Water & Wastewater Treatment

16 The PumPing STaTion - PumP and ValVe SuPPlemenT 2017 In Depth: Valves and flow control used our 2-way and 3-way pressure management valves, with Bournemouth Water now utilizing fully calibrated network models to forecast the benefits and to set targets which have been realised. Capital investment in this project has resulted in huge benefits, achieving reductions in leak and burst frequencies to create a more efficient and intelligent network. Over half of the population served by Bournemouth Water is now covered by the new pressure management regime. Establishing a decent pressure profile can bring about some simple findings. Taking Bournemouth Water's example, the whole network benefits from two or three-way hydraulic control valves, so where necessary, we would look to replace simpler, older open/close only valves with something far more modern and better suited to today's and tomorrow's needs. Where there are already air valves installed, problems could have developed from a build-up of mud causing a blockage, so again, we would look to update these with a new resilient anti-surge model. Having to build a chamber - usually less than 1m in diameter - and tap into a live main – may approach the £15,000 mark, but in most cases this would be rather high. £1000 is more likely – and sometimes as little as £750 or less. This is a world away from the perception that a 'Hydraulic Autonomous Smart Network Model' is all high-tech, high-spec and therefore high-cost. Far from it. As Bournemouth Water are discovering to their benefit, this is a very cost-effective investment – especially compared to the money lost every day through leakages – never mind the major bursts that have plagued other water companies, with he•y insurance claims adding further burdens. Getting to grips with the cosmetics – undertaking a full surge analysis - will iron out the vast majority of problems, taking everything, and we really mean everything, into account; including demands of high-end users and the location and resource of reservoirs. By examining the source and going all the way through to the end user, we can see for example if it's a troublesome pump main, pumps ramping up too quickly, maybe a gravity main causing an issue – anything and everything that could be causing a pressure drop. In addition to complaints, leakages and bursts, there's also the increasing problem of sink holes. Perhaps fortunately, so far, the media hasn't centred its target on blaming the water industry for collapses of poor quality products buried in the ground that can contribute to this unwelcome event. Calming your network doesn't require massively expensive surge vessels. A full surge analysis will pinpoint the right locations for the installation of very effective air valves. In two developing countries we've seen a real hunger for the improvements we can make to their networks. Their ultimate needs may differ from the UK, but Nigeria and India have embraced the knowledge of pressure management with open minds. They aren't terribly concerned about moving forward with a slightly more technical valve that does more than just open and shut. They embrace the change – and even though their networks aren't like ours, they want the same thing – security of supply and a system that runs without lumps and bumps. The safeguards we've put in place in Nigeria have opened the door to much larger sections of the network as we can continue to adjust pumps so that they ramp up nice and smoothly – all now regulated – and together with the right valves, bring a better, more consistent supply of water than they've ever had before. In the industrial sector, especially with high users such as power stations, oil refineries, large food factories and breweries, security of supply is just as important – although they don't always receive the quantities or pressures that they require, particularly for a 24/7 operation. O•en the pipeline is simply too small. Downtime can be disastrous. Industrial users can also find themselves trapped in a blame-game over the supply of their water and the pressure they receive it at. Some will have contractors as their service partners, but as with water companies, the same old problems can keep on happening - unless the network is fully reviewed and ultimately redesigned. Pipework at these sites is o•en quite complicated, especially at a long-established works, and sometimes the problems with water pressure can be to do with the actual manufacturing process, or again, an ageing infrastructure, or water needing to be re-routed – but the same principles apply. Carry out a surge analysis. Get the full picture. It might be high-spec and high-tech, but it's nowhere near as expensive as you might think. A pressure relief valve IVL's smart network model has reaped benefits

• Cover