ARTICLE KR-2
REQUIREMENTS FOR RUPTURE DISK DEVICES
KR-200 MATERIALS FOR RUPTURE DISK
DEVICES
Rupture disks may be fabricated from either ductile
or brittle materials. The materials used in the rupture
disk holder shall meet all the requirements of this
Division for pressure boundary components.
KR-201 Marking and Stamping Requirements
Every rupture disk shall have a stamped bursting
pressure within a manufacturing design range at a
specified disk temperature. It shall be marked with a
lot number, and shall be certified by its Manufacturer
to burst within a tolerance of ±5% of its stamped
bursting pressure at the coincident disk temperature. A
lot of rupture disks shall consist of all disks manufac-
tured from the same lot of material, made in the same
production run, and having the same size and stamped
bursting pressure. (See also Article KR-4.)
KR-202 Burst Testing Requirements
For a given lot of rupture disks, the stamped bursting
pressure within the manufacturing design range at the
coincident disk temperature shall be derived as follows.
All the tests of disks for a given lot shall be made
in a holder of the same form and dimensions as that
with which the disk is to be used. At least four but
not less than 10% of the rupture disks from each lot
shall be burst tested, to verify that the stamped bursting
pressure falls within the manufacturing design range
at the coincident disk temperature of these four tests,
including a minimum of one burst test at room tempera-
ture and a minimum of two burst tests within 25°F
(14°C) of the coincident disk temperature. The stamped
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rating of the rupture disk shall be the average of the
bursts at specified disk temperature.
KR-210 FLOW CAPACITY RATING
The flow capacity of the rupture disk device shall
be demonstrated by either calculations or by certification
testing to meet the requirements of KR-150.
(a) The calculated capacity rating of a rupture disk
device shall not exceed a value based on the applicable
theoretical formula for the various media multiplied by
a coefficient of discharge:
KD p 0.62
The area A (square inches) in the theoretical formula
shall be the minimum net area after the rupture disk
burst.
The Designer is cautioned that normal capacity calcu-
lations may not be applicable for supercritical fluids.
Flow through the entire relieving system shall be ana-
lyzed with due consideration for the wide variation of
physical properties which will occur due to the wide
range of flowing pressures.
(b) In lieu of the method for capacity rating given
in KR-210(a), the Manufacturer may have the capacity
of a given rupture disk device design certified for the
KD coefficient in general accordance with the applicable
procedures of Article KR-5. Rupture disks may be
certified as to burst pressure, provided the test stand
has enough volume to provide a complete burst. The
coefficient of discharge KD may be established at a
lower pressure using a suitable fluid. The Designer is
cautioned, however, to consider the critical point and
nonlinear thermodynamic properties of the fluid used
in service at or near the design pressure.
 KR-220 PART KR — PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
KR-220 RUPTURE DISK DEVICES USED IN
COMBINATION WITH FLOW
CAPACITY CERTIFIED PRESSURE
RELIEF VALVES
KR-221 Rupture Disk Devices Installed
Upstream of Flow Capacity Certified
Pressure Relief Valves
A rupture disk device may be installed between
a pressure relief valve and the vessel, provided the
requirements of KR-221(a) through (g) are met.
(a) The combination of the spring loaded pressure
relief valve and the rupture disk device meets the
requirements of KR-150.
(b) The stamped capacity of a pressure relief valve
is multiplied by a factor of 0.90 of the rated relieving
capacity of the valve alone, or the capacity of the
combination of the rupture disk device and the pressure
relief valve may be established according to KR-560.
(c) The volume between the rupture disk device and
the pressure relief valve is provided with a means to
prevent pressure buildup between the rupture disk and
the pressure relief valve, or the series combination is
provided with a second rupture disk device in parallel
whose burst pressure is 116% of design pressure.
(d) The opening provided through the rupture disk
after burst is sufficient to permit a flow equal to the
capacity of the valve [see KR-221(b)], and there is no
chance of interference with proper functioning of the
pressure relief valve. In addition, the flow area of the
burst rupture disk shall not be less than 90% of the
area of the inlet of the valve unless the capacity and
functioning of the specific combination of rupture disk
and valve have been established by test according to
KR-560.
(e) The use of a rupture disk device in combination
with a pressure relief valve should be carefully evaluated
to ensure that the media being handled and the valve
operational characteristics will result in opening action
of the valve coincident with the bursting of the rupture
disk, so that the requirements of KR-150 are met.
(f) The installation shall ensure that solid material
will not collect in the inlet or outlet of a rupture disk
which could impair the relieving capacity of the vent
system.
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KR-222
(g) Fragmenting and shearing plug type disks shall
be provided with an adequate catcher to retain disk
parts and prevent interference with proper functioning
of the pressure relief valve.
KR-222 Rupture Disk Devices Installed
Downstream of Flow Capacity
Certified Pressure Relief Valves
A rupture disk device may be installed on the outlet
side of a pressure relief valve, provided KR-222(a)
through (g) are met.
(a) The pressure relief valve is designed so that the
pressure between the valve outlet and the rupture disk
does not affect the valve’s set pressure. This volume
should be vented or drained to prevent accumulation
of fluid due to a small amount of leakage from the
valve.
(b) The valve and disk combination shall meet the
requirements of KR-150.
(c) The stamped bursting pressure of the rupture
disk at the coincident temperature, plus the additional
pressure in the outlet piping that will occur during
venting, shall not exceed the design pressure of the
outlet portion of the pressure relief device and any
pipe or fitting between the pressure relief valve and
the rupture disk device. In addition, the stamped bursting
pressure of the rupture disk at the coincident disk
temperature plus the pressure developed in the outlet
piping during venting shall not exceed the set pressure
of the pressure relief valve.
(d) The opening provided through the rupture disk
after breakage is sufficient to permit a flow capacity
greater than or equal to the rated capacity of the
pressure relief valve.
(e) Any piping beyond the rupture disk shall be
designed so that it will not be obstructed by the rupture
disk or its fragments.
(f) The contents of the vessel are clean fluids, free
from gumming or clogging matter, so accumulation in
the relief system will not interfere with pressure relief
valve function.
(g) The design pressure of the pressure relief valve’s
bonnet, bellows if any, and exit connection to the
rupture disk is greater than or equal to the burst pressure
of the disk.