AquaMatic VAV Series valves are widely used in air dryer systems, where dependable high-cycle performance is what keeps the dryer running. A typical setup uses a larger normally open valve on the inlet side and a smaller normally closed valve with the spring assist close option on the outlet or exhaust side.
The valves are built for the duty. A VAV Series disc is rated for up to 200,000 cycles in air service. That number, and the material behind it, is most of what separates a valve that lasts from one that does not.
Air dryer systems cycle constantly, which makes valve reliability the difference between scheduled maintenance and an unplanned shutdown. The VAV Series has been used in air dryer service for years and is built for exactly this kind of duty.
The disc material is the difference between a valve that survives an air dryer duty cycle and one that does not.
Disc material | Rated cycles, air service |
HYCAR® | Up to 200,000 |
Buna | 50,000 |
That is four times the service life from a single material change, and it is why the VAV Series uses HYCAR® as standard.
Buna is the general-purpose diaphragm and disc material across most AquaMatic valves, and for water service it is the right choice. Air dryers are a different problem. A system cycling every few minutes reaches 50,000 cycles far sooner than most people expect, and the disc is what goes first.
The two are easy to tell apart once you have them side by side.
When replacing a valve or a disc, verify the existing valve model and the application before ordering. A Buna disc will physically fit an air dryer valve. It just will not last in one.
Look at where the control tubing connects. If the tubing runs to the top cap, the valve is normally open. If it connects to the side of the valve body underneath the cap, the valve is normally closed.
This matters for more than identification. The two configurations fail in opposite directions, and they take different internal parts kits. See normally open or normally closed for what each configuration does and why it changes which parts you order.
The outlet valve in a typical air dryer setup uses the spring assist close option, and that option cannot be combined with every other feature.
The restrictions differ between the two bodies, so confirm the combination is available before specifying it.
Selecting the correct valve is not just a matter of matching pipe size. The normal position, operating conditions, cycle frequency, disc material, and control configuration all need to be considered together.
If you are replacing an existing valve, the model number, size, and application details make identifying the correct replacement far faster. If the tag is missing or unreadable, our valve identifier can decode a part number, and we can work from a photo if you do not have one.
Related reading: Which AquaMatic diaphragm valve fits your application?
Whether you are replacing a worn valve, sourcing a replacement disc, or trying to identify an existing AquaMatic valve, we can help.
Send us the valve model number and size, and a photo of the valve if you have one, and we will confirm what you need. Call 980.458.2583 or email sales@buyaq-matic.com.
Pipe size alone will not get you the right valve. Normal position, configuration, disc material, and body all have to agree before you order. Six questions, and you get a spec sheet you can check against the valve in front of you.
A typical dryer runs a larger normally open valve on the inlet and a smaller normally closed valve with spring assist close on the outlet.
Run this once per valve. The two sides take different builds and different parts kits.
Send the model number, the size, and a photo of the valve if you have one to sales@buyaq-matic.com. We will confirm the build and the parts kit before anything ships.
The spec below opens in your email app. Attach a photo of the tag before you send it if the valve is already in service.
