Which of the following is a primary function of a safety valve?

A safety valve is primarily designed to release excess pressure in a system, thereby preventing potential accidents or dangerous situations that could arise from overpressure. When pressure within a system exceeds a predetermined limit, the safety valve opens to allow some of the fluid to escape, ensuring that the pressure remains within safe operational limits. This function is crucial in various applications, such as boilers and pressure vessels, where excessive pressure can lead to catastrophic failures like explosions.

While maintaining system pressure automatically relates to pressure regulation, this task is typically the function of pressure regulators, not safety valves. Additionally, controlling fluid flow rates is the domain of different components, such as flow control valves. Filtering particles from liquids is a separate concern handled by filtration systems, not safety valves. Overall, the primary focus of a safety valve is to protect the system and personnel by allowing for the safe release of built-up pressure.