Air Control Valves (ACV) are commonly used in water, wastewater and sewage systems to increase efficiency and reliability of pipelines. By providing controlled release and inlet of air from pipelines, operators can minimize the potential for damage to systems from surges, water hammers and vacuum conditions. Many ACV products are designed for clean water applications but relatively few are designed for, and work well in, the harsh environment of sewage and wastewater.
ACVs are available in sizes from 3/4” up to 12” and in many configurations such as NPT threaded, 150 class, and 300 class flanged. Options such as bug screens (to prevent the inlet of bugs during vacuum conditions), threaded side outlets, surge protection, and even variations in materials such as stainless steel, iron, and composite, are often desirable. The growth of composite material ACVs has been enormous in recent years due to its corrosion resistance and light weight construction. This growth has even led to many hybrid models, with some parts of the valves being composite and others being metallic.
Considerations when picking an air valve will generally be: type of media, pressure rating of the device, mounting method, air flow requirements, surge protection requirement and mounting location. It is a rule of thumb for AVC’s to be placed approximately every kilometer along a pipeline and on every high location.
Another rule of thumb is to go with a five-to-one reduction from the pipeline (for example, a 10” pipe needs a 2” ACV), but it is always best to check the airflow ratings of the units carefully. WW
Established in 2015, Victaulic Bermad Technologies (VBT) is a joint venture between BERMAD and Victaulic. The group offers various solutions across diverse business lines, including commercial building, mining, power, petrochemical, oil and gas, water systems, and fire protection. Learn more at www.vbtech.com.
Published in WaterWorld magazine, December 2021.
