Foot Valve is a type of a check valve that is created to maintain a large flow area so as to reduce the head loss. This valve is either made up of PVC plastic or stainless steel. It is installed at the lower section of pump suction line but inside the wet well. It should be made of high quality material as it maintains the pump between the pumping cycles thus improves the pumping efficiency.
Foot Valves are specifically designed to provide better sealing. The main function of a Foot Valve is to prevent the flow reversal thus it is used in the suction side of the pump. Due to its sturdy and rigid design, it can also prevent entry of foreign bodies into the pump. It provides long service life to the device. Foot Valve sizes may vary from 50 to 600 mm and are made in accordance with the IS 4038 manufacturing standard. There are different types of Foot Valves, such as flanged foot valve and screwed foot valve, which are used in sump pumps, water intake pumps, and well pumps.
Foot valves are a type of check valve and are placed at the pump’s 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.
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.
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.
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.