Performance Similarity between Different-Sized Air Exchange Valves
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 147, Issue 10
Abstract
A central element of a pipeline’s air management infrastructure is typically its set of air exchange valves (AEVs), a designation that includes air release and air/vacuum valves. Knowledge of the air mass flow rate as a function of pressure difference is essential for AEV selection and design, a relationship expressed by its somewhat complex and certainly nonlinear characteristic curve (CC). However, both measurement and simulation of this CC are often nonintuitive and, for various practical and theoretical reasons, problematic. To provide greater insight, several helpful performance scaling analyses are undertaken here with the goal of aiding system investigation, design, and operation. To this end, a performance similarity relation (PSR) for different-sized AEVs is developed and its effectiveness demonstrated in the light of commonly available air mass flow data. Also, the PSR is successfully applied to aid in the interpretation of published experimental air expulsion data. Additionally, the interaction of the CC with basic pipeline parameters on system performance is explored in the context of common hydraulic transient events. For this second application, the water-hammer pressures generated by a pump trip scenario are numerically simulated for several test pipelines, considering four AEV sizes each having three possible characteristic curves.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. The available data, models, or code are listed in the following:
•
Data regarding the air flow performance of two models of air valves (four air valve sizes for each model) according to the manufacturer’s catalog, including the name of the manufacturer and the names of the models.
•
Data related to the results of the water-hammer numerical simulations of the test pipelines as obtained using the software HAMMER by Bentley Systems (total of 72 scenarios).
•
Models used in the numerical simulations, with all relevant input parameters, as implemented using the software HAMMER by Bentley Systems (total of 72 scenarios).
•
Code in Python related to the curve fitting of the equations of the isentropic model for air flow to air admission or expulsion characterization data.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) of the Ministry of Education (MEC) of Brazil.
References
Apollonio, C., G. Balacco, N. Fontana, M. Giugni, G. Marini, and A. F. Piccinni. 2016. “Hydraulic transients caused by air expulsion during rapid filling of undulating pipelines.” Water 8 (1): 25. https://doi.org/10.3390/w8010025.
Aquino, G. A. 2013. “Characterization of the air flow in pipelines and air valves.” M.S. thesis, School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Design, Univ. of Campinas.
Aquino, G. A., Y. F. L. De Lucca, and J. G. Dalfré Filho. 2018. “The importance of experimental tests on air valves for proper choice in a water supply project.” J. Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 40 (8): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-018-1306-2.
AWWA (American Water Works Association). 2016. Manual of water supply practices M51—Air valves: Air-release, air/vacuum and combination. Denver: AWWA.
Bergant, A., A. Tijsseling, Y. Kim, U. Karadžic, L. Zhou, M. Lambert, and A. Simpson. 2018. “Unsteady pressures influenced by trapped air pockets in water-filled pipelines.” Strojniški vestnik 64 (9). https://doi.org/10.5545/sv-jme.2018.5238.
Bianchi, A., S. Mambretti, and P. Pianta. 2007. “Practical formulas for the dimensioning of air valves.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 133 (10): 1177–1180. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(2007)133:10(1177).
Carlos, M., F. J. Arregui, E. Cabrera, and C. V. Palau. 2011. “Understanding air release through air valves.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 137 (4): 461–469. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0000324.
Coronado, O. E., M. Besharat, V. S. Fuertes, and H. M. Ramos. 2019. “Effect of a commercial air valve on the rapid filling of a single pipeline: A numerical and experimental analysis.” Water 11 (9): 1814. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11091814.
Coronado, O. E., V. S. Fuertes, and F. N. Angulo. 2018. “Emptying operation of water supply networks.” Water 10 (1): 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/w10010022.
Coronado, O. E., V. S. Fuertes, D. Mora, and Y. Salgueiro. 2020. “Quasi-static flow model for predicting the extreme values of air pocket pressure in draining and filling operations in single water installations.” Water 12 (3): 664. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12030664.
Delmée, G. J. 2003. Manual de medição de vazão. São Paulo, Brazil: Editora Edgard Blücher.
De Martino, G., N. Fontana, and M. Giugni. 2008. “Transient flow caused by air expulsion through an orifice.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 134 (9): 1395–1399. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(2008)134:9(1395).
Fontana, N., E. Galdiero, and M. Giugni. 2016. “Pressure surges caused by air release in water pipelines.” J. Hydraul. Res. 54 (4): 461–472. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2016.1168324.
Fuertes, V. S., P. L. Iglesias, J. Izquierdo, and G. López. 2006. “Algunos problemas generados por ventosas mal seleccionadas a causa de una caracterización hidráulica errónea.” In Proc., XXII Congreso Latinoamericano de Hidráulica. Madrid, Spain: International Association for Hydro-Environment.
Fuertes, V. S., P. A. López, F. J. Martínez, and G. López. 2016. “Numerical modelling of pipelines with air pockets and air valves.” Can. J. Civ. Eng. 43 (12): 1052–1061. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjce-2016-0209.
García, S., P. L. Iglesias, D. Mora, F. J. Martínez, and V. S. Fuertes. 2018. “Computational determination of air valves capacity using CFD techniques.” Water 10 (10): 1433. https://doi.org/10.3390/w10101433.
Iglesias, P. L., V. S. Fuertes, F. J. García, and J. J. Martínez. 2014. “Comparative study of intake and exhaust air flows of different commercial air valves.” Procedia Eng. 89: 1412–1419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2014.11.467.
Iglesias, P. L., F. J. García, V. S. Fuertes, and F. J. Martínez. 2017. “Air valves characterization using hydrodynamic similarity.” In Proc., World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2017. Reston, VA: ASCE.
ISO. 2000. Pipe threads where pressure-tight joints are not made on the threads—Part 1: Dimensions, tolerances and designation. ISO 228-1. Geneva: ISO.
ISO. 2003. Measurement of fluid flow by means of pressure differential devices inserted in circular cross-section conduits running full—Part 2: Orifice plates. ISO 5167-2. Geneva: ISO.
Lima, G. M., and E. Luvizotto Jr. 2017. “Method to estimate complete curves of hydraulic pumps through the polymorphism of existing curves.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 143 (8): 04017017. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001301.
Lingireddy, S., D. J. Wood, and N. Zloczower. 2004. “Pressure surges in pipeline systems resulting from air releases.” J. AWWA 96 (7): 88–94. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1551-8833.2004.tb10652.x.
Malekpour, A., and B. W. Karney. 2019. “Complex interactions of water, air and its controlled removal during pipeline filling operations.” Fluid Mech. Res. Int. J. 3 (1): 4–15. https://doi.org/10.15406/fmrij.2019.03.00046.
Meniconi, S., B. Brunone, E. Mazzetti, D. B. Laucelli, and G. Borta. 2017. “Hydraulic characterization and transient response of pressure reducing valves: Laboratory experiments.” J. Hydroinf. 19 (6): 798–810. https://doi.org/10.2166/hydro.2017.158.
Pothof, I., and B. Karney. 2012. “Guidelines for transient analysis in water transmission and distribution systems.” In Water supply system analysis—Selected topics, edited by A. Ostfeld. Rijeka, Croatia: InTech.
Ramezani, L., and B. Karney. 2017. “Water column separation and cavity collapse for pipelines protected with air vacuum valves: Understanding the essential wave processes.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 143 (2): 04016083. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001235.
Ramezani, L., B. Karney, and A. Malekpour. 2015. “The challenge of air valves: A selective critical literature review.” J. Water Resour. Plann. Manage. 141 (10): 04015017. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000530.
Ramezani, L., B. Karney, and A. Malekpour. 2016. “Encouraging effective air management in water pipelines: A critical review.” J. Water Resour. Plann. Manage. 142 (12): 04016055. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000695.
Tasca, E. S. A., E. Luvizotto Jr., and J. G. Dalfré Filho. 2019. “The perils of air valves in water mains and two effective solutions tested computationally.” Revista DAE 67 (215): 5–16. https://doi.org/10.4322/dae.2019.001.
Tasca, E. S. A., E. Luvizotto Jr., J. G. Dalfré Filho, and G. A. Aquino. 2018. “The problem of air valves inaccurate air mass flow versus differential pressure curves.” In Proc., 1st Int. WDSA/CCWI Joint Conf. Reston, VA: ASCE.
White, F. M. 2011. Fluid mechanics. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Wylie, E. B., and V. L. Streeter. 1983. Fluid transients. Ann Arbor, MI: FEB Press.
Zhou, L., H. Wang, B. Karney, D. Liu, P. Wang, and S. Guo. 2018. “Dynamic behavior of entrapped air pocket in a water filling pipeline.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 144 (8): 04018045. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001491.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 147 • Issue 10 • October 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 29, 2020
Accepted: Apr 8, 2021
Published online: Jul 29, 2021
Published in print: Oct 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Dec 29, 2021
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
Cited by
- Elias Sebastião Amaral Tasca, Bryan Karney, Improved Air Valve Selection through Better Device Characterization and Modeling, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 10.1061/JHEND8.HYENG-13420, 149, 7, (2023).
- Elias Tasca, Bryan Karney, Vicente S. Fuertes-Miquel, José Gilberto Dalfré Filho, Edevar Luvizotto, The Crucial Importance of Air Valve Characterization to the Transient Response of Pipeline Systems, Water, 10.3390/w14172590, 14, 17, (2590), (2022).
- Helena M. Ramos, Vicente S. Fuertes-Miquel, Elias Tasca, Oscar E. Coronado-Hernández, Mohsen Besharat, Ling Zhou, Bryan Karney, Concerning Dynamic Effects in Pipe Systems with Two-Phase Flows: Pressure Surges, Cavitation, and Ventilation, Water, 10.3390/w14152376, 14, 15, (2376), (2022).
- Xiaozhou Li, Tao Wang, Yanhe Zhang, Pengcheng Guo, Study on the factors influencing air valve protection against water hammer with column separation and rejoinder, Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua, 10.2166/aqua.2022.165, 71, 9, (949-962), (2022).