2015.8.26——‘Weekly Topic’: How do you manage your safety valves?
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Safety valves are important safety components for equipment and pipelines; currently, most systems are equipped with two of them. Please share how you manage your safety valves – are they all in use, or is one in use while the other serves as a backup? Of course, it’s not possible to have them all turned off. We encourage everyone to participate actively
Here, we have two units in operation; both are put into use, and then they are taken down during shutdown for inspection.
It is usually used at full capacity; it’s not possible to have one in operation and one as a backup.
All have been put into use; for some reaction vessels, there are concerns regarding corrosion of the safety valves, so an explosion-proof barrier has been installed in front of them as a safeguard
We also use two at the same time; I think the reason for designing two is to prevent an overpressure accident in the container if one of them fails
It depends on the intended use. First, when the discharge capacity of a single safety valve is not sufficient, two safety valves are used ； Second, the set pressures of the two safety valves are different ； Thirdly, to meet the requirements for safety valve maintenance: in the petrochemical industry, plant maintenance is generally carried out every 3–4 years, while safety valves must be inspected annually as per regulations; therefore, two safety valves – one in use and one as a backup – are installed. In the first two scenarios, both safety valves must be in use; in the third scenario, one valve is in operation while the other serves as a backup.
It mainly involves the management of lead seals; however, safety valves are usually located in high places and no one touches them. As long as regular safety checks are carried out, that’s sufficient!
Our facility has two safety valves, with one additional one also installed. Under normal conditions, all of them are in use, and they undergo regular inspections every year.
One in use and one as backup – is that how it’s designed, or is it considered to be the right approach?
We are fully open; it’s just that the takeoff parameters for the two are different.
One type of safety valve I’m aware of is such that the equipment requires two safety valves, and both of them must be in use； Some also arrange two units, one in use and one as a backup, to facilitate maintenance ； Another option is to install two safety valves on one interface that can switch roles with each other (only one can be in use at a time, and the installation requires special equipment).