(80b) The PSV That Did Not Fail. Misconceptions about PSVs

Pressure Safety Valves (PSVs) perform a major safety role in chemical plants. They protect equipment from overpressure, which could lead to an explosion and other catastrophic scenarios. Yet, PSVs do not always get the attention they deserve, in design, operation, installation, and inspection.  In the best of cases, people recognize that a PSV is a piece of safety equipment. In the worst scenario, PSVs are in limbo between design, process, and instrumentation engineers, none of them really wanting to take proper ownership.

 But change is coming. In the mid-90s, OSHA PSM regulation 1910.119 mandated US companies to document all Process Safety Information before performing a Process Hazard Evaluation including relief systems. NOVA Chemicals^® also realized this need and launched a program dedicated to review and document of all aspects of PSV lifecyle.   

 This paper presents learnings that can be shared in order to avoid misconceptions occurring throughout the PSV lifecycle.