Water and Effluent Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/391624
16 WET NEWS OCTOBER 2014 "This project will bring some real benefits in improving the health and safety aspect of maintaining the sluice gates..." Phil Anderson When it comes to reliable drainage systems, we wrote the book. 20 reasons why concrete pipeline systems are the best option now and for the future Did you know that concrete pipes have a proven service life of well over a century? Or that the case for concrete includes its installed and whole-life cost, lower embodied carbon and structural robustness? This CPSA booklet shows you why concrete pipeline systems are the best choice for today and tomorrow. Download the proof at www.concretepipes.co.uk/20-reasons Fed up with digging in the wrong place? The HL5000-H2 will pin-point leaks with a mimimum of fuss and maximum accuracy. SebaKMT · Archcliffe Road, Dover, CT17 9EN T: 01304 501 101 - F: 01304 502 307 E:uksales@megger.com· W: www.sebakmt.com/en With extensive knowledge and expertise in water control prod- ucts, ECS was given the brief to design and install a bespoke system which would automate the deployment of the stoplogs. An initial site survey deter- mined that the most efficient system would involve two linked lowering mechanisms that could be located at any of the five sluice gates in order to deploy the stoplogs. Using the existing structure of the sluice, it would be possi- ble to use the existing set of tracks, along which the new lowering mechanism could travel. For this aspect of the project, ECS turned to M-tek Engineer- ing, a specialist in rail engineer- ing, to design the carriage run- ning gear and control systems. The improved procedure for installing the stoplogs still requires a mobile crane on site to move the sections from the storage area to the lowering carriage. However, from that point the carriage will take over the oper- ation of automatically moving the stoplog sections to the required sluice gate and lower- ing them into position. This is done using a pair of hoists that are controlled by a PLC which uses an encoder to determine the position of the stoplog and determine when each section is in place. Once in position, the stoplog is released from the li†ing frame, which is then retracted ready to load the next section. Complex installation Phil Anderson, project manager for ECS, comments: "From a technical perspective this is quite a complex installation, but the overall contribution to both speed and improved safety is considerable. "Working in close proximity to deep water always raises additional safety concerns, but this system will allow the total number of people involved to be reduced as well as reducing the overall risk for everyone involved." Previously, it could take a team of seven, at least four to five hours to complete the installation of all seven stoplogs required to isolate one sluice gate. Manpower Anderson says: "With the new system installed by ECS, the team has been reduced to two or three men, who can complete the operation within an hour. "This represents a 65% reduction in manpower and a 75% reduction in time, but more importantly the whole team can work within the hand railing on the sluice, greatly improving the health and safety aspect of the operation." He adds: "The completed deployment system has been tested and commissioned with the oversight of the EA in order to ensure that the controls and safety devices are all working as prescribed. "This project will bring some real benefits in improving the health and safety aspect of maintaining the sluice gates as well as reducing the annual costs." n ONSITE FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT