Air Release Valves for water systems, and Combination Air/Vacuum Valves protect your piping system by automatically eliminating air pockets and preventing vacuum formations from building-up in the pipeline during filling or draining operations. Excessive air in a system can dramatically reduce capacity and increase power demand as pumps work harder to maintain desired flow.
In extreme cases, excessive air or vacuum formation can cause line breaks. The best way to protect your piping system from these negative conditions is to utilize air valves in the locations most likely to experience air or vacuum build-up:high-points in the pipeline, adjacent to pumps, in long pipe runs and at deep well installations.
Air Valves perform two important functions in a piping system. They maintain system design efficiency and provide system protection. System efficiency is maintained by venting air via the air valves from the system that can restrict flow and increase pumping costs.
Protection is provided by exhausting and admitting air through the air valves during system operations including start-up, shutdown, and critical conditions such as power failures or line breaks. The exhausting and admitting of air during these conditions will reduce the potential for destructive surges and water hammer normally associated with uncontrolled air or a vacuum condition within the piping system.
