Accumulation - Pressure increase over MAWP of vessel during relief, expressed as % of set pressure or in psi.

Back pressure - The pressure at the outlet of the PRV = Superimposed + Built-up back-pressures

Superimposed back pressure - The pressure at the PRV outlet before the PRV opens, resulting
from pressure in the discharge system.

- Constant superimposed back pressure does not change appreciably under any
condition of operation whether the PRV is open or closed.

- Variable superimposed back pressure is pressure in discharge system that may

fluctuate.

Built-up back pressure - The pressure that develops in the discharge header when the relief valve
opens.

Blowdown – Pressure at which a PRV reseats after relieving, typically expressed as % of set pressure or as a
pressure differential percentage (usually reseating @ 93% of set pressure, or 7% blowdown). Blowdown is
adjustable and depends on the valve design, manufacturer, and setting.

Chattering - Rapid opening and closing of a PRV in quick succession. Chattering is also detrimental to the PRV
seating surfaces, often causing the PRV to leak in normal operation. Chattering can be caused by: Oversized
PRV, Inlet losses exceeds 3% of Pset, Excessive back pressure, Broken or leaking balanced bellows

Cold differential test pressure (CDTP) – Set pressure at which a PRV is adjusted to begin opening on a test
stand. CDTP includes correction for constant back pressure and/or an elevated service temperature.

Corrected hydrotest pressure - corrected hydrotest pressure accounts for allowable stress differences of the
material of construction between the overpressure scenario temperature (relieving temperature) and either the test
temperature or the design temperature (usually higher than the test temperature). Hydrostatic test pressure
multiplied by the ratio of stress value at upset temperature to the stress value at test temperature

Design Pressure - Pressure, together with the design temperature, used to determine the minimum
permissible thickness. User provides a suitable margin above the most severe pressure expected
during normal operation at a coincident temperature. The design pressure is equal to or less than the
MAWP
Lift - The rise or travel of the PRV disc during opening.

MAWP - The maximum gauge pressure permissible at the top of a completed vessel in its normal operating
position at the designated coincident temperature specified for that pressure. Pressure specified for actual nominal
thickness, exclusive of additional metal thickness allowed for corrosion and loadings other than pressure.

Overpressure - Pressure increase over set pressure of the PRV at which the PRV is fully open, expressed as %
of set pressure.

Relief Valve - A spring-loaded pressure relief valve actuated by the static pressure upstream of the valve.
The valve opens normally in proportion to the pressure increase over the opening pressure. Used primarily
with incompressible fluids.

Safety Valve - A spring-loaded pressure relief valve actuated by the static pressure upstream of the valve
and characterized by rapid opening or pop action. Normally for compressible fluids.

Safety Relief Valve – A spring-loaded pressure relief valve used as either a safety or relief valve.

Set Pressure - Pressure at which the PRV is set to begin opening.

Simmer - The audible or visual release of fluid across the PRV just prior to opening at set pressure. Excessive
simmering is detrimental to valve seating surfaces.
conventional pressure-relief valve
A spring-loaded pressure-relief valve whose operational characteristics are directly affected by changes in the
backpressure. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/pressure-relief-what-back-brett-mahar/

balanced pressure-relief valve

A spring-loaded pressure-relief valve that incorporates a bellows or other means for minimizing the effect of
backpressure on the operational characteristics of the valve. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/balanced-bellows-back-
pressure-brett-mahar/

pilot-operated pressure-relief valve

A pressure-relief valve in which the major relieving device or main valve is combined with and controlled by a self-
actuated auxiliary pressure-relief valve (pilot).

rupture disk device

A nonreclosing pressure-relief device actuated by static differential pressure between the inlet and outlet of the
device and designed to function by the bursting of a rupture disk. A rupture disk device includes a
rupture disk and a rupture disk holder

pin-actuated device
A nonreclosing pressure-relief device actuated by static pressure and designed to function by buckling or
breaking a pin which holds a piston or a plug in place. Upon buckling or breaking of the pin, the piston or plug
instantly moves to the full open position.

Effective vs Actual Discharge Capacity

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141020045459-77605969-effective-vs-actual-discharge-area/

for all 3 valve types, inlet pr drop <= 3% of set pr, else chatter
Fractionation
Tower Top Reflux failure Vapors from 2nd tray from top of tower
Overhead Cooling
Total Condensation
Power failure
.
Capacity of the heat exchanger can be taken as
required flow for the prv

Tube Rupture API: 2/3 or 10/13 Function of Pressure drop among other factors
PRV required if design pr (low - pr
side/high-pr side)<2/3 or 10/13
required if low-pressure side design pr >
corrected hydrotest pressure
low-pr side corrected hydrotest pressure <
(Internal Failure) high-pr side design pressure dp = [ op pr on high-pr side - higher of
(critical or relieving pressure on low-pr side)]
Maximum Pump flow rate or
maximum flow capacity of the
Blocked Outlet Pump shut off (upstream) > devices feeding the system;
(mass balance downstream eqpt design pr add flow rates if multiple pumps
for relief rate)
Many vessels with same design pr --
BO for only most upstream PSV

Exchangers if blocked in on cold fluid

side and cold-side vap pr of liq @
hot side inlet > cold-side design
pr….vaporization occurs
Control Valve
Failure if fail open/inadvertent opening of max CV capacity -
fail close can overpressure normal outlet flows
from downstream eqpt; max cv
capacity depends on the valve
(manufacturer) and the pressure
downstream eqpt drop across the cv

Gas blowby failure of liquid level cv in full open pos

inadvertent opening of bypass cv
gas flows thro liq outlet line and if max upstream pr -
design pr of downstream eqpt < design downstream relieving pr
pr of upstream eqpt
Hydraulic
Expansion increase in liq vol due to inc in temp DN (20) x DN (25)
liquid-filled eqpt, piping

blocked in on cold side with flow on the hot

liquid-fill, blocked
subsequent heating
side
NPS 3/4" x NPS 1"
blocked cold-side fld exposed to hot side
inlet temp, no phase change occurs i.e. fluid
is still in liquid phase and no vaporization
of liquid occurs for it to be thermal Orifice size below API
expansion! orifice D recommended
thermal exp coeff * heat flux/ sp.gravity * cp
Fire ignited liq spill (pool fire), isolated vessel Heat abs = 21000 FA0.82
70 feet dia circular area = pool fire area 34500 FA0.82 (no drainage)
Both shell & tube liq that can be vaporized or gas that expands
considered for
relief Gas
Interconnected piping jet fire = ignited pressurized leak
Runaway Reaction: amount of vapor that can be produced determines the relief rate
A relief valve is a piping element that is designed to open when a certain pressure is reached; To handle flammable
releases, refineries often install a flare stack, which contains a flame that is constantly burning. Also, there will be a
flare header system of pipes to bring any relief valve releases to the flare stack. The flare headers will be designed to
have a very small pressure drop so they do not provide any barriers to a fluid release, and the headers will safely carry
any fluid releases to the flare stack to be fully combusted. In some cases, relief can be to safe location that is not a
flare stack. In the case of benign gases like steam, air, hydrogen, etc. some companies allow you release the gases
high into the atmosphere at a safe vent location.

Corrected hydrotest pressure - corrected hydrotest pressure accounts for allowable stress differences of the
material of construction between the overpressure scenario temperature (relieving temperature) and either the test
temperature or the design temperature (usually higher than the test temperature). Hydrostatic test pressure
multiplied by the ratio of stress value at upset temperature to the stress value at test temperature

Overfilling if Source pressure of liquid feed > design pressure of the equipment or PRD set pressure

Gas blowby = loss of liquid level followed by high pressure vapor flow; it is the discharge of gas from a process
equipment through a liquid outlet; occurs due to failure of liquid level control system or an inadvertent opening of
cv bypass; can lead to overpressure in downstream equipment. Relief rate = full vapor flow through the liquid cv

Abnormal heat input

Reboilers, other process heating equipment: abnormal heat input may cause vapor generation > condensation; relief
rate = max vapor inflow – condensation or vapor outflow

Inadvertent valve opening

Relief load depends on the maximum operating pressure upstream of the valve and the downstream equipment
pressure at relieving conditions

Check valve failure

When a spare pump is brought online, if check valve has leakage, spare pump may see discharge pressure of the
operating pump and lead to overpressure situation

Reverse flow through check valves in series is a scenario when the maximum operating pressure of the high-
pressure system is greater than the corrected hydrotest pressure of the low pressure equipment

Transient Pressure Surges – Water hammer or hydraulic shock waves/steam hammer/ condensate hammer – due to
rapid closure of valves – cannot be controlled by typical PRD – avoid the use of quick closing valves

Chemical Reactions

Cryogenic fluids and loss of process control – reduction in pressure lowers temperature to minimum allowable
design temperature of the equipment = low-temperature brittle failure

Exothermic reactions – runaway reaction causes pressure above MAWP – DIERS Methodology for relief rate – if
PRDs are infeasible, use reaction inhibitors, depressuring, quench, automatic shutdown