A safety valve is a valve mechanism which automatically releases a substance from a boiler, pressure vessel, or other system, when the pressure or temperature exceeds preset limits.
It is one of a set of pressure safety valves (PSV) or pressure relief valves (PRV), which also includes relief valves, safety relief valves, pilot-operated relief valves, low pressure safety valves, and vacuum pressure safety valves.
Safety valves were first used on steam boilers during the Industrial Revolution. Early boilers operating without them were prone to accidental explosion.
Vacuum safety valves (or combined pressure/vacuum safety valves) are used to prevent a tank from collapsing while it is being emptied, or when cold rinse water is used after hot CIP (clean-in-place) or SIP (sterilization-in-place) procedures. When sizing a vacuum safety valve, the calculation method is not defined in any norm, particularly in the hot CIP / cold water scenario, but some manufacturers have developed sizing simulations.
Read more about Safety Valve: Function and Design, Technical Terms, Legal and Code Requirements in Industry, Types, Water Heaters, Pressure Cookers
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