The dynamic response of pressure relief valves in vapor or gas service. Part II: Experimental investigation

• Opening characteristics of disk lift vs. time of direct acting pressure relief valves in gas service have been measured.
• 18 Pressure relief valves were tested at different inlet and outlet piping installations and valves' flowing conditions.
• Impact of system pressurization, depressurization, and inlet and outlet piping on valve performance has been evaluated.
• Various modes of stable and unstable (e.g., chatter) pressure relief valves performances have been observed.

An experimental testing program designed to evaluate the opening stability characteristics of direct acting pressure relief valves (PRV) in gas/vapor service is described. Three different valve sizes from each of three different manufacturers were tested at two different set pressures to determine their opening characteristics (disk lift vs. time). The valves were tested with several different lengths of inlet piping as well as with and without discharge piping to determine the conditions under which unstable operation (chatter) would occur. Part I of this program described a mathematical model for predicting the dynamic response of PRV's, and the data described in this test program were used to evaluate the accuracy of the model, as described in Part III of this study to follow.