Valves in action -
Surge relief valve SR 6.2P
Pipeline protection at seaports
Oil and natural gas are essential raw material reserves and a major economic factor for a country. Whilst natural gas is predominantly exported through pipelines, a large part of the crude oil is transported abroad on tankers.
For this purpose, loading facilities called seaports are operated at various Black Sea and Baltic ports where large oil tankers are loaded up. The crude oil is transported to these stations via pipelines or trains and temporarily stored in big tanks. Pumps then convey the oil to the ship through pipelines. Movable marine loading arms establish a connection between the pipeline systems on land and the vessel. Should the vessel unexpectedly drift away from the pier, the pipeline connection could be torn apart. In that case an emergency disconnection would be carried out: the connection would be separated with a quick-release coupling and the supply pumps would be shut down.
This emergency disconnection by means of the ESV (emergeny shut-down valve) prevents the crude oil from uncontrollably leaking into the sea. However, the short reaction time of the valve produces a serious pressure surge because the kinetic energy within the liquid column is transformed to potential energy (pressure). Mankenberg`s SR 6.2P, a quick-opening pilot-operated pressure relief valve, disposes the liquid which caused the pressure peak in a slop-tank. It then soft-closes automatically after the closing pressure has been reached. Hence, the SR 6.2P is used for the cost-effective and environmentally friendly protection of the plant fulfilling the legal requirements.
