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Air Separators

AIR IN THE SYSTEM


WHAT DOES IT DO

Annoying noises
Gurgling and falling water
Reduced pump head and failure
Water/air mixture becomes compressible
Catastrophic pump failure
Disturbed water flow
Foam in the piping/loss of conductivity
Corrosion

Air Management

25%
20%

Nitrogen Soluble
in Water
Expressed in % of
Water Volume
@ 0 PSI & 32 oF

15%
150 PSI

10%

125 PSI
100 PSI
75 PSI

5%

10 PSI

50 PSI

5 PSI
25 PSI
0 PSI

Temperature oF

50o 100o 150o 200o 250o 300o

Air Management

Velocity

Example: Full Flow

Example: Half Flow

Air Elimination

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Pipe Sizing
Velocities high enough to carry air to the
point of separation.
Above 2 ft/sec will carry air bubbles with liquid stream
Below 0.5 ft/sec will allow bubbles to rise by buoyancy
in spite of the downward flow

Need effective air control.


Maximum velocity limits assume that air is not
present.

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Air

Water

Water

< 0.5 fps

> 2 fps

Air

Water velocities greater than 2 feet per second will move entrained air downward.
Air will rise in downward water flows at velocities of 6 inches per second or less.
(Gil Carlson. 1981. The design influence of air on hydronic systems.
ASHRAE TRANSACTIONS 87(1):1293-1300.)

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Air Separation
Initial fill, remove gross air by:
Venting
Purging

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System purging
Open

City
Water
Hose to drain
Drain

Closed

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Air Separation
Operation, remove entrained air
using:
High temperature
Low pressure
Low velocity
Centrifugal action
Coalescence

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AIR SEPARATION
EFFECT of PRESSURE and
TEMPERATURE
Lowest pressure /highest temperature: this
is the Point of lowest solubility
Example at 40 psig (ie: right out of faucet)
At 60 degrees F = 8% air by volume
Now heat the water up...

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AIR SEPARATION
EFFECT of PRESSURE and
TEMPERATURE
Lowest pressure /highest temperature: this
is the Point of lowest solubility
Example at 40 psig
At 60 degrees F = 8% air by volume
RESULT: At 195 degrees F = 4% air by
volume....where did the air go?

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AIR SEPARATION
EFFECT of PRESSURE and
TEMPERATURE
Lowest pressure /highest temperature: this is the Point of
lowest solubility
Example at 40 psig
At 60 degrees F = 8% air by volume

RESULT: At 195 degrees F = 4% air by


volume....where did the air go? RELEASED
INTO THE SYSTEM
Means 100 gallons of water yields 4 gallons of
air with a 135 degree F rise at start up

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CHILLED WATER SYSTEMS


Lower temperatures so air pockets
are less likely to lockup system
Corrosion still a concern
Air removal device is recommended

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Enhanced Air Separator

Coalescing Brush

Straight
Through
Inlet

Diffuser

Outlet
Angle Pattern
Inlet

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Effective Air Separators


Enhanced Air Separator (EAS)
Coalescing Air
Separator

System Inlet

To vent or tank

System Outlet

Alternate System Inlet

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Enhanced Air Separator


Brush filaments collect entrained air
Excellent for radiant loop systems

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In Line Air Separators


To
Standard
Tank or
Vent

Outlet

System Inlet

To Pre-Charged Tank

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Effective Air Separators


In-Line Air Separator (IAS)

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In Line Air Separators


In-Line Air Separator (IAS): collects large
air pockets; not as effective on entrained
air as the EAS. Low Cost. Also known as
an Air PURGER

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Rolairtrol Centrifugal Air Separator

To Standard (compression)
Tank or Vent

System Inlet

System Outlet

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Centrifugal Air Separator


To Standard Tank or Vent

Rolairtrol
System Inlet

System Outlet

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Rolairtrol Centrifugal Air Separators


Rolairtrol: For 2 thru 24 pipe; ASME Code
construction; spinning water stays to outside of
vessel, the lighter air rises through middle. The
percent of entrained air removed per pass is
published (air elimination efficiency)
Choose size based on flow rate, NOT line-size;
approx. 1psi pressure drop, or less, for 90%+ air
elimination efficiency

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Buffer Tank / Air Separator

Buffer
Tank
Boiler

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