Pressure relief system for pressure vessels

A pressure relief system for depressurizing a pressure vessel comprising:

• a pressure vessel having a removable rupture disk disposed inside a pressure relieving fluid port extending through the vessel from an interior surface to an opposing exterior surface;
• an elongated outer member having an axial central passageway extending between proximal and distal ends, the outer member inserted at least partially inside the fluid port;
• an elongated inner puncturing member at least partiality disposed in and movably supported by the outer member, the inner puncturing member rotatably coupled to the outer member and axially moveable with respect to the outer member via rotating the inner puncturing member;
• the inner puncturing member including an elongated piercing element at least partially disposed in the central passageway of the outer member, the piercing element having a tapered end configured for puncturing rupture disk, the piercing being selectively projectable outwards from the distal end of the outer member and operable to puncture the rupture disk and project into the pressure vessel beyond the interior surface of the pressure vessel for clearing material deposits obstructing the port;
• wherein the outer member includes at least one radially extending venting hole in fluid communication with the axial central passageway, the venting hole and central passageway defining a flow path for releasing pressure from the pressure vessel.

A pressure relief system for depressurizing a pressure vessel comprising:

• a pressure vessel having a removable rupture disk disposed inside as pressure relieving fluid ort extending through the vessel from an interior surface to an opposing exterior surface;
• an elongated outer member having an axial central passageway extending between proximal and distal ends, the outer member inserted at least partially inside the fluid port;
• an elongated inner puncturing member at least partially disposed in and movably supported by the outer member, the inner puncturing member rotatably coupled to the outer member and axially moveable with respect to the outer member via rotating the inner puncturing member;
• the inner puncturing member including an elongated piercing element at least partially disposed in the central passageway of the outer member, the piercing element having a tapered end configured for puncturing the rupture disk, the piercing element being selectively projectable outwards from the distal end of the outer member and operable to puncture the rupture disk and project into the pressure vessel beyond the interior surface of the pressure vessel for clearing material deposits obstructing the port;
• wherein the rupture disk is disposed in an assembly between inner and outer supporting members located in the fluid port, the outer member having a distal end positioned in the fluid port and being operable to retain the rupture disk assembly in the fluid port.

A pressure relief system for depressurizing a pressure vessel comprising:

• a pressure vessel having a pressure relieving fluid port extending through the vessel from interior to exterior between an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface;
• a removable rupture disk assembly disposed in the fluid port and including a rupture disk;
• a hollow outer bolt having a shank threadably coupled to the fluid port the outer bolt defining an axial central passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the outer bolt, the outer member inserted at least partially inside the fluid port;
• an inner bolt having a shank threadably coupled to the central passageway of the outer bolt, the inner bolt being axially moveable with respect to the outer bolt via rotating the inner bolt;
• and
• an elongated piercing element protruding from the inner bolt and outwards from the distal end of the outer bolt, the piercing element at least partially disposed in the central passageway of the outer bolt, the piercing element having a tapered end configured for puncturing the rupture disk;
• wherein the piercing element is axially movable via rotating, the inner bolt between a retracted position spaced apart from the rupture disk and an extended position projected through the fluid port into the interior of the pressure vessel, the puncturing element being operable to puncture the rupture disk and project into the pressure vessel beyond the interior surface of the pressure vessel for clearing material deposits obstructing the port by moving from the retracted position to the extended position.

A method for depressurizing a pressure vessel, comprising:

• mounting a nested bolt assembly to an elongated fluid port of a pressure vessel extending from an interior surface to an opposing exterior surface of the vessel, the bolt assembly including a first hollow outer bolt having an axial central passageway and a concentrically aligned second inner bolt partially inserted therein, the outer member inserted at least partially inside the fluid port;
• axially advancing the inner bolt through the outer bolt;
• puncturing a rupture disk disposed in the fluid port with an elongated piercing element mounted on the second bolt and protruding outwards from a distal end of the outer bolt;
• projecting the piercing element through the fluid port into an interior of the pressure vessel after the step of puncturing the rupture disk, wherein the piercing element is operable to penetrate material deposits that may be formed in the pressure vessel obstructing the fluid port;
• exhausting gas or liquid from the pressure vessel through the bolt assembly thereby reducing pressure within the pressure vessel.

A pressure relief system for depressurizing a pressure vessel comprising:

• a cylindrical pressure vessel having circumferential sidewalk and a removable lid coupled to one end of the pressure vessel
• a pressure relieving fluid port extending through the removable lid between an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface of the lid;
• a rupture disk disposed in the fluid port in the lid;
• a hollow outer holt having a shank threadably coupled to the fluid port, the outer bolt defining an axial central passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the outer bolt, the outer member having a shank inserted inside the fluid port and threadably engaging the lid;
• an inner bolt having a shank threadably coupled to the central passageway of the outer bolt, the inner bolt being axially moveable with respect to the outer bolt via rotating the inner bolt;
• and
• an elongated piercing element protruding from the inner bolt and outwards from the distal end of the outer bolt, the piercing:
• element at least partially disposed in the central passageway of the outer bolt, the piercing element having a tapered end configured for puncturing the rupture disk;
• wherein the piercing element is axially movable via rotating the inner bolt between a retracted position spaced apart from the rupture disk and an extended position projected through the fluid on into the interior of the pressure vessel;
• wherein the puncturing element being operable to puncture the rupture disk and project into the pressure vessel beyond the interior surface of the pressure vessel for clearing material deposits obstructing the port by moving from the retracted position to the extended position.