Co.)

Safety relief Valve: This is an automatic pressure-relieving device actuated by the

static pressure upstream of the valve and characterized by an adjustment to allow
reclosure, either a “pop” or a “non-pop” action, and a nozzle type entrance; and
it reseats as pressure drops. It is used on steam, gas, vapor, and liquid (with
adjustments), and is probably the most general type of valve in petrochemical and
chemical plants (Figures 9-3a, b, and 9-4). The rated capacity is reached at 3 or 10%
overpressure, depending upon code and/or process conditions. It is suitable for use
either as a safety or as a relief valve [1, 8]. It opens in proportion to an increase in
internal pressure.
Figure 9-3a. Conventional or unbalanced nozzle safety relief valve.

(By permission from Teledyne Farris Engineering Co.)

Figure 9-3b. Safety relief valve with rubber or plastic seats.

(By permission from Anderson, Greenwood and Co.)

Figure 9-4. Balanced nozzle safety relief valve, Balanseal®.

(By permission from Teledyne Farris Engineering Co.)

Pressure-relief Valve: The term “Pressure-relief valve” applies to relief valves, safety
valves, or safety relief valves [8].

Pilot-operated Safety Valves: When properly designed, this type of valve arrangement
conforms to the ASME code. It is a pilot-operated pressure-relief valve in which the
major relieving device is combined with and is controlled by a self-activating auxiliary
pressure-relief valve (see Figures 9-5a and b).
Figure 9-5a. Pilot-operated safety relief valve.

(By permission from Anderson, Greenwood and Co.)

Figure 9-5b. Safety relief valve mechanism as connected to a non-flow (zero flow)
pilot safety valve.

(By permission from Anderson Greenwood and Co.)

> Read full chapter

Transducers and valves

Peng Zhang, in Advanced Industrial Control Technology, 2010

(2) Relief valves

A relief valve is a mechanism that ensures system fluid flow when a preselected
differential pressure across the filter element is exceeded; the valve allows all or
part of the flow to bypass the filter element. Relief valves are used in oil and
gas production systems, compressor stations, gas transmission (pipeline) facilities,
storage systems, in all gas processing plants, and whenever there is a need to exhaust
the overpressure volume of gas, vapor, and/or liquid.

Figure 4.14 illustrates the working blocks of a relief valve, which operate on the
principle of unequal areas being exposed to the same pressure. When the valve is
closed, the system pressure pushes upward against the piston seat seal on an area
equal to the inside diameter of the seat. Simultaneously, the same system pressure,
passing through the pilot, exerts a downward force on the piston, but this acts on an
area approximately 50% greater than the inside diameter of the seat. The resulting
differential force holds the valve tightly closed. As the system reaches the discharge
pressure set for the valve, the piston seal becomes tighter, until the system pressure
reaches the relief valve discharge set pressure. At that moment, and not before, the
pilot cuts off the supply of system pressure to the top of the piston and vents that
system pressure which is located in the chamber above the piston of the relief valve.
At the same instant, the relief valve pops open. When the predetermined blow-down
pressure is reached (either fixed or adjustable), the pilot shuts off the exhaust and
reopens flow of system pressure to the top of the piston, effectively closing the relief
valve.

Figure 4.14. The working blocks of relief valve.

(Courtesy of P.C. McKenzie Company)

Figure 4.15 is a drawing of a direct-operating pressure relief valve. This pressure

relief valve is mounted at the pressure side of the hydraulic pump that is located on
its bottom. The task of this pressure relief valve is to limit the pressure in the system
to an acceptable value. A pressure relief valve has infact the same construction as a
spring-operated check valve. When the system becomes overloaded, the pressure
relief valve will open, and the pump flow will be led directly into the hydraulic
reservoir. The pressure in the system remains at the value determined by the spring
on the pressure relief valve. In the pressure relief valve, the pressure that is equal to
the system energy will be converted into heat. For this reason pressure relief valves
should not be operated for long durations.
Figure 4.15. A drawing of a direct-operating pressure relief valve.

Table 4.2 lists several important types of relief valve, categorized in terms of their
applications. In industrial control, typical features for relief valves include the fol-
lowing:

Table 4.2. Important Types of Relief Valves

Temperature and pressure relief valves Temperature and pressure relief valves are used
in water heater and hot water storage tank ap-
plications to provide automatic temperature and
pressure protection to hot water supply tanks and
hot water heaters.
Reseating temperature and pressure relief valves Automatic reseating temperature and pressure
relief valves are used in commercial water heater
applications to provide automatic temperature
and pressure protection to domestic hot water
supply tanks and hot water heaters.
Pressure relief valves Pressure relief valves are used in hot water heat-
ing and domestic supply boiler applications to
protect against excessive pressures on all types of
hot water heating supply boiler equipment.
Poppet-style relief valves Calibrated pressure relief valves are used in com-
mercial, residential and industrial applications
to protect against excessive pressure in systems
containing water, oil, or air.

1. Pressure settings of relief valves are externally adjustable while the valve is in
operation. Most vendors of relief valves offer eight different spring ranges, to
provide greater system sensitivity and enhanced performance.
2.
Manual override option with positive stem retraction is available for pressures.3.
This option permits the user to relieve upstream pressure while maintaining
the predetermined cracking pressure.
Color-coded springs and labels indicate spring cracking range. 4.

Lock-wire feature secures a given pressure setting.

> Read full chapter

Design Fundamentals
Marc Hellemans, in The Safety Relief Valve Handbook, 2010

[Link] Thermal relief valves

Thermal relief valves are small, usually liquid relief valves designed for very small
flows on incompressible fluids. They open in some proportion of the overpressure.
Thermal expansion during the process only produces very small flows, and the array
of orifices in thermal relief valves is usually under the API-lettered orifices, with a
maximum orifice D or E. It is, however, recommended to use a standard thermal
relief orifice (e.g. 0.049 in2). Oversizing SRVs is never recommended since they
will flow too much too short, which in turn will make them close too fast without
evacuating the pressure. This will result in chattering of the oversized valve and
possible water hammer in liquid applications.

Thermal relief valves are usually of rather simple design. A few are designed to resist
backpressures. However, there are so many designs on the market, it is impossible
to treat them all in this book.

As a general rule, they should not be used in steam, air, gas or vapour applications or
in the presence of variable backpressure. Nevertheless, there are high-performance
small spring-loaded valves which are designed specifically for specific services on
gas, with backpressure or under cryogenic conditions.

> Read full chapter

Safety relief valves

In Handbook of Valves and Actuators, 2007

Special Note: Non-metallic safety relief valves

 Safety relief valves in uPVC, PP and PVDF are available in sizes from DN15 to DN100,
see Figure 7.21. These valves are diaphragm sealed style for pressures up to 10 barg.
The PVC valves can operate between 0°C and 50°C, the PP valves −10°C to 90°C
and PVDF valves 0°C to 100°C. All valves can have screwed union connectors. UPVC
valves can have solvent cement sockets and PP/PVDF can have fusion spigots. The
valve design is slightly unusual in that the process flow is transported through the
valve; the valve is not fitted to a branch which would normally be static. This style
of construction removes the possibility of the most common causes of safety relief
valve operational problems; inlet branch too small or too long.

Figure 7.21. Typical non-metallic safety relief valve

Full-bore diaphragm valves, (Chapter 3, Section 3.3.1), are available in non-metallic

materials:

• PVC, PVDF, PP, PVDF, ABS, CPVC.

Sizes range from DN15 to DN100 with pressure ratings of 6 and 10 barg. These
valves could be fitted with spring-loaded stems or constant pressure pneumatic/hy-
draulic loading to perform safety relief valve functions.

The pinch valve can be considered as a non-metallic valve as all the process fluid
contacting parts are elastomers. Pneumatically/hydraulically actuated valves can also
function as safety relief valves.

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