The presence of trapped air in a pressurized pipeline can have serious effects on system operation and efficiency. As air pockets accumulates at high points, they reduce the effective cross-section of the pipeline in their location, decreasing the water flow, and increasing energy consumption required to pump the water through. Thus reducing the overall system efficiency. A pipeline with many air pockets may impose enough restriction to stop all flow (“airlocks”). The dislodge and movement of the air pockets may change suddenly the fluid velocity and cause pressure surges and pipeline ruptures. Trapped air pockets may also accelerate corrosion in the pipe material, damage water metering devices and cause erratic operation of control valves. On the other hand, when a system is being drained there is a necessity to admit atmospheric air into the pipeline in order to occupy the volume of drained water so to prevent dangerous sub-atmospheric pressure in the pipeline that may bring to complete collapse of pipe-sections.

Dorot Air Valves offers the most reliable solution to overcome all these challenges that may occure on a pipeline for a long lasting operational system and most efficient water network. 

Kinetic Air / Vacuum Valve:

• Exhaust large quantities of air from the pipeline when it is filled with water , at low pipeline pressure (“Kinetic” air-release function)
• Admit large quantities of air into the pipe when it is drained, or when the internal pressure drops below atmospheric pressure due to transient conditions in transient conditions (“Kinetic” anti-vacuum function)

Automatic Air Release Valves:

• Release small pockets of accumulated air while the pipeline operates under pressure (“Automatic” air-release function)

Combination Air Valves:

• A valve that perform the functions of both the “Kinetic” and “Automatic”.