Pneumatic Check Valve

Table of Contents

Pneumatic Check Valves [1]


What are Pneumatic Check Valves?

Like any check valve, pneumatic check valves are generally used when backflow is not permitted in a system. Pneumatic check valves rely on airflow and are designed with a minimum pressure required for the valve to operate, known as cracking pressure. An advantage of pneumatic check valves is that they do not require assistance from an operator, electricity or other controls to function. [1] 


Parameters and Material Selection

Inlet and Outlet

The inlet refers to the size of the input for the flow while the outlet refers to the size of the output for the flow.

Cracking Pressure

The minimum pressure differential between the inlet and outlet required to open the valve and allow flow. The cracking pressure depends on the valve design and size. [2]

Maximum Pressure

The maximum pressure differential between the inlet and outlet at which the valve can operate. [2]

Material Selection

Information on the materials for check valves refer to the Check Valve page.


Applications of Pneumatic Check Valves

Common applications for pneumatic check valves include air compressors vacuum breakers, steam lines, cooling towers, HVAC systems, sump pumps, pressure pumps, boilers, and more. [1]

Air Compressors

Air compressors are the most common application of a pneumatic check valve. The check valve is used to keep certain parts of the compressor pressurized and other parts de-pressurized.  A pipe between the piston compressor and the air tank is meant to 'blow down' to 0 bar pressure. A pneumatic check valve can be found between this pipe and the air tank to allow the small pipe to blow down while the air tank remains compressed. [3]

Air Compressor [3]


Suppliers

Here are some examples of suppliers for pneumatic check valves

  1. Grainger
  2. Pneumadyne
  3. McMaster-Carr