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Overcoming Slamming & Water Hammer at an Offshore Wind Farm

Water slam offshore windfarm

Water Slam at an Offshore Wind Farm

A call was received from a prominent consultant looking for a solution to a noisy problem. The call was in regards to a helipad in the middle of an off-shore wind farm which received water from 1 of 2 pumps 12m below water level. All pipe work was in stainless steel which suited the environment and the pumps delivered water to the nozzles with a pressure of up to 8 Bar and a flow up to 1200 l/min 2m below water level. The water was distributed through 2” nozzles and a 4” line from two 3” combined vertical rising mains.

With such a flow rate, high supply pressure and 12m head, the specified and fitted Dual Disc Check Valves were never going to be responsive enough to prevent a surge, pressure spike or be without slam. When it came to commissioning the project they were rejected.

Overcoming the Water Slam

Val-Matic Surgebuster check valve

However, MGA Controls Ltd, Val-Matic’s exclusive distributor for UK & Europe had a solution to the problem in the form of the Val-Matic Surgebuster Check Valve. The Surgebuster is designed specifically for vertical and high head applications and is the only solution to completely overcome slamming, water hammering or surges caused by reverse flow.

Surgebuster vs swing check valveThe SurgeBuster achieves rapid closure through a short disc stroke of 35° and adjustable Disc Accelerator. The short disc stroke is less than half the typical 80° to 90° stroke of a conventional swing check valve. It is achieved by placing the valve seat on a 45° angle while maintaining a full flow area equal to the mating pipe.

The Disc Accelerator is a precision formed stainless steel mechanism that closes the valve disc rapidly thus avoiding slamming by flow reversal and yet allowing the disc to be stabilised under flow conditions.

The accelerator is fully enclosed within the valve and is completely out of the flow path.

 

The two 3” Surgebuster Check Valves supplied in Stainless Steel with closing accelerators massively reduced headloss and provided the solution the end-user was looking for. As the hub was being commissioned, delivery was critical and the Val-Matic factory in the USA pulled out all the stops to ensure timely and complete delivery of the Check Valves.

The Check Valves were air freighted from the Val-Matic factory, and these unique valves were delivered within 6 weeks from receipt of order, far exceeding the customer’s expectations.

Company Profile

MGA Controls Ltd

MGA Controls are a leading Control & Instrumentation company delivering high-quality products and services to the industry since 1986.

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