If you were to ask what the most common device used in steam boilers to protect from overpressure conditions, the answer would be the safety valve. The first safety valves were introduced in the early 19th century as result of boiler explosions on ships and locomotives. Today, a safety valve is a critical and necessary part of a boiler system used to protect human life and property from different situations that may arise including:
• An imbalance of fluid flow rate caused by inadvertently closed or opened isolation valves on a process vessel.
• Failure of a cooling system, which allows vapor or fluid to expand.
• Compressed air or electrical power failure to control instrumentation.
• Transient pressure surges.
• Heat exchanger tube failure.
• Uncontrollable exothermic reactions in chemical plants.
• Ambient temperature changes.
To learn more about safety valves, their types, selection, installation and sizing, visit the following link: http://www.spiraxsarco.com/resources/steam-engineering-tutorials/safety-valves/introduction-to-safety-valves.asp
This site provides a comprehensive list of tools and resources specific to steam generation and is beneficial for boiler owners.
If you have additional questions regarding safety valves, give us a call and we’ll do whatever we can to help you understand: 510-490-7100.