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Air Separators: Pumps and Water Distribution 191

Air control devices such as air separators and air vents are used to remove air from water systems. Air separators use centrifugal force to separate air from water, with lighter air rising to a collection screen while heavier water moves to the outer tank. Air vents are installed at high points and bends in the system and can be automatic or manual, with automatic vents containing materials that open or close the vent based on whether air or water is present. Properly piping water coils involves running inlet water from the bottom up through the coil and out the top to push air ahead of the water where it can be vented most easily.

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Rohit Shrestha
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52 views2 pages

Air Separators: Pumps and Water Distribution 191

Air control devices such as air separators and air vents are used to remove air from water systems. Air separators use centrifugal force to separate air from water, with lighter air rising to a collection screen while heavier water moves to the outer tank. Air vents are installed at high points and bends in the system and can be automatic or manual, with automatic vents containing materials that open or close the vent based on whether air or water is present. Properly piping water coils involves running inlet water from the bottom up through the coil and out the top to push air ahead of the water where it can be vented most easily.

Uploaded by

Rohit Shrestha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Pumps and Water Distribution 191

AIR CONTROL DEVICES

To prevent air problems, such as corrosion or air locks in the


bends of the piping or coils, water should be introduced into the
system at some point either in the air line to the compression tank
or at the bottom of the compression tank. In a closed water system
that is correctly designed, installed, and operated, air in the sys-
tem travels through the pipes and is vented out at the high points
or collected in the compression tank. In addition to the air that is
already in the system, when water is heated, air entrained in the
water is released. Air control devices (air separators and air vents)
are designed to free the air entrained in water in the system.

Air Separators
There are several types of air separators. One large type is
the centrifugal air separator which uses centrifugal force and low
water velocities for air separation. As water circulates through the

Figure 10-12. Compression tank, usually called expansion tank, with


air separator piped into the bottom. Sight glass is shown.
192 HVAC Fundamentals

air separator, centrifugal motion creates a vortex or whirlpool in


the center of the tank and sends heavier, air-free water to the
outer part of the tank. The lighter air-water mixture moves to a
low velocity air separation and collecting screen located in the
vortex. The entrained air collects and rises into the compression
tank.

Air Vents
Air vents are installed at the high points and bends in the
system and may be automatic or manual. One type of automatic
air vent is the hydroscopic air vent, which contains a material that
expands when wet and holds the vent valve closed. When there
is air in the system, the hydroscopic material dries out, causing it
to shrink and open the air vent valve. The float type of automatic
air vent has a float valve that keeps the air vent closed when
there’s water in the system and vent. When there is air in the
system it rises into the air vent replacing the water. The float
drops and opens the air vent valve. Manual air vents are manu-
ally opened periodically to allow entrained air to escape.

WATER COIL PIPING

HVAC coils can be piped either counter flow or parallel flow.


However, for the greatest heat transfer water coils are piped
counter flow. In addition to being piped counter flow, water coils
should also be piped so that the inlet is at the bottom and water
flow is up through the coil and out the top. This will enable the
air entrained in the water that’s inside the coil to be pushed ahead
of the water and accumulate in the top portion of the system
where it can be easily vented. Note: Steam coils are piped supply
steam at the top and condensate return at the bottom.

Counter Flow Coil


Counter flow means that the flow of air and water are in
opposite directions to each other. In other words, the supply

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