HiVent Air Valves Selection and Spacing

of Air Valves
The HiVent range of high performance air When selecting the type of valve for a specific
valves is the result of an intensive application, the functions outlined above
development and testing programme by should be borne in mind and air valves placed
Blakeborough valves, spanning several years accordingly. When considering air valves,
and backed by the experience gained in 100 particularly for pipeline applications, a
years of air valve production. suitably sized double air valve is usually the
GA Valves continues the development of this best choice.
range with special materials and added
features being part of the evolution of the
range. This has resulted in valves being
AIR VALVES SHOULD BE PLACED AT THE FOLLOWING POINTS
ON A PIPELINE
supplied around the world in a range of
materials from the standard Cast iron to the Location Type of Valve Fig. No. Comment
highest specified Titanium and stainless steels. Peaks Double Air Valve 8340 On the hydraulic gradient
Change in gradient up or down Single Small Air Valve 3800 Double if vacuum protection is required
Range Long gradients up or down Double Air Valve 8340 Every 400 to 600 m
Long level runs Double Air Valve 8340 Every 400 to 600 m
The HiVent range of air valves includes single
air valves, of both large and small orifice
types, and double air valves, which combine
the features of both types. The design of the
Sizing
When sizing for large orifice air valves, each
large orifice is Kinetic, allowing for high air
high spot should be considered and the
discharge rates without the risk of the air
potential fill and drain rates determined.
valve blowing shut and causing damaging
The large orifice should then be sized on
surges. Kinetic air valves can be sized for
maximum flow. (Generally pumped filling
differential pressures of up to 0.33 bar,
rates are faster than gravity drain rates).
whereas conventional air valves can only be
Check the Outflow and Inflow rate against
sized at 0.18 bar differentials.
the desired differential pressure and select the
Although primarily for applications related to suitable valve.
potable water the whole range is available in
specialised materials to suit any application
involving a ‘clean’ liquid.
FLOW RATES FOR LARGE ORIFICE ‘HiVent’ AIR VALVES
For applications where solids are anticipated, Differential Outlet diameter
pressure of the air valve
our range of sewage and wastewater air in bar in mm
valves has been added to offer a 25 50 80 100 150
comprehensive range of options for the
0.9 10.43 34.53 97.43 132.15 298.83
specifying engineer.
0.8 9.83 32.56 91.86 124.59 281.74

C U B I C
O U T F L O W

HiVent Principle
0.7 9.20 30.45 85.92 116.54 263.55
0.6 8.52 28.19 79.55 107.92 243.99
0.5 7.78 25.74 72.62 98.50 222.74
The unique HiVent design, incorporating a 0.4 6.95 23.02 64.95 88.10 199.22

M E T R E S
spherical ball float working within precision 0.33 6.31 20.91 58.99 80.02 180.40
cast guides offers outstanding performance. 0.3 6.02 19.93 56.25 76.30 172.53
0.2 4.92 16.28 45.93 62.29 140.87
• Aerodynamic design. The air flow actively 0.1 3.47 11.51 32.48 44.05 99.61
holds the valve open during the discharge
of air - at all flows up to and including 0.0 0.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 000.00
M I N U T E

sonic velocities. This feature is based on

Bernoulli’s Law which gives the -0.1 3.33 11.05 31.18 42.29 95.63
I N F L O W

relationship between pressure and velocity -0.2 4.48 14.81 41.79 56.68 128.19
in a flowing fluid. -0.3 5.05 16.74 47.25 64.09 144.92
• Exceptionally high flow capacity. This can -0.33 5.30 17.56 49.55 67.22 152.04
-0.4 5.35 17.98 50.01 68.50 153.40
be seen from the chart below.
-0.5 5.40 19.00 51.20 70.00 158.15
• Efficient low pressure sealing at pressures FIGURES IN BOLD ARE RECOMMENDED MAXIMUMS
as low as 0.3 bar or 3 metre head of water.
• For pressures lower than 0.3 bar, please Where the flow rates are unknown or a quick
refer to GA Valves. check is required, a rule of thumb sizing for
• Smooth operation. An inherent design HiVent Large Orifice Air Valves can be applied.
feature is that it is impossible for the This equates to a minimum air valve to
spherical plastic floats to jam in the integral pipeline cross sectional area of 1:80.
guides. The exceptionally high air flow capacity of the
• The guides are able to resist air flows of HiVent air valve makes it possible to use a
sonic velocity without vibration or smaller size than would be possible with
deformation. traditional designs.
• Total internal protection against corrosion. Also available is the 80/50 size, which is
To eliminate the possibility of jamming 50mm air valve with the inlet flange enlarged
by corrosion in long term use, the body to fit an 80mm branch pipe. This can be
is entirely coated in nylon. There are no fitted to existing 80mm branches, so as to
untreated metal parts in contact with take advantage of the high flow capacity of
the medium. the HiVent air valve.

2
 outflow occurs the valve closes, and air is
vented slowly through a small bypass orifice.
Valve dia. mm Max. main dia. to be used with The water column therefore returns slowly
HiVent Traditional and the air valve closes without danger of
Air Valve Air Valve surge pressure in the pipeline.
25 300 300
50 450 300 Dry Risers and Deep Well
80 700 450
100 900 600 Pumping Applications
150 1200 900 One of the main sources of air in a pipeline is
from the vertical riser on pump applications,
the installation of an air valve at the top of the
Where mains are larger than 1200mm,
riser before the check valve stops air being
clusters of air valves may be fitted on the
forced into the line.
basis that the total inlet area of the air valve
cluster should be not less than 1.25% of the The installation of this air valve is fairly
pipeline cross sectional area. common and beneficial to the overall system
but can cause its own problems.
DO NOT OVERSIZE AIR VALVES - When the
required inflow rate is appreciably higher than By venting the riser to atmosphere the pump
the outflow rate, standard air valves should starts with minimal delivery head and the
be fitted to handle the outflow rate and riser fills very quickly, as the water column
additional air valves with outflow checks rises it converges on the static column
should be fitted to allow for the higher inflow beyond the check valve, and the air valve
rate. This will ensure that the line does not simultaneously.
fill too quickly. The air valve is forced closed, at very high
velocity because by now the differential
Transient Pressures across the outlet has gone well over the 0.33
Parts of a pipeline may sometimes experience bar recommended for outflow. The water
transient sub-atmospheric pressures, caused column is stopped by both the air valve and
for example by pump failure or unusually the static column causing a surge in pressure
rapid operation of valves. which forces the check valve open. The surge
pressure is then followed by a down pressure
In these conditions air may be drawn in
which can allow the check valve to slam shut
through the large orifice air valves and then
again and probably reopens the air valve as
expelled again in an uncontrolled manner. If
well. This cycle can repeat several times on a
the expulsion is violent enough, the returning
single start up. The resulting damage to the
water enters the air valve at high velocity and
valves and equipment is predictable.
is brought suddenly to rest as the air valve
closes. This may result in dangerous surge
pressures in the pipeline. The Solution
If there is any danger of such transient The key to this problem is to maintain a
conditions, the air valve may be fitted with a suitable differential across the air valve
vented non-return valve. This allows rapid air assembly while controlling the speed the
intake through the main seat, but when column rises. This can be done creating a
positive pressure on the outlet of the air valve
by restricting the discharge from the valve
HiVent SINGLE AND DOUBLE AIR VALVES - TABLE OF FIGURE NUMBERS with a throttling device of some sort. A fixed
orifice is very difficult to accurately size and
Type Fig. No. Description Size (mm) Max. Page we have found that the best route is an
WP Bar Ref. adjustable throttle which can be adjusted by
SINGLE 3800 Nipple inlet 25 25 4 the operator.
SMALL 3801 Nipple inlet & flange 25 16 & 25 4
ORIFICE 3802 Nipple inlet & isolating valve 25 25 4 Installation
3803 Nipple inlet flange & isolating valve 25 16 & 25 4
All air valves should be installed with isolation
valves and in a truly vertical position.
SINGLE 8316 Nipple inlet 25 16 & 25 5
LARGE 8317 Nipple inlet & flange 25 16 & 25 5
ORIFICE 8318 Nipple inlet & isolating valve 25 16 & 25 5 Variations To
8319 Nipple inlet, flange & isolating valve 25 16 & 25 5 Standard Valve
8320 Flanged 50, 80, 100, 150 16 & 25 5
1. Vented non return valves
8320X Flanged 80mm 50 16 & 25 5
2. Inflow check valves
3. Throttling device in lieu of vented
DOUBLE 8340 Screwed 25 16, 25 & 40 6 non-return
LARGE & 8340 Flanged 50, 80, 100, 150 16 & 25 6 4. Piped outlets
SMALL 8340X Flanged 80mm 50 16 & 25 6
ORIFICE

BUTTERFLY L600 Wafer lugged with lever 50, 80, 100, 150 16 5/6
VALVE
If in any doubt about your application or if it is adjacent to a pump, please refer to
GA Valves for technical assistance

ISSUE 5 • OCT ‘02