Regarding the issue of safety valve leakage
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One of the pressure reducing valves used in our company – which is used to reduce steam pressure from 0.5 Mpa to 0.02 Mpa – has been leaking continuously since it was calibrated; the amount of leakage is quite significant. It has been taken offline for repair on two occasions, but the problem persists even after inspections. The set pressure for this valve is 0.25 Mpa. What could be the possible causes of this issue?
Nitrogen or air is used for testing at low temperatures; now it’s steam, and the increase in temperature causes changes in components such as the spring of the safety valve, which leads to leaks.
It’s probably a problem with the pressure gauge, right? During pressure testing, it is not acceptable to have any leaks. If the valve orifice is corroded or damaged, it should be ground to the proper standard before undergoing a pressure test, and it must not leak during this test. If the valve opening is damaged due to frequent overpressure, the issue should be addressed by tackling the overpressure problem first.
The operating conditions of steam pressure gauges vary, so I agree more with the opinion of the first responder.
It keeps leaking; is the sealing surface of the safety valve damaged?