Why are the air valves failing?

Articles > Why Are The Air Valves Failing

Published: Thu, Aug 25, 2022

Contributor: Glenn Votkin | Profile | Articles

Design engineers acknowledge the problems associated with accumulating air within pipelines. (a) Air allowed to accumulate at high spots will increase energy costs, decrease flow, and elevate the risk of cross connection. (b) A function of an air valve is to prevent air from accumulating at high points.

However, many air valves are failing today and in many cases, we are simply accepting the consequences and blaming the operators for allowing them to fail. Why are the air valves failing? Is it poor air valve design, lack of maintenance or poor design practices? Let’s explore the infraStruct[1] Air Valve Design Scorecard for answers.

Through ARIavCAD[2] steady state analysis and hydraulic modeling we can understand the “Pipeline Mechanics.” Air valves are then selected based on “Material Mechanics” meeting pipeline performance requirements. Finally installed addressing the “Installation Mechanics”. However now as an “Owned Asset,” operators cannot safely, confidently access and maintain the valve due to the chamber being deemed as a moderate to high-risk entry.

It is the responsibility for the owner to provide a safe work environment for their operators. It is the responsibility of the designer to understand the needs of their client in all mechanics and owned asset. It is the responsibility for the operator to maintain the asset providing it falls within the brackets of safe work procedures.

In many cases today we failed the operators through poor past and future design practices. The good news, the technology to resolve the “Owned Asset” challenges has been available for almost two decades in North America.

ARI has a full line of “Self Contained Air Valves” for both Water and Sewer that eliminate confined space entry for maintenance.

I have enclosed a simple matrix below to assist in selection and we offer technical support reviewing our scorecard ensuring the correct valve is identified for both post design repair and future design consideration.

Water Pipelines up to 300mm Diameter.

• ARID090SB 50mm Combination Air Valve (NSF61 Certified for potable water)
• Installation lengths: 1½, 2½, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Ft
• Working Pressure rating 3-250 psi.
• Fully insulated for cold weather installation.
• >1000 units installed in Canada, proven technology.
• Link to data sheet D-090P | Underground Air Valve (ariusa.com)

Water Pipelines >300mm Diameter.

• ARID060SB 50mm Combination Air Valve (NSF61 Certified for potable water)
• Installation lengths: 37” (Spool Pipe used to elevate below surface)
• Working Pressure rating 3-285 psi. and 3-360 psi.
• Fully insulated for cold weather installation.
• Hundreds of units installed in Canada, proven technology.
• Data Sheet Link: D-060-C HF SB | Underground Air Valve System (ariusa.com)

Sewer Pipelines >300mm Diameter.

• ARID26SB 75mm Combination Air Valve
• Installation lengths: 37” (Spool Pipe used to elevate below surface)
• Working Pressure rating 3-250 psi.
• Fully insulated for cold weather installation.
• Hundreds of units installed in Canada, proven technology.
• Data Sheet Link: D-26SB | Underground Air Valve System for Wastewater (ariusa.com)

In summary

Moving forward we have choice; we can’t change past design practices however we can choose to “set the operator up for success.”