Savasoft
Savasoft – Sizing Your Kiatork Safety Relief Valves
Savasoft is a safety relief valve sizing software developed by Kiatork. It incorporates all major global standards and regulations to ensure accurate and compliant valve selection.
In addition to calculation and sizing, the program offers customizable, user-specific reports for technical documentation and archiving purposes.
For inquiries, please contact: support@kiatork.com
Sizing Features
• Valve sizing in compliance with leading global standards and regulations (e.g., API 520, ASME Sec. VIII Div. 1, ISO 4126-7)
• Calculates inlet pressure drop, back pressure, reaction forces, and noise levels
Documentation Capabilities
• Multiple report formats available (e.g., project reports, single-page summaries, ISA data sheets)
• Customizable report layouts including client logo, address, and more
• Integrated bill of materials for all Kiatork safety relief valves
Design & Usability
• User-friendly wizard guides you step-by-step through the sizing process
• Clean and intuitive graphical interface for simplified use and enhanced performance
Safety valve sizing is a critical engineering process used to determine the appropriate capacity of a safety valve for a pressurized system. The primary objective is to ensure that sufficient flow can be discharged when pressure exceeds the permitted limit. Accurate sizing requires a detailed evaluation of the system, including operating conditions, fluid properties, pressure levels, temperature, and the required relieving capacity.
An incorrectly sized valve may fail to provide the required protection or may not operate efficiently under actual process conditions. For this reason, safety valve sizing should be based on engineering calculations and reliable process data rather than relying only on nominal pipe size or standard valve dimensions. A properly sized valve helps support safe operation and protects pressure-containing equipment from excessive pressure.
As a professional safety valve manufacturer, Kiatork does more than manufacture products. It supports its customers throughout valve selection, sizing, material specification, and after-sales processes. By evaluating each requirement from a technical perspective, Kiatork develops long-lasting, sustainable pressure protection solutions suited to specific operating conditions.
Safety valve sizing refers to determining the required discharge capacity and effective flow area of a valve for a specific application. The calculation establishes how much fluid the valve must be capable of releasing under a defined overpressure scenario. This ensures that the pressure within the protected system can be controlled within the specified limits.
The importance of accurate sizing becomes particularly clear in systems where pressure can increase rapidly. Pressure vessels, boilers, pipelines, compressors, and process equipment may all require protection against unexpected pressure increases. If the selected valve has insufficient capacity, it may not be able to reduce pressure quickly enough. On the other hand, selecting a valve with significantly more capacity than required may affect system performance and stability.
Safety valve sizing also provides a technical basis for selecting the appropriate valve size and configuration. Rather than selecting a valve based solely on the size of the connected piping, engineers can determine the required capacity from actual process conditions. This creates a more reliable connection between the system design and the protection equipment.
The operating principle of a safety relief valve is generally based on the balance between system pressure and the spring force inside the valve. When the inlet pressure exceeds the set opening pressure, the valve disc lifts from its seat and the discharge process begins. This automatic mechanism helps protect equipment against overpressure without requiring operator intervention.
Several technical parameters must be considered when performing safety valve sizing. One of the most important is the set pressure, which determines the pressure at which the valve is intended to begin relieving. The normal operating pressure and maximum allowable pressure of the protected equipment should also be identified to establish the relevant pressure conditions.
Temperature is another important parameter. Changes in temperature can affect fluid properties and, consequently, the required relieving capacity. The type of fluid must also be considered because gases, vapors, steam, and liquids behave differently during pressure relief. Properties such as density, specific gravity, molecular weight, and compressibility may therefore influence the sizing calculation.
The required relieving rate is another fundamental factor. Engineers must determine the maximum amount of fluid that may need to be discharged during the governing overpressure scenario. Possible scenarios can include blocked outlets, equipment failure, fire exposure, thermal expansion, or other process-specific events.
Back pressure and pressure losses in the inlet and outlet piping should also be evaluated. These conditions can influence the actual performance of the valve and must be considered when determining the appropriate size.
Reliable process data is essential throughout this calculation. If pressure, temperature, flow rate, or fluid properties are inaccurate, the final sizing result may not represent the actual operating conditions.
Working with a technically competent safety valve supplier is essential for obtaining products that meet specific operational requirements. The supplier should evaluate not only product specifications but also the process fluid, temperature, pressure values, and facility conditions. Kiatork examines application data in detail and provides solutions designed to support system safety and operational efficiency.
Safety valve sizing calculations generally begin by identifying the most demanding credible overpressure scenario. The engineer determines what could cause the pressure to exceed the allowable limit and calculates the required relieving capacity for that condition.
The next step is to establish the relevant pressure and temperature values. These may include the set pressure, relieving pressure, operating temperature, and maximum expected temperature during the relieving event. The physical properties of the process fluid are then incorporated into the calculation.
The required flow capacity is used to determine the effective discharge area needed from the valve. Depending on the fluid and application, different calculation methods may be required. Compressible fluids such as gases and steam require consideration of their specific flow behavior, while liquid applications involve different flow characteristics.
Once the required discharge area has been calculated, the result can be compared with available valve capacities. The selected size should provide adequate capacity for the governing scenario while remaining compatible with the system's pressure, temperature, and installation conditions.
Sizing should consider back pressure, inlet and outlet pressure losses, and allowable overpressure, as these factors affect valve performance. Before approval, the calculation should be verified against equipment specifications, design conditions, and applicable engineering requirements.
In every safety valve application, the type of discharged fluid, required discharge capacity, and back-pressure conditions must be considered. Opening at the set pressure alone is not sufficient; the valve must also be capable of relieving excess pressure at the required capacity and within the appropriate period. Kiatork evaluates these technical parameters comprehensively to develop reliable product solutions.
These pressure protection devices are classified according to their operating mechanism, connection type, construction material, and application area. Spring-loaded models are among the most commonly used options in industrial facilities. Pilot-operated valves, thermal relief valves, and models designed for different pressure ranges may also be selected according to process requirements.
Engineering support from an experienced safety valve manufacturer provides a significant advantage when determining the correct valve type. Steam applications may require models with rapid opening characteristics, while liquid lines may benefit from solutions that provide a more controlled discharge. Kiatork offers various alternatives in terms of connection size, body material, sealing design, and pressure class.
Safety valve sizing requirements can vary significantly between industrial applications. The same valve size may not provide the same performance in different systems because pressure, temperature, fluid properties, and required relieving capacity can change from one application to another.
In steam systems, sizing must consider steam properties and the required discharge rate under relieving conditions. Since boilers and steam equipment can experience significant pressure increases, accurate capacity calculations are essential.
In process plants, gases, vapors, and liquids have different physical and thermodynamic properties. Fluid composition, temperature, pressure, and potential overpressure scenarios must therefore be evaluated.
For chemical, petrochemical, energy, and manufacturing facilities, the scenario requiring the highest relieving capacity generally determines valve sizing. Kiatork uses process-specific data to support accurate safety valve selection and sizing.
The objective is to select a valve with sufficient capacity for the protected system’s actual operating conditions, ensuring reliable pressure relief when required.
A competent safety valve supplier also examines application-specific details such as the connection standard, back pressure, discharge line, and installation position. Selection based solely on the pipeline diameter may be insufficient and could negatively affect system safety. Kiatork supports the development of an appropriate product configuration based on the technical data provided by its customers.
