ValvesSensorsSystems
Case Study: Mixing System eliminates short circuiting in Circular Reservoir
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission recognized
that it was time to rehabilitate its reservoir in Wheaton, MD.
The condition of the 72.5m diameter, 56 800m3 ground
level circular tank was analyzed. It was determined that
reconditioning and recoating the tank could indefinitely
extend the life of the 50-year-old tank.
At the time the proposal was being made, WSSC decided
that to enhance their water quality they needed to keep the
stored water completely mixed with the incoming water. This
eliminates short-circuiting that causes stagnant water and
water quality deterioration.
The method selected to maintain water quality and reduce
stagnation was the Tideflex® Mixing System (TMS) designed
by Tideflex® Technologies Inc.
As in most tanks, there is a common inlet/outlet pipe to fill
and draw water from the tank. The inherent problem with this
common inlet/outlet pipe is short-circuiting, whereby the last
water that entered the tank is the first water to be drawn from
the tank. This results in areas of the tank having significant
water age and potential for disinfectant depletion.
In the Wheaton Reservoir, there is a 750mm diameter
common inlet/outlet through the tank floor. The system,
designed by Tideflex® Technologies’ engineers, separated
MeasurIT Technologies Ltd.
Craan, Craanford, email: info@measurIT.com
Gorey, Co. Wexford, Ireland
measurIT technologies
Wheaton, Maryland, USA
the common inlet/outlet by attaching a 900mm
vertical inlet manifold to the inlet pipe with a
tee connection. The vertical inlet pipe extended
approximately 9m high in the 14m high tank. Two
600mm Tideflex® inlet valves were positioned
at 4.5m and a third 600mm Tideflex® valve was
position at about 9m. This combination of valve
orientation and valve size will greatly improve
the jet velocity of the incoming water and reduce
dead zones. This increased velocity facilitates the
mixing of the incoming water and stored water. The
Tideflex® inlet valve opens with incoming water;
backpressure from the stored water closes it.
From the tee connection, a 65m steel pipe was
placed across the floor to the opposite side of the
tank to accommodate the outlet valves, which are
two 900mm Waterflex check valves. The Waterflex®
Check Valve uses an elastomer membrane that seats
against a perforated plate. During the draw cycle,
the membrane folds away from the disk to allow
water to flow into the distribution system.
read more at www.measurIT.com
Phone: +353 (0) 53 942 8962
www.measurIT.com Fax: +353 (0) 53 942 8963