New generation of Rupture discs
Rupture discs are manufactured with Gi laser technology. All discs can be equipped with pressure transmitter. When overpressure is detected, a disc rapidly opens and an excess of media is released. Discs fulfill safety standards and requirements established for pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic industry and can be applied anywhere hygienic conditions are essential. VALWO is a FIKE’s rupture discs authorized representative. All types of discs, inserts and accessories are offered, which are certified.
Simply put, a rupture disc is a safety device to protect against pressure build-up in all types of installations working with liquids or gases. In the explosion-proof industry, you can also find terms such as a safety diaphragm, a tear plate, a safety head or a pressure insert. It is a disposable device, that is, when the plate is broken, it must be replaced with a new one.
The plate consists of two elements – the data plate and the main part. It is the main part of the plate that is laser cut at certain points to allow full opening when the pressure increases undesirable. Each plate is selected individually based on specific process parameters. The board setting can be read from the nameplate, on which you can also find information on how it should be mounted.
Rupture discs can come in several configurations. It all depends on the type of installation and the expectations of entrepreneurs. The first option is to use the board as a standalone device as an alternative to the safety valve. The second solution is to install disc under the safety valve. This method of installation is usually used with aggressive and corrosive media to protect the valve itself. This arrangement allows the use of the valves themselves in a slightly cheaper material.
Another option is to place a disc behind the safety valve as an additional safety feature. An increasingly common solution is to use two rupture discs simultaneously. Thanks to this, after an increase in pressure, the user has the possibility to switch the system to an unbroken plate and replace the broken disc without interrupting the technological process.
Rupture discs are used in many industries, incl. chemical, industrial, petrochemical, military, armaments, gas, energy, food and many others.
A frequent doubt against the use of rupture discs is the need to replace them after they have tripped. However, if we take into account the number of benefits of their use, this argument very quickly becomes obsolete. Above all, rupture discs are the best alternative to safety valves. They are much cheaper both to buy and operate. It is especially visible in the case of aggressive media, where it is necessary to use pressure protection in non-standard material execution. Moreover, discs can be used at low and high pressures, which are well beyond the scope of the safety valves. They are also available in a wide range of sizes, from DN25 to DN 900. It is worth noting that safety valves usually do not exceed DN 300. Also a very large selection of materials from which the discs can be made, places them high on the list of effective explosion protection. As an additional argument, immediate, full opening or perfect tightness of the system can also be mentioned.
In summary, due to the wide application in many industries and relatively low cost, rupture discs are an ideal solution when it is necessary to protect all installations against uncontrolled pressure increase.
