Pretorqued SRB-7RS Safety Head
19 December 2007
Using jackscrews or come-alongs to mate unparallel pipe flanges can be frustrating and potentially dangerous to process plants, especially if the pipe flanges are connected to rupture disk devices.
BS&B Safety Systems, LLC eliminated this frustration and potential danger with its pre-torqued SRB-7RS Safety Head. A safety head is one-part of a rupture disk device that fits between companion flanges. Rupture disks are non-reclosing pressure relief devices that completely seal process fluid or gas from the atmosphere. When excessive pressure occurs, the disks immediately open and protect systems from the hazards of overpressure.
The safety head of a rupture disk device must be properly torqued according to its specifications with an even load across the flange. If not, 'cocking' may occur, possibly crushing the rupture disk seal and changing the disk's performance (opening prematurely or even worse, not opening at all).
The SRB-7RS allows proper clamping of a rupture disk to be completed with torqued-precision at technician's workbench before installation between companion flanges. A pre-torqued safety head keeps the technician from having to torque the rupture disk device while standing on a suspended catwalk, 80-feet high. Then trying to maintain that torque value while manually pushing two unparallel companion flanges together. With the SRB-7RS Safety Head, the values are precisely torqued, and those values within the device do not change even within ill-fitting companion flanges.
Other advantages of a pre-torqued SRB-7RS safety head include: 1) being able to take the rupture disk device out of service, then inspect, clean and reinstall without resetting the torque values; 2) a bite-seal to keep the rupture disk from slipping; 3) location pins to make sure the disks are installed correctly; 4) J-Bolts to provide a visual signal of a correct installation; and multiple pipe flange compatibility.
