Air vents

for liquid systems

Why remove air from liquid systems?

The removal of air and other incondensable gases is essential if water-filled systems or liquid lines are to
work correctly.
A build up of air or gas can cause excessive noise, set up corrosion and lead to increased maintenance costs.
It can cause air locks which inhibit the filling of the system or the priming of pumps. It can seriously affect the
accuracy of the flow measurement meters and regulating valves. In extreme conditions it may even put a plant
temporarily out of commission.
The presence of air and other incondensable gases also presents a very real barrier to heat transfer efficiency.
A film of air 1 mm thick, presents the same barrier to heat transfer, as a wall of copper 13 m thick!
Entrapped air in any water system is an enemy to thermal efficiency. It is particularly damaging in a chilled water
system which does not have the natural deaeration process of hot water.

Air vents fully comply with the requirements

of the European Pressure Equipment
Directive 97 / 23 / EC.

3 options of
valve head:

Viton for hydro carbons.

EPDM for water systems.
Stainless steel for high temperatures.

AE14ESV shown

Cover and internals

can be removed
without interruption
of pipework.

Stop valve
optional for in-line
maintenance.

Angle connection for

fitting in restricted
headroom.

Spirax Sarco also offer brass bodied

automatic air vents for HVAC systems
up to 8 bar g, with check and
lockshield valve options.
For further details, see SB-S31-06.

Product range and options

Material

Cast
iron

Type

AE
10S

SG iron
AE
14

AE
14E

AE
14S

Carbon steel
AE
AE
14SV 14ESV

AE
44

AE
44S

" inlet
" outlet

Sizes

AE
36A

AES
14S

Connections Socket weld

Flanged

Viton

EPDM
Stainless
steel

AE
50S

DN15 - "

Screwed

Maximum
differential
pressure

6 bar

14 bar

14 bar

14 bar

14 bar

14 bar

21 bar

3.5 bar
to
21 bar

8 bar

14 bar

14 bar

14 bar

30 bar

Maximum
operating
temperature

200C

200C

127C

250C

200C

127C

200C

400C

110C

200C

127C

225C

427C

Check valve

Options

AES
14E

DN25 - 1"

Pressure /
temperature
limits

AES
14

" inlet
" outlet

DN20 - "

Valve head

Austenitic
stainless
steel

Stainless steel

Stop valve
Screen

Why choose automatic air vents?

Manual air vents may be used to good effect during the initial charging of a system, but afterwards their
effectiveness rapidly declines.
Air or gas in a plant may take time to reach a vent point and these tend to be in inaccessible places. This makes
manual venting a tiresome and frequently neglected task.
Automatic air vents provide the complete answer. The Spirax Sarco range covers all duties from the smallest low
pressure hot water heating system to the largest product line.

How do they work?

Spirax Sarco automatic air vents utilise a simple, but well proven, float and lever valve assembly which opens
to air and gases and closes tightly against water. Once fitted they require no adjustment, either on start-up or
during subsequent running.
Operation is totally automatic over a variety of light or heavy duty applications.

User benefits

Air vents fully comply with the requirements of the European Pressure Equipment Directive 97 / 23 / EC.

Reliable, leak free operation for soft seated options.

Check valve and stop valve options available.

Compact body design.

Simple lever and float operation.

Can be easily cleaned and maintained.

Spirax Sarco's guarantee of worldwide knowledge, service and technical support.

3

Typical applications
Although Spirax Sarco automatic air vents are most commonly used
on water systems, they may also be used on other liquid systems where the
specific gravity and viscosity of the liquid is suitable. Please consult
Spirax Sarco before using them on liquids other than water.

AE36A at high point

of a process low
temperature hot water
(LTHW) system.

AE14E at high
point of a medium
temperature hot
water (MTHW)
system.

Installation
AE44 on high temperature
hot water (HTHW) system.

All Spirax Sarco air vents should be installed

vertically with the inlet at the bottom. Dribbling may
occur if the valve becomes fouled with dirt.
*Please note:
Because of the way automatic air vents operate
they all dribble liquid when discharging air. This is
perfectly normal. Because of this we recommend
piping the discharge to a drain via an air break.

*
AE10S on a fuel
oil system where
elimination of air is
essential prior to a
meter station.

AE10S

AE14
AE14E
AE14S
AE14SV
AE14ESV

AE14SV
shown

Sizes and pipe connections

Sizes and pipe connections

" screwed BSP or NPT

Inlet ", " screwed BSP or NPT

Materials

Materials

Body and cover Cast iron

Cover bolts
Cover gasket
Valve head
Internals

DIN 1691 GG 25

Steel
BS 3692 Gr. 8.8
Reinforced exfoliated graphite
Stainless steel
Stainless steel

Pressure / temperature limits

Body and cover

SG iron

Cover bolts

Steel

Cover gasket

Synthetic fibre

Pressure / temperature limits

100
50
0

350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0

6
8
10
Pressure bar g

12

14

16

250
TMO - AE14S
200
150 TMO - AE14, AE14SV
127
100 TMO - AE14E, AE14ESV
50
0
0
4
6
8
10
2
Pressure bar g

AE14E, AE14ESV - 127C

20

30 40 50

80

5
4
3
2

20

3
5
4
3

4 56

Capacity dm/s

Capacity dm/s

12

14

16

AE14, AE14SV - 200C

AE14S - 250C

Differential pressure psi

3 4 5 6 10
20 30 40 60

100

200
10
5
4
3
2

1
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1

Capacity scfm

10
8

Capacity scfm

5
4

0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

1
2
3
Differential pressure bar (x 100 = kPa)

100

Capacities

15

1
0.1

300
200

DPMX - Maximum differential pressure 14 bar

Designed for a maximum cold hydraulic test pressure of 24 bar g
Minimum specific gravity 0.75

Differential pressure psi

10

400

Body design conditions PN16

PMA - Maximum design pressure 16 bar g
TMA - Maximum allowable temperature 250C
PMO - Maximum operating pressure 16 bar g
TMO - Maximum operating temperature:

Capacities
3 4 5

200

The product must not be used in this region.

Body design conditions PN16

PMA - Maximum allowable pressure 16 bar g
TMA - Maximum allowable temperature 200C
PMO - Maximum operating pressure 16 bar g
TMO - Maximum operating temperature 200C
DPMX - Maximum differential pressure 6 bar
Designed for a maximum cold hydraulic test pressure of 24 bar g
Minimum specific gravity 0.6

Pressure psi g
100
150

50

The product must not be used in this region.

13
10

Viton

AE14E, AE14ESV EPDM

AE14S Stainless steel
AISI 440B
Internals
Stainless steel
Stop valve
Brass
BS 2874 CZ 121 3Pb
Stop valve gasket Copper
BS 2870 C101

100 125 150 175 200 225

150

BS 7531 Gr. X

Valve head

Temperature C

75

Asbestos free

Temperature F

Temperature C

50

Temperature F

200

25

BS 3692 Gr. 8.8

AE14, AE14SV Rubber

Pressure psi g
0

DIN 1693 GGG 40

0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2 0.3 0.5
1
2 3 4 5
Differential pressure bar (x 100 = kPa)

10 14

AE44
AE44S

AE36A

Sizes and pipe connections

Sizes and pipe connections

DN15, DN20 and DN25 (DN25 AE44S only)

flanged EN 1092 PN40, ANSI 150 or 300, JIS / KS 20K

Inlet " screwed BSP or NPT

Outlet " screwed BSP or NPT

Materials

Materials
Body and cap

Stainless steel

Cap 'O' ring

Green Viton 75

Chrome moly steel 24CrMo5 and 21CrMoV57

Float

Acetal co-polymer / carbon steel

Reinforced exfoliated graphite

AE44
Rubber
AE44S Stainless steel
Stainless steel

Valve head

EPDM

Internals

Stainless steel

Check valve

Stainless steel

Carbon steel

Valve head
Internals

DIN 17245 GSC 25N

Viton

200
100
0

Pressure psi g
200
300
400
TMO - AE44S

100

TMO - AE44
B
0

10

15
20
25
Pressure bar g

Pressure / temperature limits

500

30

35

700
600
500
400
300
200
D 100
40

150

20

40

Pressure psi g
60
80
100

120

140

110
100
50
0

4
5
6
Pressure bar g

10

A - B ANSI 150 A - C JIS / KS 20K A - D PN40 / ANSI 300

Body design conditions PN10

Body design conditions PN40

PMA - Maximum allowable pressure 40 bar g
TMA - Maximum allowable temperature 400C
PMO - For maximum operating pressure see graph above
TMO - Maximum operating temperature:

PMA - Maximum allowable pressure 10 bar g

AE44 - 200C

300
250
200
150
100
50

The product must not be used in this region.

The product must not be used in this region.

TMA - Maximum allowable temperature 150C

PMO - Maximum operating pressure 10 bar g

AE44S - 400C

TMO - Maximum operating temperature 110C

DPMX - Maximum differential pressure:

DPMX - Maximum differential pressure 8 bar

DN15 / DN20 AE44 - 21 bar AE44S-21 - 21 bar

DN25 AE44S-3.5 - 3.5 bar AE44S-5.3 - 5.3 bar
AE44S-7.8 - 7.8 bar AE44S-16.7 - 16.7 bar

Designed for a maximum cold hydraulic test pressure of 15 bar g

Designed for a maximum cold hydraulic test pressure of 60 bar g

Minimum specific gravity 0.75

Minimum specific gravity 0.926

Capacities

Capacities

Differential pressure psi

3 45

10

20 30

50

100

0.1
0.1

)
4(S
AE4
/
4
AE4

DN25 PMX 5.3

DN25 PMX 7.8

0.5
0.3
0.2

DN25 PMX 3.5

S
AE44
S
4
4
AE
4S
AE4
4S
AE4

0.2 0.3 0.5

1
2 3 4 5
10
Differential pressure bar (x 100 = kPa)

10
8
5
3
2

21

1
0.8
0.5
0.3

3 4 5

10

20 30 40 50

100

0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1

6
5
4
3

1
0.8
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

3 4 5

Differential pressure bar (x 100 = kPa)

Capacity scfm

5
3
2

3
2
Capacity scfm

Capacity dm/s

10

200 300
50
30
20

Capacity dm/s

Differential pressure psi

DN25 PMX 16.7

DN15, N20 DPMX 21

30
20

ASTM A351 CF3M

Temperature F

0
400
A
300

Temperature F

Temperature C

Pressure / temperature limits

Temperature C

Body and
cover
Cover studs
and nuts
Cover gasket

AES14
AES14E
AES14S

AE50S

Sizes and pipe connections

Sizes and pipe connections

" and " screwed BSP or NPT and

socket weld ends.

Inlet " screwed BSP or NPT

Outlet " screwed BSP or NPT

Materials

Materials

Body and cover

Austenitic stainless EN 10213-4 (1.4408)

steel (316)
ASTM A351 CF8M
Cover bolts
Stainless steel
BS EN 3506 A2-70
Cover gasket
Reinforced exfoliated graphite
AES14 Viton
Valve
AISI 440B
head AES14S Stainless steel
AES14E EPDM
Internals
Stainless steel

100

Pressure psi g
200

Austenitic stainless steel ASTM A182 304L

Inlet connection

Austenitic stainless steel

AISI 304

Float

Austenitic stainless steel

AISI 316L

Valve seat

Austenitic stainless steel

ASTM A276 316

Internals

Austenitic stainless steel

Valve head

Stainless steel

500
400
300
200
100
10
15
Pressure bar g

20

X30 Cr 13

Pressure / temperature limits

25

427
400
300

100

Pressure psi g
300 400
500

200

600

700
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100

200
100
0

The product must not be used in this region.

10

15

20 25 30
Pressure bar g

35

40

45

Temperature F

Cover

300

225 TMO - AES14S

200
TMO - AES14
127
100 TMO - AES14E
0

Austenitic stainless steel ASTM A240 304L

Temperature C

300

Temperature F

Temperature C

Pressure / temperature limits

Bowl

50

The product must not be used in this region.

Body design conditions PN25

Body design conditions ANSI 300

PMA - Maximum allowable pressure 25 bar g

PMA - Maximum allowable pressure 41.4 bar g

TMA - Maximum allowable temperature 300C

TMA - Maximum allowable temperature 427C

PMO - Maximum operating pressure 25 bar g

PMO - Maximum operating pressure 41.4 bar g

TMO - Maximum operating temperature:

AES14E - 127C

AES14 - 200C

TMO - Maximum operating temperature 427C

AES14S - 225C

DPMX - Maximum differential pressure 14 bar

DPMX - Maximum differential pressure 30 bar g

Designed for a maximum cold hydraulic test pressure of 37.5 bar g

Designed for a maximum cold hydraulic test pressure of 63 bar g

Minimum specific gravity of liquid 0.75

Minimum specific gravity 0.65

Capacities

Capacities

Differential pressure psi

10
20 30 40 60

Differential pressure psi

100

200
10

1
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1

1
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2 0.3 0.5
1
2 3 4 5
Differential pressure bar (x 100 = kPa)

10 14

3 4 5

10

20 30

50

100

200

400
20
10
8
5
3
2

5
3
2
1
0.5

1
0.8
0.5

0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1

Capacity scfm

5
4
3
2

14
10

Capacity dm/s

3 4 56

Capacity scfm

Capacity dm/s

5
4
3
2

0.3
0.2 0.3 0.5
1
2 3 4 5
10
Differential pressure bar (x 100 = kPa)

20 30

Dimensions / weights
AE10S

(approximate) in mm and kg

AE50S

B
C

C
A
B
G
F

Size

"

60

111

77

195

165

119

50

H Weight
217

" inlet, " outlet

6.8

Weight

175

72

18.5

32 (A / F)

1.0

AE36A

AE14, AE14E and AE14S

A

Size

A
C

F
E

Size

", " 147

Weight

114

80

114

105

60

60

2.5

" inlet, " outlet

AE14SV and AE14ESV

E

Weight

105

56

10

0.7

", " 148

AES14, AES14E and AES14S

Size

Size

114

65

129

105

76

60

AE44 and AE44S

H Weight
147

2.7

", " 135

Weight

97

48

162

135

3.7

AE44S

DN15 and
DN20

Size

DN25
C

A
B

Size

Weight

DN15

150

80

80

215

120

155

10.8

DN20

150

80

80

225

120

165

10.8

DN25

160

115

85

282

170

215

15.0

Some of the products may not be available in certain markets.

Spirax-Sarco Limited, Charlton House,
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 8ER UK.
Tel: +44 (0)1242 521361 Fax: +44 (0)1242 573342
E-mail: Enquiries@SpiraxSarco.com
Internet: www.SpiraxSarco.com
Copyright 2003

Spirax Sarco is a registered trademark of Spirax-Sarco Limited

SB-S31-07

ST Issue 5