The main purpose of a safety valve is to what?

The main purpose of a safety valve is to protect the boiler from excess pressure. This device is critical in maintaining safe operating conditions within a boiler system. When the pressure inside the boiler exceeds a predetermined limit, the safety valve automatically opens, allowing steam or gas to escape. This release of pressure helps prevent potential catastrophic failures such as explosions or structural damage to the boiler.

Safety valves are designed to operate quickly and reliably, ensuring that the boiler can be taken out of service before reaching dangerous pressure levels. Proper functioning of the safety valve is essential for the overall safety of the boiler system and compliance with regulations and standards governing pressure vessels.

While temperature regulation, noise reduction, and fluid flow control are important aspects of a boiler’s operation, they are not the primary functions of a safety valve. The valve's sole focus is on pressure management, making option B the correct choice.