Welcome to John’s Blog. Answers to frequently asked questions are periodically posted here. The objective is to share information about PVC pipe with readers as well as with utilities, design engineers and pipe installers. The blog provides the latest information on PVC pipe design, installation, and application for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
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John Houle: Senior Technical Consultant, PVC Pipe Industry
John Houle holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri and an MBA from the University of Oregon. He has more than 25 years of experience in the plastic pipe industry in applications engineering, market development, forensic analysis, technical writing, and standards development.
The presence of air in a pressure pipeline is unavoidable, since dissolved air is present in the fluid being transported. This entrained air comes out of the fluid during certain operating conditions and gathers in pockets at high spots in the pipeline. Air Pockets Increase Operating and Maintenance Costs Research has shown that air pockets in pressure piping systems cause increased operating costs and can result in pipeline damage. Air pockets decrease flow capacity and cause significant energy losses. They can also produce or enhance surge pressures, which can cause severe damage to pipelines. The solution is air valves, the subject of the attached technical brief. Click here to read. Correctly designed, installed, and maintained air valves are the most cost-effective tools to control entrained air and air pockets in pressurized piping systems.
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