The majority of oil and refined-product pipelines in Brazil have their protection system designs based on spring-type pressure relief valves. Thus, the proper design and operation of these valves is essential to ensure the safety of transport pipelines and loading/unloading terminals during any abnormal operation conditions that generate a surge pressure. In simple terms, these valves have a disk which is pressed by a spring against the inlet nozzle of the valve. When the pressure rises, the force generated on the surface of the disc increases and, depending on the pressure relief valve set point, the force due to pressure overcomes the force exerted by the spring, causing the disk to rise and discharge the fluid through the outlet nozzle to the relief line, reducing the pressure level within the pipeline. Despite its importance, most commercial applications do not present a specific model to simulate the transient behavior of pressure relief valves. This paper presents an experimental study aimed at determining the dynamic behavior of a commercial spring-type relief valve. The valve was installed in a pipe loop instrumented with pressure and flow transducers. The transient motion of the valve disc was measured with a fast-response displacement transducer. The transient in the flow loop was generated by the controlled closing of a block valve positioned downstream of the relief valve. The recorded transient data for disc position, upstream and downstream pressures, and discharge flow rates were used to compute the discharge coefficient as a function of opening fraction and the opening fraction as a function of time. Simulation models based on a spring-mass damped system were developed and implemented in a PID-actuator-control valve system. The systems were implemented in a commercial pipeline simulation program modeling the experimental loop employed in the tests. The numerical and experimental data of the block valve closure transient were compared displaying good agreement. Simulations results employing a generic relief valve model frequently used in simulations were also obtained revealing problems associated with this approach.
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2012 9th International Pipeline Conference
September 24–28, 2012
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Conference Sponsors:
- International Petroleum Technology Institute
- Pipeline Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4512-7
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Dynamic Behavior of Spring-Loaded Pressure Relief Valve: Numerical and Experimental Analysis Available to Purchase
Leonardo Motta Carneiro,
Leonardo Motta Carneiro
Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Luis F. G. Pires,
Luis F. G. Pires
Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Marcelo de Souza Cruz,
Marcelo de Souza Cruz
Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Luis F. A. Azevedo
Luis F. A. Azevedo
Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Leonardo Motta Carneiro
Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Luis F. G. Pires
Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Marcelo de Souza Cruz
Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Luis F. A. Azevedo
Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Paper No:
IPC2012-90239, pp. 553-561; 9 pages
Published Online:
July 25, 2013
Citation
Carneiro, LM, Pires, LFG, de Souza Cruz, M, & Azevedo, LFA. "Dynamic Behavior of Spring-Loaded Pressure Relief Valve: Numerical and Experimental Analysis." Proceedings of the 2012 9th International Pipeline Conference. Volume 1: Upstream Pipelines; Project Management; Design and Construction; Environment; Facilities Integrity Management; Operations and Maintenance; Pipeline Automation and Measurement. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. September 24–28, 2012. pp. 553-561. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IPC2012-90239
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