Maintaining the water pipelines is one difficult task. You may assume that it’s just the installation of pipelines that’s a challenge, but you’ll be surprised to know that a lot can go wrong with these pipelines. What makes maintaining these pipelines so difficult is the fact that you can’t see what’s going on inside.
You won’t know something’s up unless something serious happens – like a pipe bursting? Well, that’s scary.
One of the most common reasons why water pipelines burst or break apart is the fluctuation of pressure. Too much pressure build-up can lead to pipelines bursting and breaking. And would you believe it if we tell you that one of the biggest causes of pressure build-up inside pipes is air?
The formation of air pockets inside a pipe can disrupt water flow. Air pockets form a hurdle in the way of water at a certain point in the pipe, but that doesn’t stop or slow down the water that’s flowing from behind, does it? This leads to excessive pressure build-up, and if this pressure isn’t released strategically, you might have to face serious consequences. This effect is known as the water hammer effect.
Understanding the Water Hammer Effect
When the flow of water through a pipe is suddenly stopped due to the formation of an air pocket, the mass of water that’s still moving builds up the pressure at the point of the air pocket. This results in the build-up of pressure, leading to the creation of a shock wave. One of the most significant signs of a disruption in the flow of water through the pipe is loud banging noise that resembles hammering. Hence the name, water hammer effect.
How Non-Slam Air Valves Help?
Non-slam air valves protect the pipelines from the water hammer effect. Some of the most common situations where the water hammer effect may come into play are deep well plumbing, column separation, and rapid filling of mainlines.
To prevent this effect, non-slam air valves are installed in these pipelines that release the air slowly so that the air pockets are removed slowly and gradually, and the free flow of water through the pipeline is restored.
How Are These Non-Slam Air Valves Used?
You may want to know how these valves are used and how do they work to prevent the water hammer effect. Let’s look at some common ways in which these valves help prevent major pipeline-related accidents.
Deep Well Plumbing
Water from deep wells is sucked through massive suction pipes that are located inside the well shaft. These well shafts are full of air. When the water is pumped from the ground through the suction pipe rapidly, the air inside the pipe is forced out through the pump air valves to ensure the free flow of water through the suction pipe.
However, there are always chances of the valves getting slammed shut due to the high velocity of air pumped out. When that happens, the speed of pumped out air drops to zero. The result is an instant blockade of water flow through the pipe, which can lead to a severe water hammer effect. If the air isn’t released, the building pressure can burst the entire suction pipe.
What the non-slam air valve does is slow down the discharge of air so that the velocity isn’t high enough to slam the valve shut. The air pocket is dissipated slowly and ensures that the water hammer effect doesn’t come into play.
Column Separation
Sometimes, the water column inside a pipeline can separate due to the formation of a vacuum pocket in between. This vacuum pocket will subside as the sub-atmospheric pressure brings the separated water columns back. When these water columns collide, a water hammer wave may form, and it can be so massive that it can cause the pipe to burst.
To prevent that, the air is fed into the vacuum, and then this air is slowly released through the non-slam air valve so that the vacuum pocket doesn’t get dissipated suddenly, which could lead to a massive collision of separated water columns. The vacuum is slowly removed to ensure a steady union of separated water columns.
The water hammer effect can have serious consequences, and a non-slam air valve might just be what might be missing to ensure there are no water hammer effect-related accidents.