Description

Foot valves are a type of check valve and are placed at the pumps
wet well. Unlike other valves, a foot valve is created with a larger
flow area than the actual pipe size to make sure that there is less head
loss. Foot valves are either made of PVC plastic or stainless steel,
and they are known for keeping the continuous presence of suction
within the pump.
Function
Foot valves are used to maintain hydraulic pressure to keep the water
flow in accordance with the given settings or configurations. There
are instances where the pressure can actually pop the valve out and
cause major leakage; thus, it is important to use the right kind of
material in the tubing to be able to support the force within the valve.
Features
Being an important part of a centrifugal pump, foot valves come with
easily manageable features. Most foot valves are designed with a
self-tapping male and female threads to ensure easy installation;
internal balls for quick sealing and valve reaction; and flexibility to
fit various types of water pump uses, such as well development and
volatile organic compounds sampling and purging. Although they are
cheaper to use, as compared to other valves used to prime a pump,
foot valves are usually made up of heavy duty cast iron and bronze,
as well as PVC (depending on the type) so that they will last longer
while submerged in the water.
Types
There are three types of foot valves. The micro-flow system valves
are used in direct push technology micro wells and multi-level well
installations. These are usually made of stainless steel and are either
of fluorotherm (FEP) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) tubing.
The high-flow system valve is used on 2-inch wells or larger and can
stand high pumping rates and very deep wells. On the other hand,
low-flow system valves are used in small diameter piezometers,
which lift up to 100 feet of water.
Support
Foot valves usually come with surge blocks. A surge block is a tool
used to press the body of a valve to remove the residues that may
block smooth flow of water within the pump during operation. It also
helps the valve expand while being used, thus enabling the presence
of increased pressure without causing damage to the valve itself.