An Engineer’s Guide to Selecting a Pressure Relief Valve

Published On: June 2nd, 2021
Mockup - An Engineer's Guide to Selecting a Pressure Relief Valve

A Pressure Relief Valve is a mechanical device which allows a gas or liquid to escape from a section of a fluidic system when the pressure exceeds a predetermined limit. Pressure Relief Valves can serve several different functions within a system. The performance requirements of a pressure relief valve will be influenced by its intended use. Selecting a valve appropriate for your application is critical to ensure the system operates properly. There are several factors that must be considered to ensure proper operation of a Pressure Relief Valve within a system or pressure vessel. Neglecting to consider these factors can lead to reduced valve or system performance, damage to other components within the system, or a total system failure.

After determining the required performance characteristics of a relief valve, it is critical to identify other variables that will influence the pressure relief valve’s design. The internal and external environment of the system will affect the valve’s design in a variety of ways, impacting every aspect of its functionality and limiting options for the valve’s construction. After determining the optimal performance requirements and the environmental factors that will impact performance, the next step is to select or design an appropriate pressure relief valve for the application. Unfortunately, it may be challenging to find a solution that meets every requirement. Even when a valve is designed with the previously discussed performance criteria and environmental factors considered, pressure relief valves may get damaged and fail to perform properly in service. It is important to be aware of certain failure modes to ensure a relief valve is designed appropriately and the proper measures are in place within the system to mitigate the risk of failure.

In this brochure, you will learn all about how to select a Pressure Relief Valve capable for your needs.

Table of Contents

  1. What is a Pressure Relief Valve?
  2. Pressure Relief Valve Functions
  3. How Pressure Relief Valves Work
  4. Pressure Relief Valve Configurations
  5. What are the critical performance characteristics of a Pressure Relief Valve?
  6. What environmental factors impact the design of a Pressure Relief Valve?
  7. Pressure Relief Valves performance trade-offs and design challenges
  8. Potential failure modes
  9. Are there unique industry requirements for Pressure Relief Valves?
  10. How can DenisDePloeg and The Lee Company help you?