Back pressure

Back pressure | LESER GmbH & Co. KG | 21/05/2013 | Rev. 01

Objective
Objective Objective of this presentation
Enhanced expertise
Definition

Effects The objective of this presentation is to explain the term back pressure,
its effects and its impact and to provide information regarding
Solutions
measures for adjustment.
VALVESTAR

Back pressure | LESER GmbH & Co. KG | 21/05/2013 | Rev. 01 2/9

Objective Back Pressure
Definition
Definition
Definition

Effects
Back Pressure
Solutions
Back pressure is the
VALVESTAR pressure that exists
Built-up Superimposed at the outlet of a safety
Back Pressure Back Pressure
valve.

constant variable Back Pressure

Exists
permanently in
Exists only at the blowdown
the outlet while system. The
the safety valve superimposed
is discharging. It back pressure is
depends on the independent of
pressure loss in the discharge of
the outlet pipe. the safety valve. Back Pressure = Built-up + Superimposed

Back pressure | LESER GmbH & Co. KG | 21/05/2013 | Rev. 01 3/9

Objective Back Pressure
Effects
Definition

Effects
Effects
 Superimposed back pressure changes the set pressure of a
conventional spring loaded safety valve.
Solutions
 Built up back pressure influences the capacity and the function
VALVESTAR of the safety valve.
– Reduced lift
– Chatter / Flutter
– Capacity reduction by lower flow velocity due to lower pressure
difference between inlet and outlet of the safety valve

Flutter Chatter
Lift (%) Lift (%)
100 100

80 80

60 60

40 40
Chattering
20 20

0 0
94 96 98 100 102 104 106 108 110 121 94 96 98 100 102 104 106 108 110 121

Vessel Pressure (%) Vessel Pressure (%)

Back pressure | LESER GmbH & Co. KG | 21/05/2013 | Rev. 01 4/9

Objective Back Pressure – Solutions
Solutions for Spring Loaded Safety Valves
Definition

Effects
 System - Reducing the built-up back pressure in the outlet pipe:
– Increasing pipe diameter
Solutions
Solutions
– Shorter outlet pipe
VALVESTAR
 Safety valve - Product solutions:
Depending on the type of back pressure, the following measures are typically
selected to prevent malfunction caused by back pressure:

Type of back pressure Characteristic Measure

≤ 15% None
Built-up
back pressure Back-pressure-
> 15%
compensating bellows
Back pressure Back-pressure-
Constant compensating bellows
Superimposed CDTP*) correction
back pressure
Back-pressure-
Variable
compensating bellows

*) CDTP = Cold Differential Test Pressure

Back pressure | LESER GmbH & Co. KG | 21/05/2013 | Rev. 01 5/9

Objective Back Pressure – Solutions
Compensation of Back Pressure with Balanced Bellows
Definition

Effects The installation of a balanced bellows

Fs
compensates the force of the back
Solutions
Solutions
pressure in closing direction.
VALVESTAR The safety valve works properly.

Back pressure compensation in % of

the set pressure: Fb
 LESER API Series 526:
up to 50 % of the set pressure
 All other LESER safety valves:
up to 35 % of the set pressure

Balanced Bellows
Fp

Fp = Pressure force
Fs = Spring force
Fb = Resulting force

Back pressure | LESER GmbH & Co. KG | 21/05/2013 | Rev. 01 6/9

Objective Back Pressure – Solutions
LESER pilot-operated Safety Valves Series 810 and Series 820
Definition

Effects
Pilot valve
Solutions
Solutions

VALVESTAR

Piston

Piping
p
Pressure
pick-up

Main valve

 The pilot valve controls the opening and closing of the main valve
 The pilot valve reacts only to the pressure at the valve inlet and is not influenced by
the back pressure
 The maximum back pressure to set pressure ratio of a POSV is 70%

Back pressure | LESER GmbH & Co. KG | 21/05/2013 | Rev. 01 7/9

Objective Back Pressure – Solutions
Supplementary Loading System
Definition

Effects Series 700

Solutions
Solutions Pneumatic actuator: lifting air
keeps safety valve open during
VALVESTAR
discharge

Safety valve
Sensing lines
Control unit

The control unit and the

actuator control the opening of
the safety valve.

The sensing lines are

connected directly to the
protected equipment and are
not influenced by back pressure
in the outlet line

Back pressure | LESER GmbH & Co. KG | 21/05/2013 | Rev. 01 8/9

Objective Calculation of built-up Back Pressure
Definition
VALVESTAR® 7 supports the calculation of the built up back pressure
Effects based on the actual outlet piping.

Solutions

VALVESTAR
VALVESTAR

Back pressure | LESER GmbH & Co. KG | 21/05/2013 | Rev. 01 9/9