AVK air valves for water supply applications
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AVK air valves for water supply

Good performance, minimum maintenance and durability are the characteristics of AVK’s wide range of automatic air valves, air and vacuum valves and combination air valves. The air valves are available in composite materials, which combine strength with extremely light weight.

There are three types of air valves primarily installed in water supply systems: automatic air valves, air and vacuum valves and combination air valves. Read more about why air appears in pipelines, the function of air valves, and where to install air valves on the pipeline.

AVK automatic air valves

AVK automatic air valves are designed with a very soft and sensitive seal. It enables effective discharge of accumulated air from the system while under pressure. The automatic air valve is light-weight and compact with a 12 mm2 orifice enabling release of air at high flow rates. All operating parts are made of corrosion-resistant materials, and they are available with body of reinforced polyamide (series 701/10) or ductile iron (series 701/20).

Function of automatic air valves

  • When air bubbles appear in the valve, the float will drop, allowing air to be released
  • When the water rises again, the float will be lifted, and the valve will close  

AVK air and vacuum valves

AVK air and vacuum valves (series 701/30) feature a dynamic design allowing for high velocity air discharge while preventing premature closure. The special orifice seat design with a combination of bronze and EPDM rubber ensures long-term maintenance-free operation. 

AVK air valves for water supply

AVK combination air valves

Combination air valves combine the function of automatic air valves and air and vacuum valves. AVK offers six main types of combination air valves:

  • Compact design with rolling seal mechanism, reinforced polyamide (701/40)
  • Compact design with rolling seal mechanism, ductile iron (701/46)
  • Automatic air valve 701/10 mounted on the air and vacuum valve 701/30  (701/50) 
  • Automatic air valve 701/20 mounted on the air and vacuum valve 701/30 (701/60)
  • Underground air valve unit consisting of an 701/40 air valve in a valve box of PVC/polypropylene (701/84)
  • Double-float design, ductile iron (851/41 with ABS float) and (851/45 with SS316 float) 

The AVK underground air valve unit (701/84) is designed to save manhole costs. It provides frost protection and is suitable for installation of air valves under important crossings like roads and buildings where manholes would cause dangerous undermining of the ground.  

Function of combination air valves

  • When emptying the pipeline, the float will drop completely, allowing large volume air intake through the large orifice
  • When refilling the pipeline, the water flow will force the air out through the large orifice.
Animation of AVK air valve for water in function
AVK air valve for water in use
AVK air valves designed for water and wastewater applications

Insights

Why use air valves in water applications?

Safe and efficient operation of a water system requires continuous removal of air. Air valves are hydromechanical devices designed to release trapped air and wastewater gases during filling, draining and operation of a piping system.
Why use air valves in water and wastewater applications
Animation explaining the air valve functionalities thumbnail

Animation

Air valves for water

Animation explaining the air valve function and the purpose of installing an air valve in your water supply network.
AVK Youtube channel