Excess Flow Valves – Excess Flow Valves – Implementation ChallengesImplementation Challenges

Bill NortonBill Norton PIPES Act of 2006PIPES Act of 2006 EFVsEFVs

Anthony CadorinAnthony Cadorin City Of Mesa Sizing ProceduresCity Of Mesa Sizing Procedures EFV SizingEFV Sizing

Excess Flow ValvesExcess Flow Valves

Bill NortonBill Norton

Prior LegislationPrior Legislation

RSPA Final Rule, February 3RSPA Final Rule, February 3rdrd 1998, 1998, Effective February 3Effective February 3rdrd 1999 1999

Required either notification of availability Required either notification of availability or installationor installation

New LegislationNew Legislation

Installed or replaced after June 1, 2008Installed or replaced after June 1, 2008 Operates continuously throughout the year at a Operates continuously throughout the year at a

pressure not less than 10 psigpressure not less than 10 psig Is not connected to a main with prior experience Is not connected to a main with prior experience

with contaminantswith contaminants Non-interference with necessary operation or Non-interference with necessary operation or

maintenance activitiesmaintenance activities Commercially availableCommercially available

Installation on single family residential service if:Installation on single family residential service if:

New LegislationNew Legislation

Annually reportableAnnually reportable Reportable procedure has not been Reportable procedure has not been

determineddetermined

Reference to Sec.9.(3)(A-B), and (6)Reference to Sec.9.(3)(A-B), and (6)

Further ConsiderationsFurther Considerations

““The Big Day”The Big Day”

June 1, 2008June 1, 2008

PIPES Act of 2006PIPES Act of 2006

What is an EFV?What is an EFV?

Self-actuating valveSelf-actuating valve In-line mechanical deviceIn-line mechanical device Responds to the high-pressure differentialResponds to the high-pressure differential Designed to activate when a rupture occursDesigned to activate when a rupture occurs Stop or minimize the flow of gasStop or minimize the flow of gas

How EFVs FunctionHow EFVs Function

Open: Gas Flows Open: Gas Flows “Unobstructed”“Unobstructed”

Closed: Gas Flow Closed: Gas Flow Is BlockedIs Blocked

Activation is DIRECTLY dependentdependent upon Gas Velocity

Types of EFVsTypes of EFVs

Positive Shutoff (EFVNB)Positive Shutoff (EFVNB)– 100% shut off100% shut off– Manually resetManually reset

Bleed-by (EFVB)Bleed-by (EFVB)– Approximately 97% shut offApproximately 97% shut off– Self-resetting Self-resetting – <20 standard cubic feet of gas per hour <20 standard cubic feet of gas per hour

(Scfh) @ 10 psig (Scfh) @ 10 psig

SizesSizes Typical SizesTypical Sizes

- 400 Series- 400 Series - 1000-1200 Series - 1000-1200 Series- 800 Series- 800 Series - 1800 Series - 1800 Series

EFVs are designated using their size EFVs are designated using their size – I.e. 400 seriesI.e. 400 series– At 10 psig, 400 standard cubic feet of gas At 10 psig, 400 standard cubic feet of gas

per hour (Scfh) will cause the excess flow per hour (Scfh) will cause the excess flow valve to tripvalve to trip

ApplicationsApplicationsMechanical CouplingMechanical Coupling

Mechanical Tapping TeeMechanical Tapping Tee

PE StickPE Stick

Fusion Tapping TeeFusion Tapping Tee

Shut Off ValveShut Off Valve

Who is using EFV’s?Who is using EFV’s?

Ohio ~450,000Ohio ~450,000 Pennsylvania ~200,000Pennsylvania ~200,000 Massachusetts ~176,000Massachusetts ~176,000 Minnesota ~113,000Minnesota ~113,000

– Mostly Northeastern statesMostly Northeastern states

– Voluntary; not state or federally mandatedVoluntary; not state or federally mandated

QuestionnaireQuestionnaire

Conducted to determine industry standards Conducted to determine industry standards

14 operators surveyed across U.S. 14 operators surveyed across U.S. – Pacific Gas & ElectricPacific Gas & Electric– NW Natural GasNW Natural Gas– Citizens Gas & CokeCitizens Gas & Coke– New Jersey Natural GasNew Jersey Natural Gas– St. Lawrence GasSt. Lawrence Gas

Industry PreferenceIndustry Preference

PE “sticks” or In-line: 86%PE “sticks” or In-line: 86%

– Ease of replacement Ease of replacement In-line and Tapping Tees: 7%In-line and Tapping Tees: 7% Tapping Tee: 7%Tapping Tee: 7%

Positive Shutoff: 29%Positive Shutoff: 29% Bleed-by: 71%Bleed-by: 71%

Common Basic PracticesCommon Basic Practices

Not installed where line pressure is 10 psig Not installed where line pressure is 10 psig or loweror lower

– Unrealized trip flow rateUnrealized trip flow rate

– Pressure drop may affect flow ratePressure drop may affect flow rate

– Design pressure minimumDesign pressure minimum

Common Basic PracticesCommon Basic Practices

Not installed where a high amount of Not installed where a high amount of contaminants are in the line (water, dust, contaminants are in the line (water, dust, grease, etc.)grease, etc.)

– Spring failure Spring failure

– False tripsFalse trips

– Valve malfunctionValve malfunction

Common Basic PracticesCommon Basic Practices

Not installed on commercial applicationsNot installed on commercial applications

– Transient nature of businessesTransient nature of businesses

– Additional load w/o notificationAdditional load w/o notification

– Breadth of capacityBreadth of capacity

– Size of service line requirementsSize of service line requirements

Common Basic PracticesCommon Basic Practices

Not installed in emergency situationsNot installed in emergency situations

Not enough time to properly size the EFV Not enough time to properly size the EFV which could potentially result in tripping which could potentially result in tripping the EFV during normal operational usethe EFV during normal operational use

Surveyed IssuesSurveyed Issues

False TripsFalse Trips

Line contaminantsLine contaminants

Improper InstallationImproper Installation

Third Party DamagesThird Party Damages

Further ConsiderationFurther Consideration

Not installed on:Not installed on:

Multi-family homesMulti-family homes

Branch servicesBranch services

Multi-metered manifoldsMulti-metered manifolds

Challenges for MesaChallenges for Mesa

O & M; Construction Practices & Emergency O & M; Construction Practices & Emergency Plan modificationsPlan modifications

– Pressure testing and purging proceduresPressure testing and purging procedures

– EFV Sizing and installationEFV Sizing and installation

– Bleed-by featureBleed-by feature

– Service annotation: Drawings and fieldService annotation: Drawings and field TrainingTraining ImplementationImplementation

EFV SizingEFV SizingAnthony CadorinAnthony Cadorin

City of Mesa sizing tableCity of Mesa sizing table

 250 Class

Service Meters400 Class

Service Meters

800 Class and 1000 Class

Service Meters

1/2” CTS

600 Series75 feet max.

length

800 Series45 feet max.

lengthNot an option

1/2” IPS

800 Series300 feet max.

length

800 Series300 feet max.

length

1800 Series70 feet max.

length

1” IPS

1800 Series750 feet max.

length

1800 Series750 feet max.

length

1800 Series750 feet max.

length

Why a sizing table?Why a sizing table?

Meter size provides an upper limit on the Meter size provides an upper limit on the

amount of gas that a line will flowamount of gas that a line will flow

Line size (diameter) sets up the Line size (diameter) sets up the

maximum length that a given EFV will maximum length that a given EFV will

protectprotect

Creating a sizing table for Gas Creating a sizing table for Gas CityCity

Not an option

Not an option

Not an optionΔ

 250 Class

Service Meters400 Class

Service Meters

800 Class and 1000 Class

Service Meters

1/2” CTS

     

3/4” IPS

     

1” IPS

     

Creating a sizing table for Gas Creating a sizing table for Gas CityCity

EFVs must be sized at the lowest predicted EFVs must be sized at the lowest predicted

operating pressureoperating pressure

– Gas City: 10 psigGas City: 10 psig

Maximum load is determined by the meterMaximum load is determined by the meter

– 400 Scfh per meter manufacturer400 Scfh per meter manufacturer

Go to EFV manufacturer’s flow rates for Go to EFV manufacturer’s flow rates for

trip pointstrip points

Creating a sizing table for Gas Creating a sizing table for Gas CityCity

Pressure Minimum Trip Point Maximum Trip Point5 360 540

10 410 61515 450 67520 495 75025 530 79530 560 840

Minimum system pressure: 10 psigMinimum system pressure: 10 psig

This EFV will workThis EFV will work

EFV Inc. 400 Series EFVEFV Inc. 400 Series EFV

Creating a sizing table for Gas Creating a sizing table for Gas CityCity

Maximum service length protected:Maximum service length protected:•Gas City lowest predicted operating pressure: 10 psigGas City lowest predicted operating pressure: 10 psig

•EFV Inc. 400 Series EFV maximum trip point @ 10 psig: 615 EFV Inc. 400 Series EFV maximum trip point @ 10 psig: 615 Scfh Scfh

•Pressure drop across EFV: 0.66 psig per manufacturer (include in Pressure drop across EFV: 0.66 psig per manufacturer (include in ΔP calculationΔP calculation

•Use the “IGT improved” flow equation and solve for length “L”:Use the “IGT improved” flow equation and solve for length “L”:

EDLZTG

P

P

TQ

fb

b 667.2

556.0

8.1111.

13.664

Creating a sizing table for Gas Creating a sizing table for Gas CityCity

Not an option

Not an option

Not an option

 250 Class

Service Meters400 Class

Service Meters

800 Class and 1000 Class

Service Meters

1/2” CTS

EFV Inc. 400 Series

300 feet max. length

   

3/4” IPS

     

1” IPS

     

Creating a sizing table for Gas Creating a sizing table for Gas CityCity

  EFV

½” CTS400 Series

300 ft. Maximum Length

¾” IPS 800 Series300 ft Maximum Length

1” IPS1800 Series

750 feet max. length

Typical Appliance LoadsTypical Appliance LoadsBarbecue 50 SCFHClothes Dryer 22 SCFHFireplace Log Lighter 25 SCFHFurnace 1000 sq. ft. 80 SCFH

1500 sq. ft. 94 SCFH2000 sq. ft. 109 SCFH2500 sq. ft. 137 SCFH

Cooking S/C Top Burner 10 SCFHS/C Oven Burner 16 SCFHC/C Top Burner 9 SCFHC/C Oven Burner 18 SCFH

Water Heater 20 gal 28 SCFH30 gal 32 SCFH40 gal 41 SCFH50 gal 44 SCFH75 gal 59 SCFH100 gal 75 SCFH

Pool Heater 18-20k gal 300 SCFH> 20k gal 400 SCFH

Spa 300-400 gal 175 SCFH> 400 gal 275 SCFH

224 Scfh: 250 Class Meter

624 Scfh! New meter required!

Questions?Questions?