Rupture disc

Rupture discs protect employees, the environment and plants from possible damage caused by uncontrolled pressure increases and the resulting abrupt pressure relief. This enables the safety requirements of systems in the overpressure and vacuum range to be met in accordance with technical regulations.

Rupture discs must meet the requirements of certain national and international standards and regulations with regard to their design and manufacture in order to be recognized as a reliable safety component. Here are some of the most important regulations that apply to a rupture disc:

1. PED 2014/68/EU: The European Union Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) regulates the manufacture and conformity of pressure equipment, including rupture discs, placed on the market.
2. AD 2000-Merkblatt A1: The AD 2000 code of practice is a German standard that regulates the requirements for safety devices against excess pressure.
3. DIN EN ISO 4126-2: This document defines the requirements for rupture disc devices. It also defines the requirements for design, manufacture, monitoring, testing, certification and marking.
4. SME Section VIII, Div.1: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has developed a series of codes and standards to ensure the safety of pressure vessels and apparatus. Section VIII of the ASME code addresses requirements for pressure vessels.
5. API 520: The American Petroleum Institute (API) has developed a series of standards that ensure the safety of equipment in the oil and gas industry. API 520 addresses the requirements for safety valves and safety devices against overpressure.

Wherever equipment or systems need to be protected – whether in the chemical industry, in food technology or in the process engineering industry – STRIKO bursting safety devices are reliably in use. Our engineers work out the best solution for the safety of your plant according to your specifications.

Both rupture discs and safety valves fulfill the function of protecting and relieving a system in the event of an uncontrolled increase in pressure. However, there are some differences between the two safety components that should be considered when making a selection.
A rupture disc is a passive safety component that ruptures at a predefined pressure, thereby safely relieving excess pressure. It is easy to install and requires no adjustments or maintenance. Rupture discs are also typically less expensive than safety valves and provide quick and reliable relief in the event of an uncontrolled increase in pressure.
A safety relief valve, on the other hand, is an active safety component that automatically regulates the pressure in the system and opens at a predefined pressure to relieve excess pressure. However, safety valves require regular maintenance and calibration to ensure reliable operation.
When deciding between a rupture disc and a safety valve, the specific requirements of the application and the cost of installation, maintenance and operation should be considered. In some cases, the two safety components can be used in combination to provide increased safety and reliability.

There is only one answer to this question: Simply ask us specifically about bursting discs for your application and we will provide you with a detailed and informative quotation at short notice. Especially in the field of metal bursting discs, the price is highly dependent on the material used, the number of bursting discs, the bursting tolerance and, last but not least, the type of bursting disc (flat, tension-loaded, reverse bursting disc, vacuum-proof,…). Regardless of whether it is a concrete project or merely budget planning – you will only receive an exact price if you receive a concrete quotation.

The bursting temperature at a rupture disc does not always have to be the same as the operating temperature of a plant. This may be due, for example, to the fact that there is a certain distance between the process in the plant and the point of use of the rupture disc, and therefore a high operating temperature does not reach the rupture disc. Or the pressure increase in a plant, which finally leads to the bursting of the disc, occurs, for example, due to a temperature increase as a result of a chemical reaction.Therefore, it is important for the design of a bursting disc to know what temperature is applied to the bursting disc when it bursts, since the temperature influences the bursting pressure, especially in the case of metal bursting discs. At a higher temperature than the design temperature of the rupture disc, the rupture disc responds at a lower pressure, and vice versa at a lower temperature.

The maximum working pressure is the pressure at which the burst disk used reaches the longest service life. It is calculated as the minimum burst pressure of the rupture disk multiplied by the employment relationship. If the maximum working pressure is exceeded frequently or permanently, the rupture disc undergoes an undefined pre-damage, which leads to premature rupture or bursting below the minimum burst pressure. Proper design and selection of the rupture disc to be used is therefore of enormous importance.

The working relation is expressed as a percentage and is calculated from the ratio of the minimum burst pressure to the working pressure. Depending on the burst disc type, it normally ranges between 50% and 90%, also see DIN EN ISO 4126-6.

The discharge cross section (AQA) is the free cross-sectional area (e.g. in a burst disc device) for the disposal of the medium. The required AQS is calculated depending on the type of the medium, pressure, temperature, and density for each application. It is important to know the type of flow (gaseous, liquid, two-phase) and the mass flow to be dissipated in kg/h. The nominal width used is calculated from it.