Behavior and Wear of Check Valves

Abstract

Since check valves are often installed and forgotten, some guidance is needed for their installation so that maintenance can be minimized and scheduled. A study of their behavior over a wide range of flows when installed at various spacing from disturbances (elbow, swedges, pump discharge) was undertaken. Film taken through transparent pipes showed the action to be erratic. In order to obtain relative quantitative data, a large number of tests were run in which the wear was accelerated greatly by the use of very soft parts. These results are presented in a number of graphs. Operating behavior is compared to certain of the accelerated tests for comparison purposes, showing that the results offer reasonable guidance for planning and installing valves of this general type to minimize maintenance by good installation practices.