Precautions for Installation of Safety Valves​

As a key component to ensure the safe operation of equipment, the installation quality of safety valves is directly related to the safety and stability of the system. Correct installation of safety valves can effectively prevent overpressure of equipment and avoid accidents. The following are the key precautions during the installation of safety valves:​

Preparation before Installation​

Adequate preparation before installing the safety valve is the basis for ensuring a smooth installation. Firstly, it is necessary to carefully check the model and specification of the safety valve to ensure that they match the design pressure, working temperature and other parameters of the equipment. Different types of equipment and systems have different requirements for safety valves. If the model is inconsistent, it may not be able to play an effective safety protection role.​

Secondly, a comprehensive inspection of the safety valve is required. Check whether the appearance of the safety valve is damaged, whether the connecting parts are intact, and whether the internal parts such as the valve core and valve seat are clean and free of debris. At the same time, it is necessary to confirm that the safety valve has been calibrated and is within the validity period, and that relevant materials such as the calibration report are complete. Only safety valves that have passed the calibration can ensure that they operate accurately at the set pressure.​

In addition, it is necessary to prepare appropriate installation tools and auxiliary materials, such as wrenches and gaskets. The material of the gasket should be selected according to the nature, temperature and pressure of the medium to ensure good sealing performance and prevent medium leakage.​

Key Points during Installation​

The operation during the installation process directly affects the performance of the safety valve and must be carried out in strict accordance with the specifications.​

The selection of installation location is crucial. The safety valve should be installed at the highest point of the equipment or pipeline or at a position where gas is easy to accumulate, so as to discharge the overpressure medium in the system in time. For systems with liquid media, the safety valve should be installed at a position to avoid liquid impact, so as to prevent the safety valve from malfunctioning due to liquid impact. At the same time, the safety valve should be installed in a place that is convenient for inspection, maintenance and replacement, and there should be enough space around to ensure that operators can carry out related work smoothly.​

In terms of connection mode, the connection between the safety valve and the equipment or pipeline should adopt flange connection or threaded connection. The specific connection mode should be determined according to the type and specification of the safety valve. During connection, ensure that the sealing surface of the flange or thread is flat and clean. When installing the gasket, pay attention to accurate positioning to avoid deflection. When tightening the bolts, apply force evenly to ensure that each bolt is stressed uniformly to prevent leakage.​

In addition, the inlet pipeline of the safety valve should be as short and straight as possible to reduce the impact of pipeline resistance on the opening pressure of the safety valve. The diameter of the inlet pipeline should not be smaller than that of the safety valve inlet to ensure that the medium can enter the safety valve smoothly. If a valve needs to be installed on the inlet pipeline of the safety valve, the valve must be in the fully open state, and an outside screw and yoke valve should be used so that the operator can intuitively judge the valve state and prevent the safety valve from failing to work normally due to the valve being closed.​

Inspection and Commissioning after Installation​

After the installation is completed, it cannot be put into use immediately, and careful inspection and commissioning are required.​

Firstly, check whether the safety valve is installed firmly and whether there is leakage at each connection part. Leakage detection can be carried out by observation, applying soapy water and other methods. If leakage is found, the gasket should be tightened or replaced in time.​

Then, commission the safety valve. Slowly increase the system pressure and observe whether the opening pressure of the safety valve is within the set range. When the pressure reaches the opening pressure, the safety valve should open and exhaust quickly and accurately; when the pressure drops to the closing pressure, the safety valve should close in time and stop exhausting. If the opening pressure or closing pressure does not meet the requirements, readjustment or calibration should be carried out.​

After passing the commissioning, the safety valve should be lead-sealed, and installation and commissioning records should be made. The records include installation location, model specification, calibration date, opening pressure, closing pressure and other information, which can provide a basis for subsequent maintenance and management.​

In conclusion, the installation of safety valves is a rigorous work, and every link cannot be ignored. Only by strictly abiding by the installation precautions can we ensure that the safety valve plays its due safety protection role in the system and ensure the safety of equipment and personnel.