2010 SECTION VIII, DIVISION 2
9-10
pressure must be maintained below 641 kPa (93 psig) in order to prevent leakage or flow from a partially
open valve.
b) Users should exercise caution regarding the blowdown adjustment of large spring-loaded valves. Test
facilities, whether owned by Manufacturers, repair houses, or users, may not have sufficient capacity to
accurately verify the blowdown setting. The settings cannot be considered accurate unless made in the
field on the actual installation.
c) Pilot-operated valves represent a special case from the standpoints of both blowdown and tightness. The
pilot portion of some pilot-operated valves can be set at blowdowns as short as 2%. This characteristic
is not, however, reflected in the operation of the main valve in all cases. The main valve can vary
considerably from the pilot depending on the location of the two components in the system. If the pilot is
installed remotely from the main valve, significant time and pressure lags can occur, but reseating of the
pilot assures reseating of the main valve. The pressure drop in the connecting piping between the pilot
and the main valve must not be excessive; otherwise, the operation of the main valve will be adversely
affected. The tightness of the main valve portion of these combinations is considerably improved above
that of conventional valves by pressure loading the main disk or by the use of soft seats or both. Despite
the apparent advantages of pilot-operated valves, users should be aware that they should not be
employed in abrasive or dirty service, in applications where coking, polymerization, or corrosion of the
wetted pilot parts can occur, or where freezing or condensation of the fluid at ambient temperatures is
possible. For all applications, the pressure relief valve Manufacturer should be consulted prior to
selecting a valve of this type.
d) Tightness capability is another factor affecting valve selection, whether spring-loaded or pilot-operated. It
varies somewhat depending on whether metal or resilient seats are specified, and also on such factors
as corrosion or temperature. The required tightness and test method should be specified to comply at a
pressure no lower than the normal operating pressure of the process. A recommended procedure and
acceptance standard is given in API Standard 527, Seat Tightness of Pressure Relief Valves. It should
also be noted that any degree of tightness obtained should not be considered permanent. Service
operation of a valve almost invariably reduces the degree of tightness.
e) Application of special designs such as O-rings or resilient seats should be reviewed with the pressure
relief valve Manufacturer.
f) The anticipated behavior of the pressure relief valves includes allowance for a plus-or-minus tolerance
on set pressure that varies with the pressure level. Installation conditions, such as backpressure,
variations, and vibrations influence selection of special designs and may require an increase in the
differential pressure (operating margin).
9.A.6.2.3 General Recommendations for Pressure Differentials (Operating Margin)
The following pressure differentials are recommended unless the pressure relief valve has been designed or
tested in a specific or similar service, and a smaller differential has been recommended by the Manufacturer.
a) A minimum difference of 35 kPa (5 psi) is recommended for set pressures to 485 kPa (70 psi). In this
category, the set pressure tolerance is +
13.8 kPa (+2 psi), and the differential to the leak test pressure is
10% or 35 kPa (5 psi), whichever is greater.
b) A minimum differential of 10% is recommended for set pressures from 490 to 6900 kPa (71 psi to 1000
psi). In this category, the set pressure tolerance is +
3% and the differential to the leak test pressure is
10%.
c) A minimum differential of 7% is recommended for set pressures above 6900 kPa (1000 psi). In this
category, the set pressure tolerance is +
3% and the differential to the leak test pressure is 5%.
d) Pressure relief valves having small seat sizes will require additional maintenance when the pressure
differential approaches these recommendations.