Pressure Relief Valves: Take the pressure of more than just storage tanks

Pressure Relief Valves: take the pressure of more than just storage tanks.

By LVSA Group

Written by Chriselda Pillay

The oil and gas industry produce enormous amounts of fluids daily. These products must be stored, (usually for a short period of time) before transportation or further processing. The oil and gas industry as well as many other industries use storage tanks. Due to the nature of oil and gas, it is no surprise that the strictest rules govern the materials, manufacture and maintenance of storage tanks. The American Petroleum Institute’s API 650 standard, outlines minimum requirements for the: design, materials, fabrication, erection, and examination of welded storage tanks. These standard outlines, protect the structure, safety of people and environment of the storage tanks. If a storage tank fails during an act of God or in an emergency situation the results could be fatal.

On the second of April 2015 around 10:00 am, a fuel tank storage facility in Santos near Sao Paulo went up in flames. It took over 80 fire fighters with 22 fire trucks almost 5 days to put out the blaze. The facility stores up to 301,300 cubic meters of fuels, chemicals, vegetable oils, ethanol and corrosive products. An estimated 8 tanks were completely destroyed and many others damaged in the fire. Fortunately, no lives where lost. Are there products that can stop or even prevent disasters like this? Yes, Pressure relief devices are major emission control devices. These devices can take more than just the pressure of storage tanks.

Relief valves protect against damage from pressure or vacuum and reduce losses from product evaporation. Deflagration and detonation arresters reduce the risk of damage or injury from fire. Blanket gas regulators maintain a constant gas pressure inside the vapor space of a tank to protect against fire or evaporation.

LVSA Group are the proud agents of Groth Corp Valves. Groth is a global leader in manufacturing pressure/vacuum relief valves, flame and detonation arresters, blanket gas regulators, and other low-pressure relief products. Groths products have been protecting refineries, chemical processing plants, and any facility with atmospheric, fixed-roof storage tanks: from tank farms all the way down to single storage tanks – for more than 40 years. LVSA Group provides solutions for: oil and gas, Chemical Processing, Pharmaceutical, Food and Beverage, and Bio Gas Processing.

For more information visit: http://lvsa.co.za/groth-corp-valve-official-supplier-durban-johannesburg-capetown-south-africa/

For enquiries: sales@lvsa.co.za

Bibliography

• Paulo Whitaker/Reuters, 2 April 2015, Smoke rises from fire at a fuel tank storage facility, viewed July 2019, <https://www.businessinsider.com/r-fuel-tank-fire-enters-third-day-in-santos-brazil-2015-4?IR=T>.

• Groth Corporation 2017, LVSA Group (Pty) Ltd official distributor of Groth Corporation Valves, Viewed July 2019, < http://lvsa.co.za/groth-corp-valve-official-supplier-durban-johannesburg-capetown-south-africa/>.

Bell-o-seal Valves

One of the most frequent and serious problems valves face is gland leakage, results in wasted and increased plant downtime. Apart from the high cost of energy losses, Gland leakages can also cause serious environmental, ecological and health hazards to plant workers and personnel.

UST USE A BELLOW SEAL VALVE
100% ZERO LEAKAGE TO ATMOSPHERE AND SAVE

Leakage of sensitive material can also constitute to a fire hazard, explosion, or damage to equipment by corrosive material. Air entering the pipeline could produce inflammable explosive or poisonous mixtures. Gland packed valves often demand continual maintenance in accessibility creating particular difficulties. The bellows comply to conditions at high temperatures and are capable of withstanding over 10,000 cycles without failure.

Product Range

Bell-O-Seal Valves are well qualified to provide technological assistance for applications involving hazardous and difficult to- handle fluids and gases.

• Bellow seal globe and  gate valves
• Bellow seal valve for chlorine service
• Bellow seal y-type and angle valves
• Jacketed & non  jacketed polymer  valves
• Bellow seal bellow operated valves & bellow seal  isolation valve and 3 valve manifold

Gate Valve

For More Details Visit: Neway Gate Valve Supplier

Neway Butterfly Valve

    For More Details Visit: Neway Butterfly Valve Supplier

Groth Corp Valves Supplier in Africa - Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town

Groth is a global leader in manufacturing pressure/vacuum relief valves, flame and detonation arresters, blanket gas regulators, and other low pressure relief products.

Groths products have been protecting refineries, chemical processing plants, and any facility with atmospheric, fixed-roof storage tanks: from tank farms all the way down to single storage tanks - for more than 40 years.

When ordering from Groth Corporation, you can be assured that our expertise and devotion to quality will translate into efficiency and safety, and that our every effort will demonstrate our commitment to provide innovative solutions, quality products, and comprehensive service.

Some of the markets Groth provides solutions for are: oil and gas, Chemical Processing, Pharmaceutical, Food and Beverage, and Bio Gas Processing. LVSA Group is the Proud Agent of Groth Corp throughout Africa.

Products:

• Valves and Tank Equipment
• Regulators
• Test SandsValve & Flame Arrester
• Flame Control
• Valve & Flame Arrester
• Wastewater Biogas

Basic Guidelines for Valve Selection Across Process Applications

Gate, Ball and Butterfly Valves are the most common form of shut-off valve, with ball and even butterfly valves rapidly becoming the primary choice due to the ease of automation and fast shut-off abilities, and in the case of ball valves the barest minimum of flow restrictions. We are often supplying ball and butterfly valves fully actuated, as plants of today become more and more automated, and are often now run by computers and the flick of a switch.

Getting the right selection of valves across a diverse process application can be a difficult task for many design engineers, however with a step by step approach one can definitely narrow down to the most suitable valve to meet any process across variable temperature, pressure and flow media. But first of all you should know a little more about the service conditions. To identify the same you could start by listing down answers to the following questions.

1. Where the valve is to be used, what function you want to perform?
2. What are the pressure/temperature requirements?
3. What kind of fluids will be in line?
4. What size is the line?
5. Are the conditions moderate or extreme?
6. How much room have you got for valve stems/handles?
What are the service requirements, are the valves to be regularly dismantled for cleaning? Is the installation permanent, or likely to be cut into frequently?
If you can answer these questions the choice of valve becomes evident very quickly, especially to one of our experienced valve sales staff.

1. Starting and Stopping flow:
Gate, Ball and Butterfly Valves are the most common form of shut-off valve, with ball and even butterfly valves rapidly becoming the primary choice due to the ease of automation and fast shut-off abilities, and in the case of ball valves the barest minimum of flow restrictions. We are often supplying ball and butterfly valves fully actuated, as plants of today become more and more automated, and are often now run by computers and the flick of a switch.

2. Regulating Flow:
Regulating or throttling flow is most commonly done with the use of a globe valve, and to a much lesser extent an angle valve. The seat design forces the flow evenly around a disc or plug arrangement that enables a closer regulation of flow. Globe valves are often used for the control of steam. Your garden tap is a very common and basic form of a globe valve design.

3. Preventing Back Flow:
This is the function of a check valve; it prevents flow reversal in piping, a primary cause of water hammer. Check valves most commonly are swing checks, normally used with gates and ball valves, and lift check or spring checks, which are normally used with Globe and Control type valves.

4. Regulating Pressure:
Pressure Regulators and Control Valves are used to reduce incoming pressure and maintain it at a required service pressure. Fluctuations to the inlet pressures of a pressure regulator will not affect the outlet pressure for which it is set at.

5. Relieving pressure:
These are known as Safety Valves, normally used for steam, air, and gases, and Relief Valves, usually used for liquids. These are normally spring loaded valves which open automatically when the pressure exceeds a set limit. They can either vent to atmosphere or to other piping. Excessive pressures in something like a Boiler could cause major damage, if a relief valve was not used. Selection of industrial valves also depend on the functionalities required as well as service applicaton. Please find below a comparative chart to help you better select between a gate valve, globe valve, ball valve and butterfly valve.

Common materials valves are made with are
Brass and Bronze: Brass is the stock standard material used in most small bore, standard cold water applications. Bronze an alloy of copper, tin, lead and zinc, is normally used for steam and higher temperatures up to 230°C.
Cast Iron: Normally used for lower pressure applications and in butterfly valves bodies where it provides a cost effective alternative to steel. Common in the fire protection and water industry.
Carbon and Stainless Steel: Steel is recommended for higher pressure and temperature applications and/or in services conditions that may be too harsh for Brass, bronze and Cast iron.
Alloys: Used in severe corrosive or acidic applications, or for use at extreme temperatures. Many different types of alloys are available, but these are normally manufactured and imported as required, as some of the more exotic materials can be quite expensive to have sitting around a shelf gathering dust.
PVCs: Plastics and PVCs are becoming an alternative to brass for use in low pressure/temperature air, water and even chemical applications.
Valve markings
In addition to the maker’s brand and valve size, is a basic service rating which appears on the body of most valves. Pressure and Temp ratings are normally expressed in pounds and are in terms of steam, unless otherwise indicated.Steel ratings bear a mark such as 150, 300, 600, 900 etc. The figures denote a maximum pressure (in pounds) at a certain maximum temperature, for which the valve is suited. And will also reflect on any ANSI flanges required for the end connections.The important effect temperature has on pressure ratings means it is imperative that manufacturer’s service tables are referred to.

Article from Amrutha Technologies Blog,

Read More: http://amruthatechnologies.blogspot.com/2016/05/why-is-it-essential-to-have-right-valve.html

LVSA Group Pty Ltd - Capabilities & Services

Capabilities & Services

At LVSA Group we pride ourselves in working with the best manufacturers and partners world wide. This gives us access to open slots for accelerated delivery times. With standardized production of products like materials and trims, we achieve efficient production.
Lastly, by reviewing the client’s system requirements and aiding them in their Valve Selection Process, we can help our clients Capitalize on maximum benefits.

What we Offer

• A Full Service Modification Shop with Engineering Support.
• A Capital Project Management and Support.
• Technical Support for Contracts and EPC’s.
• Project and Inventory Management.
• Valve Modification and Refurbishment.