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

AirandVacuumValve

StainlessSteelAir&VacuumValve
WastewaterCombinationAirValve PressureSewerAirReleaseValve UniversalAirReleaseValve

Minimatic AirReleaseValve
WastewaterAir/VacuumValve
SewageAirValvesSlowClosingAir/VacuumValves
KINETICAir&VacuumValveto4

KINETICSlowClosingAir&VacuumValve

FootValve SimpleLeverAirReleaseValve

CombinationVacuumBreakingandAirReleaseValve

LowVol.PressureAirReleaseValve

ShortBodyWastewaterAir&VacuumValve
AirandVacuumSewerValve NegativePressureValvePressureAirReleaseValve

HydraulicallyControlledAir/VacuumValves

MidgetValve

HighCapacitySimpleLeverAirReleaseValve SingleBodyWastewaterCombinationAirValve
AirValvesforVerticalTurbinePumps HighCapacityWastewaterAirReleaseValve

WellServiceAirValveUniversalSewerAirReleaseValve
VacuumReliefAirInletValves

AirReleaseValve(SimpleLeverType)

StainlessSteelSingleBodyWastewaterCombinationAirValve
AllStainlessSteelAirReleaseValve
KINETICCustomSlowClosingCombinationAirValve

WastewaterAir&VacuumValveHighCapacityCompoundLeverAirReleaseValve
CombinationAirValve(SingleHousingType)
AirReleaseValve(CompoundLeverType)

StainlessSteelWastewaterCombinationAirValve
DeepWellValve CompactKINETICCombinationAirValve
AirReleaseValves(Sewage)
ShortBodyWastewaterAirReleaseValve VacuumReliefValve
VacuumBreakingValve
DualBodyWastewaterCombinationAirValve

CombinationAirValve

SewageAirReleaseValve

KINETICCustomCombinationAirValve ShortBodyWastewaterCombinationAirValve
CombinationSewerValve
VacuumReliefAirValve CompoundLeverAirReleaseValve
KINETICDeepWellPumpAir&VacuumValve
DualAirValve KINETICSlowClosingCombinationAirValve

Air/VacuumValvew/OptionalSurgeSuppressionValve WastewaterAirReleaseValve

CombinationVacuumBreakingandAirReleaseValveforWastewater KINETICCombinationAirValve

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
PipeEmpty
ValveCloses
ValveOpen

Air/VacuumValveOperation

PipeDrains
AirIntake

Air/VacuumValveCycle

PipeDrains
PipeEmpty
PipeFills
AirIntake
ValveOpen
ValveCloses

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