API 520 Part 1 Sizing and Selection of Pressure Relief Devices 1 Para 1.

.1: the recommended practice applies to the sizing and selection of pressure relief devices used in refineries and related industries for equipment that has a maximum allowable working pressure of 15 psig [1 !kPag" or greater. # $hat is %&tead' state flow of (ewtonian fluids)* ! Para 1.1: Pressure relief devices protect a vessel against overpressure onl'+ the' do not protect against structural failure when the vessel is exposed to extremel' high temperatures such as during a fire. &ee ,P- recommended Practice 5#1 for information about appropriate wa's of reducing pressure and restricting heat input. . Para 1.1: ,tmospheric and low pressure storage tanks covered in ,P- standard # and pressure vessels used for the transportation of products in bulk or shipping containers are not within the scope of this recommended practice. -n addition/ the rules for overpressure protection of fired vessels are provided in &ection - of the ,&01 2oiler and Pressure 3essel 4ode and ,&01 2!1.1/ and are not within the scope of this recommended practice. 5 Para 1.#.1.1: Pressure relief device ma' be a pressure relief valve/ a non5reclosing 6*7 pressure relief device/ or a vacuum relief valve. 8 Para 1.#.1.#: understanding the difference between a relief valve6,7/ a safet' valve627/ a safet' relief valve647/ a conventional pressure relief valve697/ a balanced pressure relief valve617/ and a pilot operated pressure relief valve6:7: 3alve , ,ctuated b' &tatic upstream pressure 4haracter 3alve opens in proportion to the pressure increase over the opening pressure ;apid opening or pop action ,pplication -ncompressible fluids

2 4 9

&tatic upstream &pring &pring

pressure

4ompressible fluids $orks as safet' or relief

9irectl' changes pressure

affected b' in the back

&pring

-ncorporate a bellows or other means for minimizing the effect of back pressure , pressure relief valve <arger size

pilot

= Para 1.#.1.!: non5reclosing pressure relief device: a pressure relief device which remains open after operation. , manual resetting means ma' be provided. > Para 1.#.1..: rupture disk device is a non5reclosing pressure relief device actuated b' static differential pressure between the inlet and outlet of the device and designed to function b' the bursting of a rupture disk. , rupture disk device includes a rupture

disk and a rupture disk holder. ,ttention: the definition of disk and holder ? Para 1.#.1.5: Pin5actuated device is a non5reclosing pressure relief valve device actuated b' static pressure and designed to function b' buckling or breaking a pin which holds a piston or a plug in place. @pon buckling or breaking of the pin/ the piston or plug instantl' moves to the full open position. 1 Para 1.#.# 9imensional 4haracteristics of Pressure ;elief 9evices 11Para 1.#.! Aperational 4haracteristics