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Abstract

AE Shackelford, Heil JE, and Sergo IP, “Safely Service Your Relief Devices”, Chemical Engineering Progress, March 2017; 113 (3): 27-32.

Pressurized equipment must be outfitted with pressure relief devices to protect the equipment from overpressure. These devices — mechanical or instrumented, passive or active — automatically relieve material and energy in response to an increase in system pressure. Pressure relief devices typically refer to pressure relief valves and bursting discs, although explosion hatches, water seals, buckling pin devices, and pressure/vacuum breather valves can also provide overpressure protection.

It is sometimes necessary to isolate and remove pressure relief devices for inspection, maintenance, or repair, and it would be advantageous to have a means to do so without shutting down the process, especially in light of the additional risks associated with shutdown and startup.

This article offers guidance on methods to isolate pressure relief devices while the process continues to operate, and recommends actions that provide temporary overpressure protection.

View this article on AIChE’s website: https://www.aiche.org/resources/publications/cep/2017/march/safely-service-your-relief-devices

This article is a condensed, edited, and illustrated version of our paper presented at the 12th Global Congress on Process Safety. That original paper can be downloaded here:  

Reducing Risk During Online Isolation, Removal, and Maintenance of Relief Devices (55 KB)