TPi January 2011

Fi t t ings

Inline check valve stops tidal influence on network

The WaStop ® inline check valve has been a popular choice in the inline check valve market for stormwater and flood protection in Sweden since 2001 and its manufacturer, WaStop International AB, says that it is now gaining recognition overseas for its worldwide patented design. In Porirua City, New Zealand, the city council ordered seven additional WaStop valves following its initial installation that proved effective in stopping the encroachment of tidal waters into its stormwater pipe and occupying vital network capacity, according toDesmond Scrimgeour, the senior waters engineer of the Porirua City Council’s strategic water services. Located 20km north of the capital city of Wellington, the city has more than 70 stormwater outlets discharging into the harbour. A number of these outlets are very flat on their approach to the harbour, which generally means they are severely influenced by high tide.

the ability of the stormwater network to discharge is severely restricted. This creates a build up of water levels within the network and restricts flow into the system from private properties. This leads to localised flooding or ponding, restricting flow from sumps, or discharging at a point of least resistance within the network – generally in manholes that are often situated on or across private property, resulting in severe flood damage. Generally the solution has been to build a large redundancy into the pipe system to cater for required storage during these events until the tide recedes when considering an upgrade for these low lying areas that have tidal influence. However, this solution is normally very expensive, with large amounts of capital invested for very minimal use. During a storm event, the WaStop operates when the flow begins to build up behind it at the outlet. It takes very little head to open the WaStop, allowing normal discharge into the harbour. As the flow recedes within the network and the pressure and head reduce, the At the conference and expo attendees will get an extensive overview of technical innovations concerning valves, valve-related products and valve–related piping products, seals and sealing materials as well as engineering, LDAR (leak detection and repair) software, SIS and services. The latest technical trends to be presented at Valve World Expo Americas 2011 will be of particular interest to visitors from sectors such as shipbuilding, on/offshore oil and gas industries, the chemical and power industries, the marine and offshore industries as well as machine and plant engineering and the food industry. In 2009 Messe Düsseldorf acquired Valve World Expo, the global event for valves and valve accessories, from KCI Publishing. The company launched the trade fair in 1998 and has been

WaStop adjusts and closes once again, stopping infiltration or back flow.

Mr Scrimgeour explained that the city saved capital expenditure in pipes, time and construction by installing WaStop check valves in five different critical areas, varying in diameter sizes from 225 to 1,050mm (8 7 / 8 " to 39 3 / 8 "). Porirua City ranked as a finalist in the United Nations-supported International Awards for Liveable Communities because of its work in, amongst others, environmentally sustainable projects. Mats Persson, chief executive officer of Wapro AB, the parent company of WaStop International AB, invented the WaStop check valve in the year 2000 after he realised the shortcomings of the traditional duck-bill designed check valve. He designed WaStop to have the lowest head loss and the lowest opening pressure in the check valve market, withstanding 8m (26ft) back pressure. WaStop International AB – Sweden wastop@wastop.com www.wastop.com responsible for organising and running the event in the Dutch city of Maastricht every two years since then. ValveWorld Expo’s positive development over the past few years is reflected not only in the steady increase in exhibitor and visitor numbers but also in the amount of exhibit space booked. The 2008 event, held in Maastricht, attracted 454 exhibitors from 35 countries, and 9,500 trade visitors from Europe, Asia, North and Latin America. For the 2010 staging of Valve World Expo in Düsseldorf, 516 exhibitors from 35 countries reserved 145,880 ft 2 of exhibit space.

The problem with the outlets is that if a rainfall event coincides with a high tide,

Valve World Expo Americas 2011

The first staging of Valve World Expo Americas will be held in the Woodlands Waterways Marriott Hotel & Convention Center near Houston, Texas, 21-22 June 2011. This conference with an exhibition component will be a collaboration between Messe Düsseldorf and KCI Publishing, both already cooperating for the Valve World Expo held in Düsseldorf, Germany every two years. Messe Düsseldorf, located in Germany, will be in charge of the exhibition component through its US subsidiary Messe Düsseldorf North America. KCI Publishing, based in the Netherlands, will manage the conference part of the event through its subsidiary in Canada.

Messe Düsseldorf North America – USA

info@mdna.com www.mdna.com

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January 2011 Tube Products International