Have you ever wondered what would happen if the Pressure Safety Valve (PSV) is undersized?

A major accident for improper PSV sizing was the BP Texas City Refinery Explosion that happened in the year 2005. The PSV which was supposed to prevent overpressure had been incorrectly sized, leading to insufficient capacity to handle the process flow. As a result, the system pressure increased causing the catastrophic vapor release and subsequent explosion.

Correct sizing of PSV is of paramount importance to ensure efficient operations, prevent equipment damage, and protect personnel.

PSV sizing is carried out according to the equations provided in API 520 Part 1, whereas the selection of PSV size available in the market is provided in API 526.

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Take care.
Ajay S. Satpute