Experimental Study of Two-Phase Flow Induced by Cavitation Through a Safety Relief Valve

The goal of this study is to understand the behavior of a safety relief valve in presence of a two-phase flow induced by cavitation, in which the mass flux tends to be reduced. Two distinct safety relief valves are tested: an API 2J3 type and a transparent model based on an API 1 1/2G3 type. Instead of using a spring, the design of both valves allows the adjustment of the disk at any desired lift. Tests are conducted with water at ambient temperature. Results show a similar influence of cavitation on the flow characteristics of both valves. The liquid pressure recovery factor FL, which is normally used to identify a choked flow condition in a control valve, is experimentally determined in a safety relief valve. The existence of a local minimum located at a height position L/D = 0.14 indicates in this position, a change on the flow characteristics of both valves. It is verified that the existence of a local minimum in the liquid recovery factor is related to the minimum cross section of the flow, which does not remain constant for every lift positions. Furthermore, it is remarked that in the case of the 2J3 safety valve, the blow down ring adjustment has significant influence on the location of the minimum cross sections of the flow.