Modern Pumping Today November 2024 - 23

2. Spare pipeline connections,
possibly for a hose bib
connection. It is much easier
to install before the line
is pressurized.
3. A sump drain. Chambers can
flood and getting water out
of these chambers can be an
issue. This may be as simple
as a daylight drain or a sump
with an electric pump may
be required.
4. Protection for the downstream
network from over-pressure.
Consider adding a relief valve
on the downstream piping
inside the valve station.
With regard to point #4, typically,
Cla-Station is used during planning to determine the right valve size based on velocities.
the network so everyone is familiar
with them, however, if space or cost
is an issue, butterfly valves can
be used, as long as there is space
between the butterfly and the control
valve to allow for clearance for any
equipment in the control valve such
as insertion strainers or flow meters.
It cannot be stressed enough
the importance of protecting the
control valve from foreign objects
in the pipeline and this is where a
line strainer is an excellent addition
to the station. While most water
supplies have screening at the intake
point, it is common for objects to be
introduced into the network, either
by insufficient flushing after piping
work or even open pipe ends that can
attract animals during development.
Everything from welding rods, fish,
rodents, pieces of wood, and even
expensive tools has been seen.
Each station should be installed
with pressure gauges, either on
the pipeline, or sometimes they
are supplied with the control valve.
It is necessary to know the outlet
pressure to set the reducing valve,
and having an inlet gauge allows
the operator to see also what the
conditions are upstream.
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Air valves should be strongly
considered for every valve station.
The operation of reducing pressure
naturally allows air to form in the
pipeline and if this is not removed
downstream of the control valve, this
will move down the pipeline and
potentially cause issues elsewhere.
A good practice is to install an air
release valve on the upstream side of
the control valve-this will eliminate
the possibility of air entering the pilot
system, which can be a problem.
PRACTICAL
CONCERNS MATTER
Lastly, some practical and functional
additions are best considered before
a valve station is installed as these
items are easier to install before the
station is operational.
1. Lifting eyes in the ceilings
above major pieces of
equipment. If this is a concrete
chamber, these need to be
decided upon before the
concrete is cast to ensure
correct capacity, but these
will make maintenance a
much easier task for the
operations crew.
MPT
this valve will be a much smaller
valve than the main line valve and
an angle style is most common. The
outlet from this valve will require a
drain connection to eliminate the
flooding of the chamber, should
the valve ever be utilized. However,
that is a small cost compared to the
potential damage that a burst water
main may cause downstream.
While a valve station design is not
necessarily difficult, poor design can
certainly lead to operational issues
down the road. Take the time to think
it through and you will win friends in
the operations department later.
Mark Gimson is director of
marketing and international sales
for Cla-Val. As a mechanical
engineer with forty years in the
water industry, Gimson has a
passion for expanding markets and
understanding customer challenges
to provide the optimal solution.
Cla-Val is a world-leading designer
and manufacturer of automatic
control valves. From reducing and
relief valves to deluge, air valves
and more, Cla-Val manufactures and
provides a wide variety of solutions
for use in some of the world's most
demanding applications. For more
information, visit www.cla-val.com.
NOVEMBER 2024 | 23

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Modern Pumping Today November 2024

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