Rupture Discs

A Rupture Disc also known as a bursting disc is a non reclosing pressure relief device which is used to protect equipment or a system from over pressurisation or potentially damaging vacuum situations. It is a type of sacrificial component since it has a once only use membrane that ruptures at a preset differential pressure which can be either positive or vacuum. The membrane itself is normally manufactured from metal but other materials are used depending on the application. They have instant response to increase or decrease in system pressure, but once the disc has ruptured it will not reseal. They can be found in use in the petrochemical, aerospace, aviation, medical, chemical, food processing, nuclear and railway applications. They can be used as single protection devices or as part of a backup device for a conventional safety valve in case the safety valve fails to operate or cannot relieve enough pressure fast enough. They are often used in combination with safety relief valves, isolating the valves from the process, thereby saving on valve maintenance and creating a leak tight pressure relief solution.