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Functions of All-Weather Breather Valves
An all-weather breather valve is a critical safety and energy-saving device installed on the top of storage tanks (such as oil tanks, chemical storage tanks, etc.). Its core function is to automatically regulate the pressure balance between the inside and outside of the storage tank, while featuring the property of "adapting to harsh environments around the clock". It not only prevents the storage tank from being damaged due to abnormal pressure but also reduces the volatilization loss of the medium inside the tank. As an essential component of tank systems in industries like petroleum, chemical engineering, and warehousing, its specific functions can be elaborated from the following 5 core dimensions:
1. Core Safety Function: Balance Internal and External Pressure of the Tank to Avoid Structural Damage
When a storage tank holds flammable, explosive, or volatile media (such as gasoline, diesel, solvents, etc.), internal pressure fluctuations occur due to temperature changes and medium loading/unloading operations. If the pressure cannot be adjusted in a timely manner, the tank may deform, leak, or even explode. The all-weather breather valve solves this problem through "bidirectional automatic breathing":
-Positive Pressure Venting: Prevent Tank Rupture Due to Overpressure
When the temperature inside the tank rises (e.g., solar exposure during the day), the volatilization of the medium increases, or the medium is filled into the tank, the gas inside the tank is compressed, and the pressure gradually rises. When the pressure reaches the "positive pressure opening pressure" (preset safety value) of the breather valve, the positive pressure valve disc of the breather valve opens automatically, discharging excess gases such as oil vapor and steam inside the tank. This reduces the internal pressure of the tank to a safe range, preventing the tank shell from bulging, weld cracking, or seal failure caused by overpressure.
Example: During high temperatures in summer, the volatilization of gasoline in a gasoline storage tank intensifies, and the internal pressure of the tank rises. The breather valve vents automatically to prevent the tank from being damaged due to excessive pressure.
-Negative Pressure Air Intake: Prevent Tank Collapse Due to Vacuum
When the temperature inside the tank drops (e.g., cooling at night), the medium condenses, or the medium is pumped out of the tank, the volume of the gas inside the tank shrinks, and the pressure gradually decreases, forming negative pressure. When the negative pressure reaches the "negative pressure opening pressure" (preset safety value) of the breather valve, the negative pressure valve disc of the breather valve opens automatically, drawing in air (or inert gas, depending on the medium requirements) from the outside to supplement the internal pressure of the tank. This prevents the tank shell from denting, deforming due to negative pressure, or even affecting medium pumping operations (e.g., the pump cannot suck materials normally).
Example: On winter nights, the temperature of diesel in a diesel storage tank drops, and the internal pressure of the tank decreases. The breather valve inhales air automatically to prevent the tank from being "sucked flat".
2. Energy-Saving and Consumption-Reduction Function: Reduce Volatilization Loss of Medium in the Tank to Lower Costs
If an ordinary storage tank is directly open or equipped with a simple ventilation device, the volatile medium inside the tank (such as light oil, organic solvents) will continuously volatilize into the atmosphere, causing not only economic losses but also environmental pollution. The all-weather breather valve significantly reduces unnecessary medium volatilization by "precisely controlling the opening timing":
It only vents when the internal pressure of the tank reaches the "positive pressure opening value", and the venting volume is only the "minimum amount required for pressure balance", avoiding medium loss caused by "excessive venting";
During negative pressure air intake, the air drawn in is from the outside (not the medium inside the tank), which does not cause medium leakage. At the same time, it maintains stable internal pressure of the tank, further reducing additional medium volatilization caused by pressure fluctuations.
Data Reference: For gasoline storage tanks, after installing an all-weather breather valve, the annual medium volatilization loss can be reduced by more than 60%, significantly lowering the enterprise's raw material costs.
3. Environmental Protection Function: Control Harmful Gas Emissions to Reduce Environmental Pollution
The volatile medium inside the tank (such as oil vapor, chemical solvent vapor) is mostly toxic, harmful, flammable, or explosive gas. Uncontrolled direct emission will cause air pollution and even harm the health of personnel in the surrounding area. The "directional venting + precise control" characteristics of the all-weather breather valve can reduce harmful gas emissions:
During venting, only a "small amount of gas required for pressure relief" is released instead of continuous emission, reducing the total amount of harmful gases from the source;
Some all-weather breather valves can be used with "oil-gas recovery devices". During venting, the oil vapor is introduced into the recovery system (instead of being directly discharged into the atmosphere), realizing medium recovery and reuse, further reducing environmental pollution and complying with environmental protection regulations (such as Integrated Emission Standard of Air Pollutants GB 16297).
4. All-Weather Adaptation Function: Withstand Harsh Environments to Ensure Uninterrupted Functionality
"All-weather" is its core feature that distinguishes it from ordinary breather valves. Ordinary breather valves are prone to problems such as freezing, blockage, and corrosion in harsh environments like rain, snow, low temperatures, and sandstorms, leading to functional failure. However, the all-weather breather valve can adapt to various extreme environments through special design:
-Anti-Freezing: Adapt to Low-Temperature Environments
Some models have a built-in "anti-freezing structure" (such as electric tracing devices, thermal insulation layers, or low-freezing-point sealing fluid). In low-temperature environments below -40°C, the valve disc and sealing surface will not get stuck due to medium condensation or water freezing, ensuring the normal operation of positive pressure venting and negative pressure air intake functions.
Example: In cold winter areas in northern China, the all-weather breather valve can avoid failure to vent due to freezing, preventing tank overpressure.
-Anti-Clogging and Anti-Corrosion: Adapt to Dust-Intensive/Corrosive Environments
The valve body is made of corrosion-resistant materials such as stainless steel and cast steel, and the valve disc sealing surface uses wear-resistant and medium-corrosion-resistant materials (such as polytetrafluoroethylene). At the same time, the top is equipped with a "rain cap and dust screen" to prevent rainwater, sand, and debris from entering the valve body, avoiding valve disc jamming or seal failure and ensuring long-term stable operation.
Example: In dusty and corrosive gas-rich environments in chemical industrial parks, the all-weather breather valve can effectively resist corrosion and blockage without frequent maintenance.
5. Auxiliary Safety Function: Integrate with Flame Arresting Structure to Block Flame Propagation
Some all-weather breather valves are integrated with a "flame arrester core" (such as metal corrugated plates, porous ceramics), featuring dual functions of "breathing + flame arresting". While normally regulating pressure, if an open flame appears outside (such as a fire in adjacent equipment or welding sparks), the flame arrester core can quickly absorb the heat of the flame, reduce the flame temperature below the "ignition point" of the medium, and block the flame from entering the tank through the breather valve, preventing the medium inside the tank from being ignited and causing an explosion. At the same time, it can also prevent the flame from spreading to the outside through the breather valve if a local flame occurs inside the tank, avoiding the expansion of the fire range.
This design makes it more widely used in tanks storing flammable and explosive media, further enhancing tank safety.
Functions of All-Weather Breather Valves
An all-weather breather valve is a critical safety and energy-saving device installed on the top of storage tanks (such as oil tanks, chemical storage tanks, etc.). Its core function is to automatically regulate the pressure balance between the inside and outside of the storage tank, while featuring the property of "adapting to harsh environments around the clock". It not only prevents the storage tank from being damaged due to abnormal pressure but also reduces the volatilization loss of the medium inside the tank. As an essential component of tank systems in industries like petroleum, chemical engineering, and warehousing, its specific functions can be elaborated from the following 5 core dimensions:
1. Core Safety Function: Balance Internal and External Pressure of the Tank to Avoid Structural Damage
When a storage tank holds flammable, explosive, or volatile media (such as gasoline, diesel, solvents, etc.), internal pressure fluctuations occur due to temperature changes and medium loading/unloading operations. If the pressure cannot be adjusted in a timely manner, the tank may deform, leak, or even explode. The all-weather breather valve solves this problem through "bidirectional automatic breathing":
-Positive Pressure Venting: Prevent Tank Rupture Due to Overpressure
When the temperature inside the tank rises (e.g., solar exposure during the day), the volatilization of the medium increases, or the medium is filled into the tank, the gas inside the tank is compressed, and the pressure gradually rises. When the pressure reaches the "positive pressure opening pressure" (preset safety value) of the breather valve, the positive pressure valve disc of the breather valve opens automatically, discharging excess gases such as oil vapor and steam inside the tank. This reduces the internal pressure of the tank to a safe range, preventing the tank shell from bulging, weld cracking, or seal failure caused by overpressure.
Example: During high temperatures in summer, the volatilization of gasoline in a gasoline storage tank intensifies, and the internal pressure of the tank rises. The breather valve vents automatically to prevent the tank from being damaged due to excessive pressure.
-Negative Pressure Air Intake: Prevent Tank Collapse Due to Vacuum
When the temperature inside the tank drops (e.g., cooling at night), the medium condenses, or the medium is pumped out of the tank, the volume of the gas inside the tank shrinks, and the pressure gradually decreases, forming negative pressure. When the negative pressure reaches the "negative pressure opening pressure" (preset safety value) of the breather valve, the negative pressure valve disc of the breather valve opens automatically, drawing in air (or inert gas, depending on the medium requirements) from the outside to supplement the internal pressure of the tank. This prevents the tank shell from denting, deforming due to negative pressure, or even affecting medium pumping operations (e.g., the pump cannot suck materials normally).
Example: On winter nights, the temperature of diesel in a diesel storage tank drops, and the internal pressure of the tank decreases. The breather valve inhales air automatically to prevent the tank from being "sucked flat".
2. Energy-Saving and Consumption-Reduction Function: Reduce Volatilization Loss of Medium in the Tank to Lower Costs
If an ordinary storage tank is directly open or equipped with a simple ventilation device, the volatile medium inside the tank (such as light oil, organic solvents) will continuously volatilize into the atmosphere, causing not only economic losses but also environmental pollution. The all-weather breather valve significantly reduces unnecessary medium volatilization by "precisely controlling the opening timing":
It only vents when the internal pressure of the tank reaches the "positive pressure opening value", and the venting volume is only the "minimum amount required for pressure balance", avoiding medium loss caused by "excessive venting";
During negative pressure air intake, the air drawn in is from the outside (not the medium inside the tank), which does not cause medium leakage. At the same time, it maintains stable internal pressure of the tank, further reducing additional medium volatilization caused by pressure fluctuations.
Data Reference: For gasoline storage tanks, after installing an all-weather breather valve, the annual medium volatilization loss can be reduced by more than 60%, significantly lowering the enterprise's raw material costs.
3. Environmental Protection Function: Control Harmful Gas Emissions to Reduce Environmental Pollution
The volatile medium inside the tank (such as oil vapor, chemical solvent vapor) is mostly toxic, harmful, flammable, or explosive gas. Uncontrolled direct emission will cause air pollution and even harm the health of personnel in the surrounding area. The "directional venting + precise control" characteristics of the all-weather breather valve can reduce harmful gas emissions:
During venting, only a "small amount of gas required for pressure relief" is released instead of continuous emission, reducing the total amount of harmful gases from the source;
Some all-weather breather valves can be used with "oil-gas recovery devices". During venting, the oil vapor is introduced into the recovery system (instead of being directly discharged into the atmosphere), realizing medium recovery and reuse, further reducing environmental pollution and complying with environmental protection regulations (such as Integrated Emission Standard of Air Pollutants GB 16297).
4. All-Weather Adaptation Function: Withstand Harsh Environments to Ensure Uninterrupted Functionality
"All-weather" is its core feature that distinguishes it from ordinary breather valves. Ordinary breather valves are prone to problems such as freezing, blockage, and corrosion in harsh environments like rain, snow, low temperatures, and sandstorms, leading to functional failure. However, the all-weather breather valve can adapt to various extreme environments through special design:
-Anti-Freezing: Adapt to Low-Temperature Environments
Some models have a built-in "anti-freezing structure" (such as electric tracing devices, thermal insulation layers, or low-freezing-point sealing fluid). In low-temperature environments below -40°C, the valve disc and sealing surface will not get stuck due to medium condensation or water freezing, ensuring the normal operation of positive pressure venting and negative pressure air intake functions.
Example: In cold winter areas in northern China, the all-weather breather valve can avoid failure to vent due to freezing, preventing tank overpressure.
-Anti-Clogging and Anti-Corrosion: Adapt to Dust-Intensive/Corrosive Environments
The valve body is made of corrosion-resistant materials such as stainless steel and cast steel, and the valve disc sealing surface uses wear-resistant and medium-corrosion-resistant materials (such as polytetrafluoroethylene). At the same time, the top is equipped with a "rain cap and dust screen" to prevent rainwater, sand, and debris from entering the valve body, avoiding valve disc jamming or seal failure and ensuring long-term stable operation.
Example: In dusty and corrosive gas-rich environments in chemical industrial parks, the all-weather breather valve can effectively resist corrosion and blockage without frequent maintenance.
5. Auxiliary Safety Function: Integrate with Flame Arresting Structure to Block Flame Propagation
Some all-weather breather valves are integrated with a "flame arrester core" (such as metal corrugated plates, porous ceramics), featuring dual functions of "breathing + flame arresting". While normally regulating pressure, if an open flame appears outside (such as a fire in adjacent equipment or welding sparks), the flame arrester core can quickly absorb the heat of the flame, reduce the flame temperature below the "ignition point" of the medium, and block the flame from entering the tank through the breather valve, preventing the medium inside the tank from being ignited and causing an explosion. At the same time, it can also prevent the flame from spreading to the outside through the breather valve if a local flame occurs inside the tank, avoiding the expansion of the fire range.
This design makes it more widely used in tanks storing flammable and explosive media, further enhancing tank safety.
