Water treatment industry is switching to new maintenance-free flexible plate check valves

At present, about one-third of the UK water company's application of Check Valves is undergoing a change, replacing the designated traditional cast iron disc check valves with a Check Valve that has been tried and tested to solve the problem. Many problems caused by gravity and lever design. The new Elastic Hinge Check Valve (RHCV) provides a nuisance-reinforced flap that works more like a heart valve because it does not have hinges and soft seal closures. The check valve guarantees a 25-year service life, and provides unobstructed access, even in untreated sewage applications. It also saves energy - reducing pressure required to lift the disc (with the original design pen Friction system <50%).

Since RHCV is so effective and has been tried and tested, why hasn't it been used in UK water utilities? The answer is simple: MGA Controls, a professional valve supplier in Burscough, CA, has experienced a long time to obtain the WIMES specification and British standards that need to be certified and reviewed in many broad leave contracts.

MGA Director David Wilson is responsible for bringing this product to the UK market. He explained: “It is time-consuming to obtain approval and to prove that these products can significantly reduce maintenance costs and save energy according to key specifications. People need time to adapt.”

“We now replace a large number of cast iron valves with newly designed check valves, but these cast iron valves have been used for decades. Some UK water companies have also passed operational tests in the past three to four years and have now adopted VAL-MATIC automatically. The CwingFlexTM Spring Check Valve (RHCV) or the fast-acting WurgebusterTM water hammer check valve replaces the standard gravity and lever check valves."

“Our current task is to contact other water companies and related stakeholders such as framework contractors, consultants, project teams, engineering designers and maintenance engineers to let them know about the substantial benefits of the product.”

“Some UK water companies have started using VAL-MATIC valves and currently have first-hand tests to prove the rationality of this product. We have obtained more than 100 application cases from users. The original designed valves will be used after several months. Blockages require significant costs for maintenance, but newly designed valves operate stably in these often faulty operating conditions."
How does RHCV work?

The innovatively designed RHCV valve has no point of failure, has a very low head loss, and can provide unimpeded flow in both vertical and horizontal directions. The check valve seat is 45° and travels 35°; the interior and exterior are coated with a certified, non-stick epoxy resin coating; the fully-sealed EPDM and tightly sealed valve flap are ideal for controlling hydrocarbon compounds, hydrogen sulfide, And other media, but also applies to pure water.

As a result, the check valve in typical untreated sewage or slurry application conditions, with little or no maintenance, can save energy over the life cycle, provide lower valve replacement costs, and significantly reduce long-term maintenance costs. Ensure that the water company is brought considerable cost-effectiveness.

The water company states that a medium-sized water company with 1,000 pump stations (or 2,000 check valves) will save millions of pounds per year if it replaces the use of check valves with RHCN valves. The cost of tens of millions of pounds may be saved during the life cycle. The cost savings are even more apparent for water companies with more pump stations.

In the latest business white paper, “How Elastic Hinge Check Valves Help Britain's Water Treatment Industry Save Millions of British Pounds,” it is mentioned that the cost reductions come mainly from the following: First, because there is no need to regularly “open” valves, maintenance costs are reduced. The cost is allocated to the 25-year use period; the second is reflected in the zero replacement cost (25-year warranty for moving parts); again lower head loss, which in turn reduces pump operating costs.

The other benefits of RHCV valves cannot be underestimated. The VAL-MATIC Spring Check Valve not only reduces clogging, but also eliminates erosion, prevents pump damage, and can be mounted vertically on the pipe without affecting performance. Therefore, the valve can reduce the cost of pump maintenance and re- pumping. The valve complies with British standards and WIMES specifications and is applicable to various sizes, supplied by MGA Controls to the UK market.

British Water Company has used the new valve
The RHCV valves have been successfully used in the harsh conditions of many pumping stations at other water companies such as Yorkshire Water, Northumbrian Water, Thames Water, and Wessex Water, and the advantages they bring are verified.

MGA Controls Marketing Director, the author of the white paper, David Wilson, quoted the content of the book as saying: "The cost savings from replacing gravity and lever check valves by using high-quality elastic hinge check valves is very substantial. The purchase cost of RHCV valves may be very high. The higher-cost check valve is higher, but because of drastically reduced dredge workload and zero maintenance, the benefits of this cost are often reflected in the first month of use.”

When the water company's mission is to reduce operating and expenditure costs, it may lead to the end of gravity and lever type check valves.