What is a rupture disc?
A rupture disc is a non-reclosing pressure relief device. It is the pressure containing element of a rupture disc assembly, which typically consists of the rupture disc and a rupture disc holder.
A rupture disc is designed to burst open to relieve an overpressure or vacuum condition at a predetermined pressure at a specific temperature.
Which rupture discs meet ASME Certification?
The complete line of CERTIFLOW™ rupture discs meets all ASME Section VIII, Division 1 Code requirements, including UD Code Symbol, certified flow resistance (KR), and minimum net flow area (MNFA) values, certified by The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors.
Why does Continental Disc Corporation sell three rupture discs at a time?
Continental Disc Corporation recommends purchasing three discs at a time so that in the event of an overpressure event, you will have a replacement for the ruptured disc, a backup to that disc, and one still on the shelf as further backup while replacements are ordered.
It is also more cost-effective for the customer to purchase a multiple quantity, as it cuts back on the cost of necessary lot testing.
Which rupture disc design should I specify?
No single type of rupture disc is the best fit for all the numerous applications of an industry.
Continental Disc Corporation has a full line of rupture discs in both tension and reverse acting designs to meet the design requirements for most applications. Each type of rupture disc has its own characteristics and capabilities.
See the individual product catalogs for each rupture disc's capabilities. If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact us, and you'll receive a response within the next working day.
What is the difference between tension type and reverse acting rupture discs?
Tension type rupture discs are oriented in a system with the process media pressure against the concave side of the rupture disc. As the burst pressure rating of the disc is reached, the tensile strength of the material is reached and rupture occurs.
Reverse Acting rupture discs are oriented in a system with the process media pressure against the convex side of the disc, placing the rupture disc in compression. As the burst pressure rating of the disc is reached, the compression loading on the rupture disc causes it to reverse, snapping through the neutral position, causing it to open by a predetermined scoring pattern or knife blade penetration.
Why doesn't Continental Disc Corporation stock rupture discs?
The variety of rupture disc configurations (size, pressure, temperature, material, linings, designs and options) prevents Continental Disc Corporation from maintaining stock on all rupture discs. Each lot is made to the customer's particular specifications.
Is my rupture disc interchangeable with other manufacturers' products?
Many rupture discs use special holder designs or patented features which make interchangeability with other manufacturers' holders impossible.
Additionally, for installations which require adherence to ASME Code, the certified flow resistance is valid only for that combination of rupture disc and holder which was tested by the manufacturer and certified by The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors. Contact the Continental Disc Corporation corporate office or your representative for interchangeability in non-ASME Code installations.
What is the 24/7 emergency help number?
Call us at (816) 792-1500 with any questions or emergencies you might have.
Email us at support@contdisc.com and we will respond within one working day.
Read about our Emergency Services.
What steps do I take if the rupture disc bursts?
Follow your company's procedures for controlling and correcting the process that is producing an overpressure condition. Once the process is under control and appropriate safety precautions have been taken, replace the burst rupture disc with a replacement rupture disc. If a replacement rupture disc is not on hand at your facility, contact a Continental Disc Corporation sales representative to place your order. To avoid extended down time, we recommend keeping spare rupture discs in your inventory.
What is a B.D.I. Alarm System and how does it work?
The burst disc indicator allows quick notification when a rupture disc bursts. The B.D.I. utilizes a thin metallic strip located on the outlet side of a rupture disc. It acts as a closed electrical circuit until the mating rupture disc bursts.
When the rupture disc bursts, the metallic strip is severed, disrupting the flow of current through the strip. An attached alarm monitor (the circuitry to which the metallic strip is connected) can then transmit a warning signal.
What certifications does Continental Disc Corporation have?
All of Continental Disc Corporation's current certifications are available for download on our website.
Can my company utilize the Continental Disc Corporation flow lab?
Yes. Contact Continental Disc Corporation or your representative for test scheduling and rates. Download the Flow Lab literature
Where can I find a copy of the Continental Disc Corporation catalog as well as technical briefs, installation instructions and more?
Please visit our online Literature section, which has the full Continental Disc Corporation catalog available for download, as well as technical briefs, installation instructions, and foreign literature. The Literature section of our website is constantly updated, but if you don't see what you're looking for, or have specific literature requests, please contact us via email or phone.
What should I do if I don't see what I need in the Continental Disc Corporation catalog?
We specialize in customized solutions at Continental Disc Corporation. If what you want is beyond the scope of our standard product, we can likely create a custom solution for you. Learn about our custom pressure relief products, or contact us via email or phone.
Who is my representative?
Our constantly-updated Rep Locator tool will help you narrow it down by country and if applicable, by state. If you need any assistance finding your region's Continental Disc Corporation representative, please contact us.
Should I go through Continental Disc Corporation or through the Continental Disc Corporation sales representative when placing an order?
You should contact your local Continental Disc Corporation sales representative, which you can locate through our Rep Locator.
How do I identify my rupture discs / How do I re-order a set of rupture discs?
Every rupture disc lot made by Continental Disc Corporation is traceable; the Manufacturing Number (marked on the 3-D Tag or on the device) tells Continental Disc Corporation everything about that rupture disc, including the particular roll of metal it was made from.
Supplying Continental Disc Corporation with the manufacturing number ensures that your new order will conform to the specifications of the previous order. Care should be taken, however, to notify Continental Disc Corporation if your process conditions has changed since the last order.
For example, if the process temperature was increased 100 degrees Fahrenheit since the last order, the rupture disc materials you are reordering may be inappropriate and should be ordered to current requirements. Continental Disc Corporation will mark any customer-supplied tag number on the 3-D tag, but the Continental Disc Corporation manufacturing number (also on the tag) is what we use to trace a lot of rupture discs.
How can I determine the flow performance of my rupture discs?
Our CERTIFLOW® literature and The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors Publication NB-18 provide flow resistance values (KR) and Minimum Net Flow Area (MNFA) for Continental Disc Corporation rupture discs. These values have been established and verified in Continental Disc Corporation's ASME accepted Flow Test Laboratory. Our laboratory is operated by experienced engineering personnel who are ASME accepted authorized observers. Continental Disc Corporation can perform flow tests in both air and liquid.
How do I know if the rupture disc is installed correctly?
Use the Installation Instruction sheet supplied with your rupture discs. Each installation instruction was written specifically for a particular rupture disc design, and describes the installation procedures in detail to minimize the chance of improper installation.
Other Continental Disc Corporation features that minimize error include:
- The Three-Dimensional Flow Direction Tag attached to most rupture disc designs, and provides instant visual verification that the rupture disc has been correctly oriented into the system.
- Alignment pins on some rupture disc holders mate with holes in the rupture disc. These pins provide positive alignment and assure the rupture disc is correctly oriented in the holder.
- A J-Hook, welded to the rupture disc holder inlet, provides easy alignment and proper orientation relative to the flow direction. Plus, stainless steel tags, attached to the holder inlet and outlet, specify the proper flow direction.
- The best method to prevent installation problems is education in proper installation techniques. Contact Continental Disc Corporation's Corporate Headquarters or your representative to learn more about proper techniques or to sign up for a technical seminar.
Note: all available installation instructions may be downloaded from our website's Literature section.
What can I do to make sure the rupture disc operates as intended?
Proper rupture disc operation is mostly dependent on two factors: specifying the design correctly, and proper installation. Design specifications include type, size, material, pressure and temperature. Contact Continental Disc Corporation or your representative if you are concerned about ensuring proper operation in your overpressure relief systems.
We re-evaluated our relief system, and it no longer meets requirements. What can I do?
Our rupture discs have different certified flow resistance values. A newer rupture disc design or a different configuration may allow for greater relief capacity. In some cases, simply using the certified value (rather than an industry standard estimate) can show that an existing system meets new requirements. Read our CERTIFLOW® literature to see if using our certified flow resistance values can help you meet your requirements.
The rupture disc keeps breaking early; what's wrong?
Several factors can limit the usable life span of a rupture disc, or derate the rupture disc, causing it to burst at a lower pressure. Some of these include:
- Operating the system above the recommended operating-to-burst-pressure ratio
- Handling or installation damage
- Damage from corrosive media
- "Shock" damage from system pulsations
- Improper installation, which may include installing the rupture disc upside down, misaligned/overtorqued/undertorqued discs, failing to install all rupture disc elements, or installing the wrong rupture disc in a particular installation.
Some of our rupture disc designs minimize or eliminate some of these problems. If there is a problem with your pressure relief safety system, call our Sales Department at (816) 792-1500. Our Tech Team is skilled in investigating technical problems and finding solutions. Contact the Rapid Response Tech Team with your technical questions by email at CustomerService@contdisc.com
What is the difference between the manufacturing range and the burst tolerance?
The Manufacturing Design Range is a range of pressure within which the marked burst pressure must fall to be acceptable for a particular requirement as agreed upon between the rupture disc manufacturer and the user or his agent. Simply put, the Manufacturing Range is the range of pressure in which a rupture disc's marked rating must fall, in order to be accepted by the customer.
The Burst Tolerance is the acceptable range around the marked rating in which a rupture disc might be expected to burst. ASME code specifies a Burst Tolerance of +/- 5% for burst pressures 40 psig (2,8 barg) and above, and +/- 2 psig (0,14 barg) for burst pressures below 40 psig. See specific product literature for Continental Disc Corporation and LOTRX type rupture disc burst tolerances.
In summary: the Manufacturing Range applies during the manufacturing process; Burst Tolerance applies to the marked burst pressure after the manufacturing process is done.
See the individual product bulletins for details concerning Manufacturing Range, Burst Tolerance and Zero Manufacturing Range rupture discs.
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