Siphon Breaker Valves

Bedford Pumps have been manufacturing a range of Siphon Breaker Valves for many years, designed to ensure that the pump will fully prime the system and allow siphonic head recovery to take place.

A Siphon Breaker Valves is effectively a small paddle operated butterfly valve fitted with an extended spindle. The valve is normally open so that when the pump starts air in the pipeline is emitted through the valve until the rising water column acts against the paddle attached to the end of the spindle and closes the valve. Once closed, the pipeline becomes primed and a siphon is established. Forward direction of flow maintains the pressure on the paddle keeping the valve closed and maintaining the siphon. The siphon is broken when the pump stops; the reverse flow acts on the paddle and opens the valve, thereby destroying the vacuum in the pipe and preventing continuous reverse flow through the pump.

Savings on power consumption can be considerable as the reduction in head results in a proportional decrease in power absorbed.

• When a Siphon Breaker Valve is in use, no further valves are required, resulting in capital cost savings.
• The elimination of the NRV and sluice valve not only reduces the capital cost of the installation but consequently the friction loss in the system, thereby affording additional reduction in running costs.
• Automatic air release is an integral feature of the siphon breaker valve.
• Maintenance costs are eliminated as the operation is maintenance-free.
• Benefits of the system are recouped whenever the plant is running.