Systems and methods for determining set pressure and lift of a spring-operated relief valve

A method of installing or calibrating a spring-operated relief valve, the method comprising:

• pressurizing a valve inlet of the spring-operated relief valve that includes a main spring arranged around a spindle to bias a disc assembly of the spring-operated relief valve towards a valve seat to define a set pressure and a crack pressure of the spring-operated relief valve;
• using a load cell, measuring a plurality of forces that are applied to the main spring of the spring-operated relief valve during pressurization of the valve inlet and that are not transmitted to the load cell via the spindle;
• and
• determining a total relieved capacity for a relief event based on a plurality of valve lifts that are identified based on the load cell measuring the plurality of forces applied by the main spring during the relief event.

A method of assembling a spring-operated relief valve, the method comprising:

• providing a valve housing to house a valve seat, a disc assembly, a main spring, and a spindle, the disc assembly configured to seal against the valve seat to close the spring-operated relief valve, the main spring arranged to bias the disc assembly toward the valve seat to define a set pressure of the spring-operated relief valve, and the spindle extending from the disc assembly to guide movement of the disc assembly relative to the valve seat;
• securing a load cell relative to the valve housing so that:
• the load cell is fixed relative to the valve housing,
• the spindle is movable relative to the load cell, and
• the load cell is in mechanical communication with the main spring along a load path that does not include the spindle and configured to measure a force exerted by the main spring on the disc assembly and transmitted along the load path as the disc assembly moves relative to the valve seat;
• and
• threadably securing a pressure adjustment member to one of the load cell or the valve housing, the pressure adjustment member being threadably adjustable, relative to the load cell and the valve housing, to adjust a degree of compression of the main spring.