BULLETIN 640

JULY 2011

APCO SILENT CHECK VALVES

Series 600
Globe Style
Sizes 3" Through 42"

Series 300
Wafer Style
Size 1" Through 10"
 Water Hammer
Hydraulics engineers are concerned in increasing numbers with the problem of water hammer. At best it
is a noise nuisance while in its most virulent form it can tear the finest pumping system apart.

What Causes Water Hammer? to achieve perfection in one characteristic in a

The conditions responsible for this phenomenon are design at the expense or compromise with other
well known; they occur when a quantity of energy characteristics. We feel that we would be remiss
is suddenly released in a confined space. Energy is if we did not draw the engineer’s attention to the
a function of mass times velocity and relating this compromise that has been made in perfecting
to practical hydraulics engineering means that water the silent virtues of the Silent Check Valve and
hammer occurs when a body of water in motion in a elaborate to some extent on the significance of
pipe is suddenly stopped. this compromise.

One of the circumstances under which this This compromise is higher head loss than swing
phenomenon most commonly occurs is when check type valves. The graph on the next page
a pump is shut down and the forward flow of shows the relative head losses for three popular
water reverses under the influence of gravity and types of check valves. It can be clearly seen that
commence to run the opposite way until stopped by Silent Check Valves do not suffer badly in comparison,
a check valve. especially when it is recognized that slightly higher
head loss in the Silent Check Valves means a little
Recognizing this, it becomes obvious that one secret more electrical power is used during pumping
to preventing water hammer due to flow reversal in operation. When comparison is made with prevailing
a system is to provide a check valve which will close rates for commercial power, this head loss may
before this reversal of flow can take place. APCO become an academic rather than a practical concern.
Silent Check Valves perform excellently in these
applications. These facts show why more engineers are
specifying APCO Silent Check Valves for their
The following briefly outlines the characteristics of customers’ protection.
various types of check valves:
Typical Silent Check Valve Installation
Swing Checks on Vertical Turbine Pumps
The common Swing Check Valve is so designed that
it often sees the reversal of flow before closing. This
means that the body of water is already in motion
and has to be stopped abruptly as the Swing Check
Valve closes.

Silent Check Valves

It was to meet this steadily growing problem that
the Silent Check Valve evolved. In designing this
valve all other characteristics were subordinated to
the principal need that it must positively close before
a reversal of flow takes place, silently.

The Silent Check Valve was designed to open at

approximately 1/4 to 1/2 psi (2 - 3 kpa), which means
that when a pump is shut down, a Silent Check
Valve will completely close while there is still
Los Angeles County Sanitary District
positive head on the inlet side of approximately Los Coyotes Plant 2-16" (400mm) 125# Class Silent Check Valves
1
/2 psi (3 kpa).

In this simple manner reverse flow, which is a major

Factory Mutual System Approved
cause of water hammer, never gets a chance to start
(in contrast to the swing check). ISO flanges available
Experienced engineers know that it is only possible Wide variety of materials and pressure classes

2 © 2011 DeZURIK, Inc.

Specifying Silent Check Valves
Installing Silent Check Valves on
Discharge Side of the Pump Stops
Reverse Flow and Water Hammer
Before it Starts Water
Water hammer can be both destructive and
Hammer
annoying. It is caused when a pump is shut down Eliminated
and the forward flow of water is allowed to reverse
and is suddenly stopped by the check valve.

By positioning a Silent Check Valve on the discharge

side of the pump, the reverse flow (which is one
cause of water hammer) never has a chance to
start. This is because APCO Silent Check Valves are
designed to open at approximately 1/4 to 1/2 psi
(2 - 3 kpa) and to completely close before the flow Typical Silent Check Valve Installation
can reverse itself. Note: APCO Silent Check Valves can be installed
in any position.
Short face-to-face dimensions of APCO Silent Check
Valves also contribute to compactness in equipment
room piping.

Head Loss Increase

Silent
Check
Swing
Check
Slanting
Disc

Check Valves
Comparison Head
Loss Curves

Velocity Increase

Maximum Non-Shock Service Pressure, PSI/kPa

Ductile
Iron Bronze Carbon Steel Stainless Steel
Cast Iron ASTM A126 GR.B
ASTM ASTM B62 ASTM A216 GR WCB ASTM A351 CF 8M
A536
Temp Pressure Pressure
Class 125# Class 250# Pressure Class Pressure Class
ºF Class Class
ºC 1-12" 14-24"" 30" ≥ 1-12" 14-24"" 30" ≥
150 300 150 300 150 300 400 600 150 300 400 600
25-300 350-600 750 ≥ 25-300 350-600 750 ≥
0-150 225 500
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
-18-66 1551 3447
-20-100 250 640 285 740 990 1480 275 720 960 1440
— — — — — — — —
-29-38 1724 4413 1965 5102 6826 10204 1896 4964 6619 9928
-20-150 200 150 150 500 300 300 242 620 272 707 945 1415 257 670 892 1340
— —
-29-66 1379 1034 1034 3447 2068 2068 1669 4275 1875 4875 6516 9756 1772 4619 6150 9239
200 190 135 115 460 280 250 235 600 210 465 260 675 900 1350 240 620 825 1240
93 1310 931 793 3172 1931 1724 1620 4137 1448 3206 1793 4654 6205 9308 1655 4275 5688 8549
250 175 125 85 415 260 200 235 582 195 425 245 665 887 1332 227 590 785 1180
121 1207 862 586 2861 1793 1379 1620 4013 1344 2930 1689 4585 6116 9184 1565 4068 5412 8136

300 165 110 50 375 240 150 215 565 180 390 230 655 875 1315 215 560 745 1120
149 1138 758 345 2586 1655 1034 1482 3896 1241 2689 1586 4516 6033 9067 1482 3861 5137 7722
Seat Test
200 150 150 500 300 300 275 720 300 1000 315 815 1090 1630 305 795 1060 1585
PSI
1379 1034 1034 3447 2068 2068 1896 4964 2068 6895 2172 5619 7515 11238 2103 5481 7308 10928
kPa
Shell Test
300 230 230 750 450 450 400 975 450 1500 450 1125 1500 2225 425 1100 1450 2175
PSI
2068 1586 1586 5171 3103 3103 2758 6722 3103 10342 3103 7757 10342 15341 2930 7584 9997 14996
kPa

Fº PSI Inch
Cº kPa Millimeter

3
 Wafer Style Series 300
Full Flow Area Approximately 3% Greater Than Pipe Size
Standard Construction
Ductile Iron Body
Use Only Flat Face
Stainless Steel Trim Flange and Full Face
Gasket
Stainless Steel Spring

Optional Construction
Stainless Steel

Cast Steel Body with Bronze or

Stainless Steel Trim Seat Mating
Ring Flange
OD ID
Resilient Seating (Buna-N)
See Figure 1 (Optional)

Note: ID of mating flange (seat side only) should never

be greater than seat ring OD.

Dimensions for 125#/250# Class Valves

Face No. of
Bolt Circle Bolt Size
Model Size to Bolts
Face 125# 250# 125# 250# 125# 250#
1" 2.063" 3.125" 3.5" .5" x 4.25" .625" x 4.5"
301 4 4 Resilient
25 52 79 89 13 x 108 16 x 114
Seat Detail
1.25" 2.063" 3.5" 3.875" .5" x 4.25" .625" x 4.5"
301.25 4 4
30 52 89 98 13 x108 16 x 114 Figure 1
1.5" 2.375" 3.875" 4.5" .5" x 4.75" .75" x 5.25"
optional for both
301.5 4 4 Wafer or Globe
40 60 98 114 13 x 121 19 x 133
Styles
2" 2.625" 4.75" 5" .625" x 5.25" .625" x 5.5"
302 4 8
50 67 121 127 16 x 133 16 x 140
2.5" 2.875" 5.5" 5.875" .625" x 5.75" .75" x 6.5"
302.5 4 8
65 73 140 149 16 x 146 19 x 165
3" 3.125" 6" 6.625" .625" x 6.25" .75" x 7"
303 4 8
80 79 152 168 16 x 159 19 x 179
250 lb. Class
4" 4" 7.5" 7.875" .625" x 7" .75" x 8" 300 lb. Class
304* 8 8
100 102 191 200 16 x 178 19 x 203 Bolt Circle
125 lb. Class
5" 4.625" 8.5" 9.25" .75" x 7.75" .75" x 9" 150 lb. Class
305 8 8
125 117 216 235 19 x 197 19 x 229 Bolt Circle

6" 5.5" 9.5" 10.625" .75" x 8.75" .75" x 10"

306* 8 12
150 140 241 270 19 x 222 19 x 254
125 lb. ANSI Pressure Class
8" 6.5" 11.75" .75" x 10"
308* 8 — — —
200 165 298 19 x 254

10" 8.25" 14.25" .875" x 12.5"

310* 12 — — —
250 210 362 22 x 318
250 lb. ANSI Pressure Class
8" 6.5" 13" .875" x 11.25"
358 — 12 — —
200 165 330 22 x 286

10" 8.25" 15.25" 1" x 13.75"

360 — 16 — —
250 210 387 25 x 349

Inch
Millimeter

Operating pressure to 1500 lb. class is available.

Please contact factory for higher pressure classes.
Pressure joint is effected after installation.
Applies to both wafer and globe styles.
Screw retains seat during handling and shipping.

4
Globe Style Series 600
Full Flow Area Approximately 10% Greater Than Pipe Size
Standard Construction
Ductile Iron Body

Stainless Steel Trim thru 24" (600mm)

Stainless Steel Spring

Optional Construction
*Max.
Mating Stainless Steel
Flange
ID Cast Steel Body with Bronze or
Seat
Ring Stainless Steel Trim
OD
Duplex Stainless Steel

Resilient Seating (Buna-N)

Compression molded (not glued or chemically

bonded) onto the seat allowing metal to metal
contact with drop tight resilient shut-off
Note: If special mating flanges are used, ID of mating flange
(seat side only) should never be greater than seat ring OD.

Use Only
Flat Face
Flange Resilient
and Seat Detail
Full Face
Gasket

125# & 150# ANSI Pressure Casses 250# & 300# ANSI Pressure Casses
*Max *Max
Face Bolt Face Bolt
Flange Bolt No. of Mating Flange Bolt No. of Mating
Model Size to Circle Model Size to Circle
Dia. Size Bolts Flange Dia. Size Bolts Flange
Face Dia. Face Dia.
ID ID
3" 7.5" 6" 6" .625" 3.375" 3" 8.25" 6" 6.625" .75" 3.375"
603 4 653 8
80 191 152 152 16 86 80 210 152 168 19 86
4" 9" 7.25" 7.5" .625" 4.75" 4" 10" 7.25" 7.875" .75" 4.75"
604* 8 654 8
100 229 184 191 16 121 100 254 184 200 19 121
5" 10" 8.5" 8.5" .75" 5.5" 5" 11" 8.5" 9.25" .75" 5.5"
605* 8 655 8
125 254 216 216 19 140 125 279 216 235 19 140
6" 11" 9" 9.5" .75" 6.5" 6" 12.5" 9" 10.625" .75" 6.5"
606* 8 656 12
150 279 229 241 19 165 150 318 229 270 19 165
8" 13.5" 10.125" 11.75" .75" 8.5" 8" 15" 10.125" 13" .875" 8.5"
608* 8 658 12
200 343 257 298 19 216 200 381 257 330 22 216
10" 16" 12" 14.25" .875" 10.75" 10" 17.5" 12" 15.25" 1" 10.75"
610* 12 660 16
250 406 305 362 22 273 250 445 305 387 25 273
12" 19" 14.25" 17" .875" 12.875" 12" 20.5" 14.25" 17.75" 1.125" 12.875"
612* 12 662 16
300 483 362 432 22 327 300 521 362 451 29 327
14" 21" 15.75" 18.75" 1" 14.75" 14" 23" 15.75" 20.25" 1.125" 14.75"
614 12 664 20
350 533 400 476 25 375 350 584 400 514 29 375
16" 23.5" 17.625" 21.25" 1" 16.5" 16" 25.5" 17.625" 22.5" 1.25" 16.5"
616 16 666 20
400 597 448 540 25 419 400 648 448 572 32 419
18" 25" 18.75" 22.75" 1.125" 18.75" 18" 28" 18.75" 24.75" 1.25" 18.75"
618* 16 668 24
450 635 476 578 29 476 450 711 476 629 32 476
20" 27.5" 20.625" 25" 1.125" 20.625" 20" 30.5" 20.625" 27" 1.25" 20.625"
620 20 670 24
500 699 524 635 29 524 500 775 524 686 32 524
24" 32" 24" 29.5" 1.25" 24.75" 24" 36" 24" 32" 1.5" 24.75"
624 20 674 24
600 813 610 749 32 629 600 914 610 813 38 629
30" 38.75" 29.25" 36" 1.25" 29.5" 30" 43" 29.25" 39.25" 1.75" 29.5"
630 28 680 28
750 984 743 914 32 749 750 1092 743 997 44 749
36" 46" 45" 42.75" 1.5" 36" 36" 50" 45" 46" 2.125" 36"
636 32 686 32
900 1168 1143 1086 38 914 900 1270 1143 1168 54 914
42" 53" 50" 49.5" 1.5" 42" 42" 57" 50" 52.75" 2.25" 42"
642 36 692 36
1100 1346 1270 1257 38 1067 1100 1448 1270 1340 57 1067

Inch Inch
Millimeter Millimeter

Operating pressure to 1500 lb. class is available. Please contact factory for higher pressure classes.

5
 What Makes the APCO Silent Check Valve
So Outstanding?
Performance Guarantee
The graph below shows the comparative head loss through different manufacturers’ Silent Check Valves. The
figures used to construct this graph were obtained from certified independent laboratory tests for the APCO
valves and compared against other available published data.

The lower losses of APCO Silent Check Valve as indicated by this graph frequently gives rise to the question
“How does APCO manage to keep its losses below those of the other valves examined?”

Superior performance is never accidental and this question is best answered by the following details.

First, every APCO valve is designed with the initial premise that the minimum cross-sectional area shall exceed
that of the pipe it serves. In every APCO valve the full cross-sectional area of the most critical points, is greater
than the cross-sectional area of the pipe. This is clearly illustrated on the valve drawing of a 5" APCO Silent
Check Valve on the adjacent page.

Secondly, APCO has designed many types of valves for hydraulic service for over sixty years and our
engineers are especially conscious of the importance of good hydraulic flow lines. Again, an examination of the
drawing on the next page will show how very carefully the contours have been worked out to give the best
possible hydraulic flow results.

Even small details such as streamlining the spokes have been given due consideration. This devotion to design
detail makes it readily obvious why the APCO Silent Check Valve can reasonably be expected to have the most
favorable flow characteristics of any Silent Check Valve.

Pressure Loss Curve Comparison Between Apco Silent Check Valves and Other
Similar Makes (Actual Tests Shown for a Particular Size)

Construction 4
The superior performance characteristics of the Range of Most Common
Operating Velocity Flows
APCO Silent Check Valve are matched by its equally
P re s s u r e L o s s

P r e s s u r e Lo s s
(In F e e t O f Wa te r )

superior quality of construction as the following Valve 3

design details will show. M

(I n P . S . I .)
Valve
W
The seat is held by stainless steel screws so that it Valve 2
can be taken apart after years of service as easily as C

the day it was made.

1
Electrolytic action is eliminated by having the shaft APCO
of the plug ride in bushings made of the same Valve

material as the shaft itself.

A simple loose guide bushing for the shaft is

provided and made of the same material as the Velocity in Pipe (F.P.S.)
shaft. This bushing is held in place by the spring so
that in the event it is considered necessary to take
the valve apart in the field, the bushings can be
easily removed by hand.

6
 APCO Silent Check Valves have been thoroughly tested by Factory Mutual Research
Corp. As a result, the 300 Series and 600 Series Valves can be used on hazardous fire
fighting equipment and fire protection systems with assurance of performance. For
such applications, insist on the Factory Mutual Guarantee Label of Approval on your
Silent Check Valve. Available on sizes as indicated.

Materials of Construction
All the materials used in APCO valves are clearly referred to by their appropriate ASTM numbers.

APCO offers ductile iron as a standard on sizes thru 24" (600mm).

A brief technical explanation of the qualities is given below.

The Advantages of Ductile Iron

Ductile iron, contrary to its name, is not really a cast iron at all but an alloy developed by the International
Nickel Company.

Cast iron has graphite present in lenticular flakes which causes it to be brittle and have a relatively
low tensile strength.

The graphite in ductile iron is present in spheroidal shape making it ductile with a much higher
tensile strength.

Various types of ductile iron are available and we use the one especially recommended for valves. This is
Type 65-45-12 ductile iron ASTM A536 strength of 65 to 80,000 psi and a yield strength of 45 to 60,000 psi,
equivalent to carbon steels, yet retaining the anti-corrosion properties of iron.

5" (127mm) APCO Series 600 Silent Check Valve with Minimum
10% Greater Flow Area.

Compare flow area of pipe below with those shown at different sections of the valve.
Area of 5" pipe = 20.1 sq. in.
Flow area of
valve at cross
section lines
shown below

E
27.1 Sq. in. Bronze bushing
protects against
electrolytic action

D
Smooth flow
body contour
guarantees
minimum loss

C
27.2 Sq. in.
B
22.1 Sq. in.
Stainless
Stroke steel spring
(Also available
In monel
for critical
A water condition)
23.1 Sq. in.
All APCO Silent Check Valves
100% hydrostatically
tested to ANSI standards
Stainless Steel Ball & Seat Retaining Screws

7
 Specifications Head Loss Characteristics For
Silent Check Valves Series 600 (Globe Style)
Head Loss Characteristics For 100,000
9
100,000
9
8 8
Silent Check Valves Series 300 (Check Style) 7 7
6 6
1" 11⁄4" 11⁄2" 2" 21⁄2" 3" 4" 5" 6" 8"
10 50,000 50,000
9
8 4 4
7
6 3 3
5 42"
36"
4
2 2
3 30"
Head Loss In Feet

2
10,000 24" 10,000
9 9

Flow In Gallons Per Minute

8 8
7 0" 7
1 2
6 6
.9
.8 18"
5,000 5,000
.7
4 16" 4
.6
.5 14"
3 3
.4
12"
.3 2 2

.2 10"

8"
1,000 1,000
9 9
.1 8 8
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9100 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1,000 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10,000 7 7
6 6
Flow In Gallons Per Minute 6"
500 500
4 5" 4

3 3
4"
At Left: Typical Silent Check Valve 2 2
application on vertical turbine 3"
pumps (30"). Utah Valley Water
100
Treatment Plant, Orem, Utah. .1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8.9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Head Loss In Feet

Series 300 Wafer Style Silent Check Valve

Wafer Style Silent Check Valves shall be designed with ductile iron bodies, and stainless steel seat, plug and spring.
The valve plug must be center guided at both ends with a through integral shaft and spring loaded for guaranteed
silent shut-off operation.
The spring must be helical or conical. Seat and plug shall be hand replaceable in the field for ease of maintenance.
The flow area through the body shall be equal to or greater than the cross-section area of the equivalent pipe size.
All materials of construction shall be certified in writing to conform to ASTM specifications as follows:
Body Ductile Iron ASTM A536 65-45-12
Plug & Seat Stainless Steel ASTM A276 T304
Spring Stainless Steel ASTM A276 T316
Exterior Paint Universal Metal Primer FDA approved for potable water contact
Valve to be APCO Series 300 - 1"-10" (25-250mm) Silent Check Valve - Wafer Style, Factory Mutual Approved - sizes
4" (100mm), 6" (150mm), 8" (200mm) and 10" (250mm) (125 Lb. Class), sizes 4" (100mm), 6" (150mm), (250 Lb. Class).

Series 600 Globe Style Silent Check Valve

Globe Style Silent Check Valve shall be designed with ductile iron bodies, and stainless steel seat, plug and spring.
The valve plug must be center guided at both ends with a through integral shaft.
The spring must be helical or conical. The seat and plug shall be hand replaceable in the field for ease of maintenance.
The flow area through the body shall be equal to or greater than the cross-sectional are of the equivalent pipe size.
All materials of construction shall be certified in writing to conform to ASTM specifications as follows:
Body Ductile Iron ASTM A536 65-45-12
Plug & Seat Stainless Steel ASTM A276 T304
Spring Stainless Steel ASTM A276 T316
Exterior Paint Universal Metal Primer FDA approved for potable water contact
Valve to be APCO Series 600 - 3"-42" (80-1100mm) Silent Check Valves - Factory Mutual Approved - sizes 4" (100mm),
6" (150mm), 8" (200mm) and 10" (250mm), 12" (300mm) and 18" (450mm).

Sales and Service

For information about our worldwide locations, approvals, certifications and local representative:
Web Site: www.dezurik.com E-Mail: info@dezurik.com

250 Riverside Ave. N. Sartell, Minnesota 56377 • Phone: 320-259-2000 • Fax: 320-259-2227
DeZURIK, Inc. reserves the right to incorporate our latest design and material changes without notice or obligation.
Design features, materials of construction and dimensional data, as described in this bulletin, are provided for your information only
and should not be relied upon unless confirmed in writing by DeZURIK, Inc. Certified drawings are available upon request.

Printed in the U.S.A.