Pressure Relief Discs/burst disc : How Does Groove Design Prevent Random Rupture?

In process industries such as petroleum, chemicals, and electric power, as well as in the aerospace field, uncontrolled pressure in high-temperature and high-pressure equipment can lead to catastrophic consequences—ranging from equipment explosion and production line shutdowns to serious casualties. Pressure relief discs (also known as burst discs), a pressure-set pressure relief safety device with a history of over 75 years, are the "critical barrier" for addressing such risks.  

I. Pressure Relief Discs: A "Single-Use Safety Device" for Precise Pressure Relief

Pressure relief discs are single-use devices made of thin domed metal (carbon steel, stainless steel, nickel, aluminum, tantalum, etc.) or graphite diaphragms. They achieve pressure relief through "rupture" and differ from reusable safety valves—making them more suitable for scenarios with instantaneous overpressure. Their core application scenarios are irreplaceable:  

• Aerospace: As the "startup core" of rocket engines, they act as diaphragms between propellants and engines. Precise rupture is required to ensure stable propellant delivery, and the ventilation rate after rupture directly determines the startup stability of the engine.  

• Chemical/Electric Power: Serving as the "last safety gate" in pressure vessels and pipelines, they can completely rupture and relieve pressure within 3 milliseconds when safety valves fail or pressure surges instantaneously, preventing explosions.  

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According to the direction of action, pressure relief discs are mainly divided into forward-acting type, reverse-acting type, and combined type, which need to be matched based on medium type and pressure range.  

II. Groove Design: The Core for "Controlled Rupture" of Pressure Relief Discs

A pressure relief disc without grooves will rupture randomly—possibly producing debris that clogs pipelines or failing to relieve pressure completely. Precise grooves (scratches) create "weak lines" to force a controlled rupture path, which is critical to the safety performance of pressure relief discs. The applicable scenarios and advantages of different groove patterns are as follows:

It should be noted that the depth, width, and shape of grooves are directly related to burst pressure. Excessive machining errors will cause the burst pressure to deviate from the design value, leading to safety hazards. Therefore, precision machining of grooves is the "lifeline" for pressure relief disc manufacturing.  

Conclusion

For the petrochemical and aerospace industries, the "controlled pressure relief" capability of pressure relief discs is directly related to safety. The core of achieving this capability lies in matching appropriate groove designs to specific scenarios and ensuring machining precision. As a provider of femtosecond laser extreme manufacturing technology and equipment, MONO can achieve groove depth control with ≤0.5μm precision through femtosecond laser etching technology. Its non-thermal damage and high-consistency machining effects solve the precision manufacturing challenges of pressure relief disc grooves. MONO has provided mature application solutions for pressure relief disc groove machining. If you have relevant needs, please feel free to contact us.