Electromagnetically actuated pressure relief valve for fracturing systems

A pressure relief valve for A pressure relief valve for a high-pressure fluid transportation system, said pressure relief valve being normally shut and adapted to open at a relief fluid pressure corresponding to a maximum operating pressure of said system, said pressure relief valve comprising:

• (a) a valve fitting, said valve fitting comprising:
• i) a housing adapted for assembly into a high-pressure flow line, said housing having:
• (1) a fluid inlet adapted for fluid communication with said system;
• (2) a fluid outlet;
• and
• (3) a fluid flow path between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet;
• ii) a valve seat in said fluid flow path;
• iii) a valve body adapted to selectively seat on said valve seat, said valve body exposed to fluid pressure in said fluid inlet;
• (b) a valve actuator coupled to said valve fitting;
• said valve actuator comprising:
• i) a bonnet coupled to said housing;
• ii) a valve stem;
• said valve stem being:
• (1) coupled to said valve body;
• (2) mounted in said bonnet for linear reciprocation between a closed position, in which said valve body is seated on said valve seat to shut off flow through said fluid flow path, and an open position, in which said valve body is unseated from said valve seat to allow flow through said fluid flow path;
• iii) a resilient element applying a mechanical force biasing said valve stem in its said closed position, said mechanical force allowing said valve stem to move to its open position and place said pressure relief valve in an open state at a first fluid pressure in said fluid inlet below said relief fluid pressure;
• and
• iv) an electromagnet applying, when energized, a magnetic force biasing said valve stem in its said closed position, said magnetic force, together with said mechanical force, being sufficient to hold said valve stem in its said closed position and said pressure relief valve in an operationally shut state at a second fluid pressure in said fluid inlet above said relief fluid pressure;
• (c) whereby during operation of said system:
• i) said valve stem is held in its said closed position and said pressure relief valve is in its operationally shut state at or below said second fluid pressure when said electromagnet is energized;
• ii) said valve stem is allowed to move to its open position and place said pressure relief valve in its open state at said relief fluid pressure by de-energizing said electromagnet;
• and
• iii) said valve stem is allowed to return to its closed position and place said pressure relief valve in its shut state after said electromagnet is de-energized when fluid pressure in said fluid inlet drops to a seating pressure at or below said first fluid pressure.