The safety valve test and calibration contains three test items: PSV popping test, PSV reseating test and PSV sealing test.
Why PSV Popping Test is Necessary?
PSV popping test, as known as safety valve setting pressure test, is to verify whether the safety valve can pop up in time under the setting pressure, thus fulfilling its protective function. By simulating the working environment of a safety valve, we can verify whether the safety valve can properly pop out and relieve excessive pressure under the setting pressure, thereby avoiding equipment damage caused by overpressure.
PSV Popping Test Procedures
The safety valve popping test contains four procedures. Next, we will introduce how to use a safety valve test bench to carry out safety valve popping test.
Step 1. Place your safety valve on PSV test bench, then use the included sealing disk or threaded adapter to block the PSV inlet and clamp the safety valve firmly.
Step 2. Pressurize safety valve in stages. Firstly inject the testing medium into PSV and pressurize the medium to 90% of PSV setting pressure, then pressurize the medium slowly until PSV pops up.
Step 3. Record PSV popping pressure. If you are using a manual safety valve test bench, you need to visually check the pressure gauge reading and record the safety valve popping pressure value. If it is an automatic safety valve test bench, the safety valve popping pressure value will be recorded by machine automatically.
Step 4. Compare PSV popping pressure value with its setting pressure value. If the deviation is within the allowable range, the safety valve is qualified. Otherwise, the safety valve is not qualified.
The above are all the operation steps for the safety valve popping test. To eliminate the error of a single test, it is recommended to test the safety valve three or more times and take the average value to more accurately determine whether the safety valve is qualified
The Difference between PSV Popping pressure and PSV Setting Pressure
PSV setting pressure refers to the preset pressure at which the safety valve will pop up, and this pressure value has been pre-calibrated.
PSV popping pressure refers to the critical pressure at which the safety valve begins to release overpressure. So it is the actual pressure value at which the safety valve pops up.
Ideally, safety valve popping pressure should be equal to safety valve setting pressure. However, PSV popping pressure is usually slightly higher than PSV setting pressure.
The reason for performing a popping test on the safety valve is to compare whether PSV popping pressure deviates from PSV setting pressure and whether the deviation is within a allowable range.
In order to facilitate you performing popping test, reseating test and sealing test on diverse safety valves, we offer both manual and automatic safety valve testers for you to choose from. Please contact us to ask for brochures and data sheets!
