Water always contains dissolved air, this air will appear in the form of bubbles when there is an increase in temperature and/or a decrease in pressure.
There is also air ingress in the pumping due to the vortex that forms at the suction inlet, and due to faulty seals in the pump body and suction pipes.
Also dissolved air is released due to turbulence in the pump and suction.
Table of Contents
All fluid transport systems
Air valves are helpful under following operations.
When starting the filling of the pipe, the air inside it needs to be evacuated in a controlled manner. This is carried out with air valves located at high points in the system.
The required diameter depends on the filling rate of the pipe.
When emptying the pipe of water, air must enter to avoid the appearance of negative pressures that can damage the pipe. This is carried out with air valves located at high points in the system.
The required diameter depends on the diameter of the drain or drain valve and the difference in height between the air valve and the drain valve.
The water contains dissolved air at all times, as the water is transported through the pipe, the pressure drops due to the effect of friction on the walls.
When the pressure drops, the water reduces its capacity to contain dissolved air and this manifests itself in the form of small bubbles that are dragged by the water and accumulate in the high points of the system.
If this accumulated air is not removed, the effective water circulation area is reduced and localized pressure drops are generated. In extreme cases, the pipe can be completely clogged.
We discuss mainly four types of air valves
This type of valve employs a light weighted float that senses the presence of air. A mechanism linked to the float opens the valve orifice and releases the air.
These types of valves work best when the water pipe is at full pressure, as it has a limited ability to release and inject air.
Air and vacuum valves, also called large orifice valves, injectors release air in large quantities while the pipeline is being filled or emptied.
These valves are also sealed by a ball. As the water fills the pipe, the ball stays below the hole and the valve is sealed.
When the pipe is being emptied, the ball falls with the water level and allows air to enter the pipe.
The combination air valves are nothing but combined air and vacuum valves.
The automatic air release function releases accumulated air from the system while it gets pressurized.
The air and vacuum function discharges take-in large volumes of air in the course of filling or draining pipelines.
The combination air valve will open to relieve negative pressures whenever water column separation occurs.
It evacuates air during pipe filling. Allows large volume air intake in case of the pipe drainage network. The kinetic air valve provides excellent protection against vacuum formation with its advanced aerodynamics design and kinetic orifice.
The air valve provides improved sealing under low-pressure conditions.
Incomplete discharge of air during filling:
When the pipe is filled with water, the air it contains must be released to the outside, if the measures taken to make this happen are insufficient, part of the air will remain trapped inside the pipe.
The control of the presence of air – inside the pipe can cause severe problems:
1. The impedance of the flow in pipes or reduction of the effective section:
It results in an increase in energy losses. Also the inadequate supply of water to the different areas of the system due to the obstruction of the flow and the accumulation of localized head losses.
2. Inaccurate readings on gauges and hydrometers.
3. Serious damage to internal rotating parts of gauges.
4. Inadequate water supply due to incorrect meter and hydrometer readings.
5. Corrosion and Cavitation problems.
The problem of air in the pipes is not only due to its presence of air but in some cases, it is due to its absence, such as the
1. Lack of air damage pipelines is a consequence of negative pressures or depression.
2. The collapse is due to transient pressures or water hammers.
3. And also by the suction of mud and dirt in the connections, suction of seals, gaskets, and other internal parts.
4. Sucking of chemicals injected into the system.
