Structural Analysis of the Ramsbottom Safety Valve using Fusion 360

Abstract

In this paper, a finite element analysis was first used to calculate the static displacements and stresses under the maximum loads in the body of the Ramsbottom Safety Valve, which was then used for point evaluation. Fatigue analysis and longevity were assessed through the use of Fusion 360 software. In recent years, the need to understand the performance of a product over its life cycle has increased drastically. The development of cracks due to fatigue loads plays an important role in restraining the life of a products. This review shows the study carried out using 3D modelling techniques. The model was designed using the Fusion 360 modelling software. Safety valves act as a fail-safe, releasing pressure and ensuring that locomotive boilers does not explode in the case of a failure. Safety valves have been used since the early days of the railways, but in 1856 John Ramsbottom introduced a new type of valve that was tamper proof - crews sometimes used to adjusted the valves in order to increase the power of the locomotive. A safety valve is a type of valve that should act as a fail-safe valve. An example for a safety valve is a Pressure Relief Valve (PRV) also known as Ramsbottom Safety Valve, which will automatically release a substance from a boiler or pressure vessel. Pilot-operated relief valves are a modified type of pressure safety valve. A leak proof, low cost, single emergency use choice would be a rupture disk.