AirValveBasicTraining

OWEACollectionSystemSpecialty Conference
DanBarr,PE Burgess&Niple,Inc.

Overview
WhyAirValves? TypesofValves ValveLocations SizingValves ValveSpecifications Installations Questions

Overview
Informationbasedon:
AWWAManualofWaterSupplyPracticesM51 AirRelease,Air/Vacuum&CombinationAirValves Manufacturers'publishedinformation Ourexperienceindesignandthefield

WhyAirValves?

WhyAirValves?
EffectsofAirandVacuumPocketsinPipelines HigherHeadlossandBinding PipeBreaks Erraticoperationofpumps,meters,and controlvalves Collapsedpipes

WhyAirValves?
SourcesofAirEntryinPipelines DissolvedAirorGas(2%at1atm) AirValves Pumps FillingEmptyPipelines

WhyAirValves?
SourcesofVacuumsinPipelines DrainingPipelines WaterHammer

TypesofAirValves

Simple,right?
SuperHighCapacityCompoundLeverAirReleaseValve
DualBodyWastewaterCombinationAirValvew/HighCapacityAirRelease

Minimatic AirReleaseValve WastewaterAir/VacuumValve SewageAirValvesSlow ClosingAir/VacuumValves KINETICAir&VacuumValveto4

StainlessSteelAir&VacuumValve WastewaterCombinationAirValve PressureSewerAirReleaseValve UniversalAirReleaseValve

KINETICSlowClosingAir&VacuumValve

AirandVacuumValve

ShortBodyWastewaterAir&VacuumValve AirReleaseValve AirandVacuumSewerValve NegativePressureValvePressure

HydraulicallyControlledAir/VacuumValves

CombinationVacuumBreakingandAirReleaseValve

FootValve SimpleLeverAirReleaseValve

LowVol.PressureAirReleaseValve

HighCapacitySimpleLeverAirReleaseValve SingleBodyWastewaterCombinationAirValve
AirValvesforVerticalTurbinePumps HighCapacityWastewaterAirReleaseValve
AirReleaseValve(SimpleLeverType)

MidgetValve

WellServiceAirValveUniversal SewerAirReleaseValve
VacuumReliefAirInletValves

WastewaterAir&VacuumValveHighCapacityCompoundLeverAirReleaseValve CombinationAirValve(SingleHousingType) AirReleaseValve(CompoundLeverType)

StainlessSteelSingleBodyWastewaterCombinationAirValve AllStainlessSteelAirReleaseValve KINETICCustomSlowClosingCombinationAirValve

StainlessSteelWastewaterCombinationAirValve DeepWellValve CompactKINETICCombinationAirValve AirReleaseValves(Sewage) ShortBodyWastewaterAirReleaseValve VacuumReliefValve VacuumBreakingValve

DualBodyWastewaterCombinationAirValve

BodyWastewaterCombinationAirValve KINETICCustomCombinationAirValve ShortCombination SewerValve

CombinationAirValve

SewageAirReleaseValve

CombinationVacuumBreakingandAirReleaseValveforWastewater KINETICCombinationAirValve

Air/VacuumValvew/OptionalSurgeSuppressionValve WastewaterAirReleaseValve

VacuumReliefAirValve CompoundLeverAirReleaseValve KINETICDeepWellPumpAir&VacuumValve DualAirValve KINETICSlowClosingCombinationAirValve

TypesofAirValves

ThreeBasicTypes
AirReleaseValves Air/VacuumValves CombinationAirValves

AirReleaseValves
Automaticallyreleasessmall pocketsof accumulatedairwhilethepipelineoperates underpressure.

AirReleaseValveOperation
PipelineFlowing AirTrapped AirReleased RepeatCycle

Air/VacuumValves
Designedtoautomatically: Exhaustlarge quantitiesofairduringpipeline
filling. Admitlargeamountsofairwhentheinternal pressuredropsbelowatmospheric.

Air/VacuumValveOperation

PipeFills Empty ValveCloses Open

Air/VacuumValveOperation

PipeDrains AirIntake

Air/VacuumValveCycle

PipeDrains Empty Fills Air Valve Intake Closes Open

CombinationAirValves
Performbothasairreleaseandair/vacuum valves.

Combination

CombinationAirValveOperation

LocatingAirValves AlongaPipeline
(OrThinkinglikeanAirBubble)

LocatingAirValves

Installvalveswhereair willbetrappedor vacuumpocketswill form!

LocatingAirValves AlongaForceMain

LiftStation Manhole

PumpsOperatingandLineisFull

LocatingAirValves AlongaForceMain

LiftStation Manhole

PumpsOperatingandLineisFull

LocatingAirValves AlongaForceMain
AirRelease LiftStation AirRelease Manhole

PumpsOperatingandLineisFull

HighPoints
PotentialVacuum LiftStation Manhole

PumpsStoppedandLineisDraining

HighPoints

LiftStation Manhole

PumpsStartandVacuumPocketsClosewithPressureSpikes

HighPoints
CombinationAirValve LiftStation CombinationAirValve Manhole

PumpsStopped,LineisDrained,andHighPointsareFullofAir

HighPoints
Manhole LiftStation

AnyAirValves?

HighPoints
Manhole LiftStation

NoVacuumPoints!

HighPoints
AirTrapped LiftStation Manhole

HighPoints
AutomaticAirRelease LiftStation ManualAirRelease Manhole

Pumps
Carefullyreviewdeeppumpinstallations whenover20feetdeep. MayneedAir/Vacvalve Examplesinclude:verticalturbinesanddeep submersibles.

Pumps
LineFull PumpOn

Pumps
PumpOff VacuumDevelops

Pumps
PumpTurnsOn PumpsAgainst Vacuum SlamsCheck Valve

Pumps
AddAir/VacValve AirEntersSystemto EliminateVacuum

Pumps
AddAir/VacValve AirEntersSystemto EliminateVacuum AirReleasedat ControlledRate

SizingValves

AirRelease
ConvertpipelineflowratetoCubicFeetper Minute(CFM). MultiplyCFMby0.02toestimatedissolvedair inwater. Determinetheworkingpressureatthevalve. RefertoOrificeAirCapacityTableinAWWA manualormanufacturertables.

AirRelease

Air/VacValves
Determinerequiredvalvesizeforbothfilling anddrainingindependently Usethelargerdiameterforair/vacvalvesizing

PipelineFilling
CalculatetheventingflowrateinCFM.
VentingFlowRate=FillRate(CFM)*[(Pressure Differentialacrossvalve+14.7psi)/14.7psi]

RefertosizingtablestoselectAir/Vacvalve diameter. Usea2psidifferentialgenerally.

PipelineFilling

PipelineDrainingorVacuum Prevention
Determinetheallowablenegativepressurefor thepipelinewithasafetyfactor.Assume5.0 psiforamax. Calculatetheslopeofthepipelineinft/ft. Usefollowingfiguretodeterminethe requiredCFM. Refertotabletoselecttherequiredair/vac valvediameter.

PipelineDrainingorVacuum Prevention

TableforDeterminingAirFlowwhenDrainingPipelines

PipelineDrainingorVacuum Prevention

TableforSizingAir/VacValveswhenDrainingPipelines

ValveSpecifications

AirReleaseValves
OrificeSize(1/16 to1) NPTInletsize(1/2 to3) MaximumWorkingPressure(75psiandup) MinimumSealingPressure(softerseatsneeded whenunder25psi) ValveMaterials(DuctileorCastIron,St.Stl) Accessories(checkvalve,backflush,flow regulators,etc.) Service (WastewaterorCleanWater)

Air/VacValves
SimilartoAirReleaseValves Inlet/Outletsizes(1 to20) TypeofConnections(NPTandFlanged) MaximumWorkingPressure(150to300psi)

CombinationAirValves
Alloftheabove BodyConfiguration(SingleversusDual)
DualBodySingleBody

InstallationandO&M

Installation
Connections
Inletpipingandisolationvalveshouldbe samesizeasvalveinlet ShortInletPipingandVentLines

Installation
Location
Needprotectionfromfreezing, contamination,flooding,andvandalism Needsaccess Watchvalveclearances

OperationandMaintenance
InspectionsandFlushing
Atleastannually Moreoftenforvalvesthatoperate continuously Watchforexternalleakage

QUESTIONS
DanBarr,PE dbarr@burnip.com (614)4592050