How to determine if a pressure vessel is overpressured?

Monitoring Process Parameters

1. Working Pressure: Continuously monitor using pressure sensors to ensure it remains within the design limits. A sustained increase or drastic fluctuation in pressure may indicate an overpressure risk.

2. Medium Temperature: Temperature sensors monitor the medium temperature to prevent material strength degradation due to high temperatures or brittle fracture due to low temperatures. Abnormal temperature increases may cause a sudden pressure surge.

3. Liquid Level: Liquid level sensors ensure the medium level remains within a safe range to prevent dry burning or overflow. Abnormal liquid levels may affect pressure balance.

Inspecting Safety Devices

1. Safety Valve: Check for sensitivity and reliability, and for signs of rust, sticking, or blockage. If the safety valve fails to open and release pressure at the set pressure, the vessel is at extremely high risk of overpressure.

2. Pressure Gauge: Confirm its accuracy, ensuring the pointer returns to zero and is not bent or blocked. Inaccurate pressure gauges can lead to misjudgments.

3. Rupture Disc: Check for its integrity and expiration date. Rupture discs are the last line of defense against overpressure.

Identifying Overpressure Signs

1. Obvious deformation, cracks, or abnormal noises appear on the container body.

2. Safety valves, pressure gauges, and other safety accessories are malfunctioning or past their calibration period.

3. Process conditions (pressure, temperature, liquid level) exceed the range specified in the operating procedures and cannot be adjusted by conventional means.

Emergency Handling
If any of the above overpressure signs are detected, immediate emergency shutdown measures should be taken to prevent the accident from escalating.