Check Valve Solves Storm Water Runoff Challenge in Northern Ireland
About the author:
Red Valve Co., www.redvalve.com/tideflex/tideflex-products, 412.279.0044
Bombardier is the largest manufacturing company in Northern Ireland and one of the key aerospace companies in the United Kingdom. The design of their new Belfast manufacturing plant required that at least half of the storm water runoff from their 600,000 square foot (55,742 m2) facility roof would be draining into the Conn's Water Estuary through a 1,500 millimeter concrete outfall pipe.
The Solution
Due to the tidal nature of the Conn’s Water Estuary, the 1,500 millimeter concrete outfall pipe needed a non-return check valve with absolute backflow prevention to prevent tidal backflow from getting into the draining system. Concerns about blockages due to debris, mud and silt affecting the drainage system posed a serious challenge. MeasurIT, Red Valve Company’s Ireland Sales Partner, was approached to help provide a solution. MeasurIT recommended Red Valve’s Tideflex TF-1 Duckbill Check Valve as the ideal product to ensure long-term, maintenance-free backflow prevention in an environment subject to tidal currents, mud, silt and debris, as well as difficult access.
The Result
An 1840 millimeter Tideflex TF-1 Duckbill Check Valve was installed on the Conn’s Water Outfall Pipe. This large check valve has been in operation since its installation in 2010. The valve’s 100% fabric and elastomer unibody construction completely eliminates rust and corrosion problems and will not warp or freeze, providing reliable, continuous backflow prevention to the Conn’s Water Outfall Pipe. There are no mechanical parts that catch debris, get stuck, corrode or fail. Sliding, rotating, swinging and plunging parts are also completely eliminated. The check valve automatically clears itself of debris and can even seal around small debris, with less than one psi of backpressure. Because the check valve operates using line pressure and backpressure to open and close, no outside energy source is required. The valve’s low cracking pressure allows for easy draining of storm water runoff from the manufacturing facility’s roof, eliminating any standing water. The valve requires no lubrication and no maintenance or repairs, allowing for a long operational life span. Since its installation on the Conn’s Water Outfall in 2010, the Tideflex TF-1 Check Valve has provided a reliable, maintenance-free solution to a difficult challenge.
