To avoid pressure system failure, how should pressure relief valves be arranged?

Pressure relief valves are critical components in a pressure system designed to prevent overpressure scenarios which can lead to catastrophic failures. The arrangement of these valves significantly influences their effectiveness and the reliability of the pressure system as a whole.

When pressure relief valves are arranged individually, each valve operates independently and is calibrated to open at a specific pressure to allow excess pressure to escape. This individual arrangement ensures that even if one valve fails to operate correctly (either by being stuck closed or opening too late), the other valves can still function properly and mitigate the pressure, thereby protecting the system from potential failure.

In contrast, arranging pressure relief valves in parallel or in clusters can lead to several complications. For instance, in a parallel configuration, if one valve opens under pressure, it may lead to flow diversion, affecting the performance of the other valves and potentially causing them to operate under different conditions than intended. Similarly, in a series arrangement, if the first valve does not open effectively, the subsequent valves may not receive the necessary pressure to operate, putting the entire system at risk.

Hence, the individual arrangement of pressure relief valves maximizes safety and reliability by providing a mechanism that independently manages pressure, ensuring that there will always be at least one path for relieving excess pressure even if other components