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Tag Archive: Axial Flow Check Valve

Q&A: Superior Protection for Pumps and Compressors – Why Axial Flow Check Valves Are Your Best Choice
August 4, 2020 6:28 pm Comments Off on Q&A: Superior Protection for Pumps and Compressors – Why Axial Flow Check Valves Are Your Best Choice
Axial Flow Check Valves are used in a wide range of pumps and compressors in a vast array of industries. DFT® hosted a webinar on this subject which outlines the differences between check valves used in their applications, as well as the advantages or disadvantages that each one presents.

Here at DFT®, we frequently field questions regarding this topic. So we are sharing a few common questions that came in from the webinar and were answered by host Arie Bregman.

Q: What are the typical installed cost differentials between swing check valves and axial check valves?

A: Swing check valves are usually less expensive when you initially buy them, but the lifetime cost to own an Axial Flow design valve that is properly sized for the application will always cost you a lot less money over the lifetime of the valve. Swing check valves cannot be sized for low flow applications, so they will wear out and fail causing additional maintenance costs and system shutdowns. The cost to take a prematurely failed valve out and either service or replace it far exceeds the cost differential to get the right valve up front.

Q: What type of check would you use in gas service with intermittent liquids? After compressor?

A: DFT®’s model GLC® or Excalibur® would be best suited for this kind of intermittent gas/liquid service.

Q: Can Axial Flow check valves be used in very viscous flow?

A: Yes, however depending on the viscosity and the min/normal/max flow conditions, other internal modifications may have to be considered like higher cracking pressure springs.

Q: How would you compare CV of a swing, dual plate, and Axial Flow check valves?

A: The differences in head loss between Axial Flow and Swing checks is a function of the Cv of the specific valves you are looking at – head loss must be calculated on a case by case basis. There will usually be a slightly higher head loss for the Axial Flow versus a Swing check, but in many cases, this is not consequential. In cases where pressure loss is a very important piping design consideration, the Axial Flow check valve can be engineered with lower cracking pressure springs and low friction coatings to reduce the amount of energy required to open the valve.

Q: Do you offer a sizing calculator for check valve selection?

A: DFT® does offer sizing services through our Regional Sales Managers or our Inside Sales team. We will be rolling out a new version of our sizing and configurator program very shortly to our Tier 1 distributors. For more information please use the following link to contact someone in your area: https://www.dft-valves.com/check-valves-territory-map/

To learn more on why Axial Flow check valves are your best choice when it comes to pump and compressor protection, you can reference our webinar or contact us today!

Other relevant resources include:
Axial Flow Check Valves: The Best Choice for Pumps & Compressors
July 29, 2020 4:54 pm Comments Off on Axial Flow Check Valves: The Best Choice for Pumps & Compressors
Pumps and compressors are used in a wide range of industries such as pharmaceutical, food & beverage, petrochemical, natural gas, power generation, chemical industries, and building maintenance. Pumps and compressors transport fluids and compressible gases, respectively, from one location to another.

Axial flow check valves are an important protection for pumps and compressors as they induce flow in one direction and prevent backflow in the opposite direction. Backward flow can result in extensive damage to equipment, and axial flow check valves are crucial to protecting your investment.

If you missed our webinar, Superior Protection for Pumps and Compressors – Why Axial Flow Check Valves Are Your Best Choice, check it out today for more information about how axial flow check valves are the best choice:

Common Problems & Solutions of Pump and Compressor Check Valves

There are some frequent problems pump and compressor valves face: double door, swing check, and tilting disc check valves often fail, water hammer and pressure pulsation can cause damage to valves and other system parts, and the limited spatial requirements faced by pumps can often lead to less room for traditional check valves. These problems can be solved by installing DFT® axial flow check valves to protect your pumps and compressors.

Double Door Check Valve Failure

Double door check valves are commonly used in air compressors. However, these valves can fail due to poor design, particularly during varying flow conditions. As a solution, DFT® axial flow check valves can be used in place of double door check valves. The design of the axial flow check valve allows pulse-dampening chambers to keep the discs of the valve open during flow reductions.

Pressure Pulsations

Pressure pulsations are caused by the intermittent reduction in pressure due to the reciprocating motion of a reciprocating compressor. The pressure fluctuation causes pulsation shock waves in the system, which increases wear on system components. However, axial check valves consist of no swinging parts and therefore reduce wear on system components, contributing to a longer lifetime in comparison to other valve types. The DFT® model PDC® axial flow check valve was designed for the discharge side of a reciprocating compressor in air and gas applications.

Water Hammer

Water hammer is the phenomenon that occurs when a liquid comes to a sudden stop and generates shock waves inside the pipe. The resulting high pressure can cause significant damage to pipe lines, gaskets, gauges, pipe hangars, and other components. Swing check valves, tilting disc check valves, and double door check valves contribute significantly to water hammer. Replacing these valves with an axial flow, spring-assisted, silent check valve, such as DFT® ALC® axial flow check valve, can reduce the effects of water hammer.

Spatial Requirements

A common problem faced when using a pump, is limited space for valves and pipes. Pumps are extremely loud when in operation and therefore are usually put in special rooms. This leaves less room for valves and piping. Axial flow valves can handle turbulence better than conventional check valves. This makes them an excellent option when space is limited. Additionally, axial flow check valves can be installed on both vertical and horizontal pipes.

Advantages of Using Axial Flow Check Valves

Axial flow check valves offer several advantages over other types of check valves, such as:
- Rapid closing action (prevents water hammering)
- The ability to be properly sized for each application
- Durability
- Increased valve longevity
- The ability to accommodate low-pressure drops and high flow
- Non-slamming opening and closing action
- Tight shut-off leading to zero leakage
- Various end-to-end options
- The ability to be installed in both horizontal and vertical orientation
Axial flow check valves offer many advantages over other types of check valves. DFT® axial flow check valves can save down time and money by preventing damage and increasing the lifetime of your pumps, valves, pipes, and other system parts. Check out our online technical catalog for more specific information about our axial flow check valves. To discuss your needs with a valve expert at DFT® contact us, or request a quote today!

You may also find interest in the online technical catalog and our webinar Q&A.
Why Do DFT® Axial Flow Check Valves Inherently Reduce Water Hammer?
April 23, 2020 6:16 pm Comments Off on Why Do DFT® Axial Flow Check Valves Inherently Reduce Water Hammer?
Hydraulic shock—more commonly known as “water hammer”—occurs when the flow within a pipe is suddenly forced to change direction, which creates a pressure wave that can be characterized by a loud knocking or banging sound. In piping and process systems, water hammer often happens upon closing a valve to stop or redirect flow. It’s important to take steps that will reduce water hammer or mitigate its effects, as repeated waves of pressure can cause significant wear on pipes and joints over time. Even without wear, a strong enough pressure wave may still burst weak threads or seals.

The best way to stop water hammer is to bring the flow to a stop before it reverses direction. This may be achieved using a valve, but the valve in question must be able to respond very quickly to the change in flow rate through the piping system. In this blog post, we will examine why the DFT® Axial Flow Check Valve is the best choice to halt water hammer of the 3 most common types of check valves:
- Swing check valves
- Double-door check valves
- Axial flow check valves
The time it takes for a valve to go from full open to full closed relies heavily on the distance the disc must travel. If the valve must respond quickly, it stands to reason that a shorter distance can be traversed in less time. The following illustration compares the travel distance for the above valve types.

To simplify the explanation, we’ll use nominal pipe size (NPS) to represent the inside diameter (ID) of the pipe in all examples in this blog.

How Swing Check Valves Close

Swing check valves contain a disc that is hinged above the ID of the pipe, so the distance the swing check disc travels is ¼ of the circumference of the circle, where the radius of the circle is the NPS. If circumference is πD, then ¼ of this would be πNPS/4 or 1.57 NPS.

How Double-Door Check Valves Close

The disc used in a double-door valve is comprised of two halves hinged along the split. Each half of the disc travels through an arc, which can be represented by ½ NPS. Therefore, the distance that each half of the double-door disc travels is half the distance of the full disc in the swing check, or πD/8 or 0.785 NPS

How DFT® Axial Flow Check Valves Close

In general, axial flow check valve discs travel ¼ NPS (0.25 NPS) from a fully open position to a fully closed position. Given that a swing check valve disc must travel almost six times that distance to close, it stands to reason that an axial flow check valve disc can close much faster. By adding a spring to the disc, the disc can close before the flow reverses to avoid the water hammer effect.

Preventing Water Hammer With DFT® Axial Flow Check Valves

Water hammer poses a risk in most piping and process piping systems. Without proper solutions in place to mitigate hydraulic shock, these systems are at risk of bursts, leaks, or excess long-term wear. This makes it especially important to use check valves that can reverse flow without creating a damaging hydraulic pressure wave. To do this, the disc within a check valve must be able to close as quickly as possible.

DFT® Axial Flow Check Valves are designed with fast closure in mind. The spring-loaded discs in these valves go from fully open to fully closed with a significantly shorter travel distance than other check valve types. With this short distance and fast closure capabilities, the overall valve closure time is significantly reduced. This naturally mitigates the risk of water hammer.

For more information about our check valves and how they can prevent water hammer in your system, please request a quote.

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