How can safety valve capacity be checked?

The best approach to checking safety valve capacity involves conducting an accumulation test, which assesses the ability of the valve to handle overpressure situations during operation. This is a crucial step in ensuring that the safety valve can adequately relieve pressure in the system when needed, preventing potential overpressure that could lead to catastrophic failures.

The accumulation test specifically measures the pressure rise that occurs when the safety valve is subjected to a set pressure and then monitored for the vessel's ability to maintain safe conditions. Assessing the evaporative capacity of feed water and the amount of fuel burned also contributes to understanding how the system operates under various conditions, enabling operators to determine if the safety valve is operating within acceptable limits.

The other methods mentioned—like visual inspection and reviewing maintenance logs—do not provide a quantitative measure of the valve's performance under pressure, and pressure testing alone does not necessarily confirm the proper functioning of the valve in real-world scenarios. Therefore, performing the accumulation test is essential for verifying that a safety valve can safely release pressure as required, ensuring compliance with safety standards and the operational integrity of the boiler system.