Page 6: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jul/Aug 2023)

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SPONSORED CONTENT SAFETY VALVES

Extend Safety Valve Lifespan

Combination Of Rupture

Disc And Safety Valve Ofers

Various Opportunities or many years emissions were an unavoidable con- leak-tight and they struggle to meet the exacting require- sequence of industrial development. An increase ments of the legislators. An alternative solution is needed.

in consciousness of environmental issues com- Although rupture discs have been around for many de- bined with subsequent legislation means that ma- cades, they are often considered only as secondary relief.

F jor Oil and Gas companies are under pressure to cut their To be used where there is a possibility that the safety valve greenhouse gas emissions and several have responded by may fail. There is a lack of understanding amongst engi- setting reduction targets over the coming decades. neers in industry and a number of myths surrounding the

There are several ways in which operators can work to- use of rupture discs.

wards emissions reductions and our focus is on the impact A rupture disc is a non-reclosing device and therefore the use of various safety devices can have on this target. must be completely replaced when there is an activation.

The frst point of consideration in this regard should Nuisance downtime leads many operators to associate be the safety valves in use. Valves are an obvious place to rupture discs as being problematic whereas if a disc is start as no valve is 100% leak-tight, and this decreases rupturing frequently there is likely a problem with the every time there is an activation and the valve re-seats. process. It is still unrecognized by many operators that

In the building of new plants, it is a fairly simple solu- when the disc performs correctly it is not the problem, tion to specify within the design of the plant a valve with but the solution.

a lower leak rate. However, existing plants are looking How can a rupture disc help to get improved perfor- at substantial investments to replace older designs with mance from a safety valve? Rupture discs are 100% leak- newer technologies. Not a viable economical solution in tight. By installing a rupture disc in front of a safety valve most cases. you get double protection and a solution which can meet

While there have been signifcant increases in the capabil- emission requirements. There is no more leakage through ities of safety valves, they are still not the ideal product when the safety valve in normal operation and where there is considering future net zero targets. No safety valve is 100% an over-pressure activation, the valve reseats to seal the 6 OFFSHORE ENGINEER OEDIGITAL.COM