A control valve for limiting pressure down-surges during hydrant operations

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The design of water distribution systems requires that pressures at any point in the system be maintained above a minimum level to ensure adequate flows for satisfying expected demands. A minimum pressure criterion is typically set for the safe operation of water distribution systems with the goal of allowing the supply of the required flows to prevent direct contamination during operations. However, the minimum pressure criterion is often violated during transient events resulting from events like rapid fire hydrant openings. A portable control device which can be quickly attached to a hydrant is conceived here to limit low transient pressures to desired levels even if fire crews open the hydrant as fast as they would. How the novel device can be designed and applied for transient protection is the heart of this proposal. With the use of this device, pressures in supply systems and other liquid systems can be better controlled during hydrant or valve operations such that water utilities and insurance companies can reduce the minimum pressure criterion that they require. The resulting reduction of excess pressures can result in large operational savings to utilities through reduced pipe break frequencies, leakage rates, system energy use, and water demands.