Air Compressor Safety Valves: Ignoring These Issues Will Lead to Safety Hazards
1. Circumstances Where Safety Valves Shall Not Be Used
The effectiveness of equipment depends on its applicable conditions. Improper application of safety valves may bring severe hidden dangers. The following describes scenarios where air compressor safety valves are not suitable for independent use.
When pressure rises rapidly and the discharge capacity of the safety valve is lower than the pressure build-up rate.
When stringent sealing performance is required.
When the medium inside the vessel may cause safety valve failure. For instance, media containing a large amount of solid particles will result in poor sealing after the safety valve re-seats.
When the medium inside the vessel is highly toxic or poses other risks to public safety.
Safety valves shall not be used alone under the above conditions. A rupture disc, or a combined assembly of safety valve and rupture disc, shall be adopted instead.
2. Safety Valves Require Periodic Calibration
An air compressor safety valve is an automatic valve. Its working principle: when the medium pressure inside the air compressor or pipeline exceeds the set value, the valve discharges medium out of the system to prevent overpressure of pipelines and equipment. It plays a vital role in protecting equipment operation and personnel safety by limiting pressure within the rated range.
According to the Regulation on Safety Technical Supervision of Safety Valves, safety valves shall undergo periodic calibration at least once a year, subject to relevant requirements in safety technical specifications.
Calibration Methods for Air Compressor Safety Valves
Off-line Calibration on Test Bench
Mount the safety valve on a calibration bench, feed calibration medium to lift the valve, and confirm the set pressure via pressure gauge readings. Nevertheless, this method cannot simulate backpressure conditions, nor calibrate safety valves working with high-temperature or low-temperature media.
On-line Instrument Calibration
Measure the downward spring force exerted on the safety valve by external force, so as to calculate the set pressure. This method normally does not interrupt production or change system pressure. It features fast and convenient testing, yet it cannot verify the sealing performance of the safety valve.
Pressure Rise Pop Test (On-system Calibration)
The safety valve remains installed on the system. Manually raise the system pressure until the safety valve pops open to measure its set pressure. This method causes relatively heavy damage to the sealing surface of the safety valve and carries higher operational risks compared with other calibration approaches.
The effectiveness of equipment depends on its applicable conditions. Improper application of safety valves may bring severe hidden dangers. The following describes scenarios where air compressor safety valves are not suitable for independent use.
When pressure rises rapidly and the discharge capacity of the safety valve is lower than the pressure build-up rate.
When stringent sealing performance is required.
When the medium inside the vessel may cause safety valve failure. For instance, media containing a large amount of solid particles will result in poor sealing after the safety valve re-seats.
When the medium inside the vessel is highly toxic or poses other risks to public safety.
Safety valves shall not be used alone under the above conditions. A rupture disc, or a combined assembly of safety valve and rupture disc, shall be adopted instead.
2. Safety Valves Require Periodic Calibration
An air compressor safety valve is an automatic valve. Its working principle: when the medium pressure inside the air compressor or pipeline exceeds the set value, the valve discharges medium out of the system to prevent overpressure of pipelines and equipment. It plays a vital role in protecting equipment operation and personnel safety by limiting pressure within the rated range.
According to the Regulation on Safety Technical Supervision of Safety Valves, safety valves shall undergo periodic calibration at least once a year, subject to relevant requirements in safety technical specifications.
Calibration Methods for Air Compressor Safety Valves
Off-line Calibration on Test Bench
Mount the safety valve on a calibration bench, feed calibration medium to lift the valve, and confirm the set pressure via pressure gauge readings. Nevertheless, this method cannot simulate backpressure conditions, nor calibrate safety valves working with high-temperature or low-temperature media.
On-line Instrument Calibration
Measure the downward spring force exerted on the safety valve by external force, so as to calculate the set pressure. This method normally does not interrupt production or change system pressure. It features fast and convenient testing, yet it cannot verify the sealing performance of the safety valve.
Pressure Rise Pop Test (On-system Calibration)
The safety valve remains installed on the system. Manually raise the system pressure until the safety valve pops open to measure its set pressure. This method causes relatively heavy damage to the sealing surface of the safety valve and carries higher operational risks compared with other calibration approaches.
