Free Discharge
Free-discharge safety valves are used to protect piping, vessels, and auxiliary equipment from overpressure where the relieved medium can be discharged directly to a safe atmospheric location. Typical service includes steam, water, air, and technical gases. Valve selection should be based on set pressure, required relieving capacity, fluid phase, operating temperature, seat material, and permissible discharge conditions.
This category includes Nuova safety valves in types B, C, D, F, FKS, and Z, as well as Valfonta ALPER atmospheric valves. Sizing must be correlated with nozzle orifice area, reduced flow coefficient, and the certified set pressure range. Indicatively, Nuova series cover orifice areas from 38.47 mm² for type Z7 up to 1256.00 mm² for type F40, with set pressure ranges that, depending on model and approval basis, extend to 30 bar.
During installation, attention should be given to inlet pressure loss, discharge direction, personnel protection from hot fluid or gas jet release, drainage of possible condensate, and accessibility for periodic testing. In steam and gas service, discharge outlet location requires particular care so that free atmospheric relief does not create thermal, acoustic, or mechanical hazards in the operating area.
Available versions include DIN executions in PN16, PN25, and PN40, with ISO 228, EN 10226, and NPT threads, as well as flanged or special end connections on selected types. Body and trim materials include brass, mixed brass–stainless steel construction, stainless steel, and ASTM A351 CF8M. Available seat materials include NBR, EPDM, Viton, Silicone, PTFE, Kalrez, and metal seat execution, selected according to temperature limits, chemical compatibility, and leakage tightness requirements.