Dynamic Fluid Control has equipped and commissioned a training facility to support theory with practical demonstration of valve operation and its effects on flow.

The facility, which will also be used to train customers in correct valve installation and maintenance techniques, represents an investment of close to R1-million.

It is believed to be the most advanced of its kind outside the USA.

At the heart of the facility lies a reticulate set of closed loops fitted with the full range of DFC valves. Flow and pressure throughout this network can be varied at will, and the loops either isolated or inter-connected to allow the demonstration of valve operation.

Charl Myburgh, DFC’s marketing manager, said he expected customers to find particularly illuminating the demonstrations of air release and vacuum break valves, as well as control valves during in-line operation.

Myburgh said that visitors would be shown a comparison between air valve accumulator and non-accumulator performance, as well as demonstrations of the operation and setting of pressure reducing valves, electronic control valves, pressure relief valves and level control valves.

“The ability to show non-return valve slam, and the operation of typical isolating valves, will also be useful,” Myburgh added.

“We expect South Africa’s municipalities to find demonstrations of demand management especially instructive, because of their need to reduce water pressure during periods of low demand, and so minimise water losses caused by leaking pipes.

“Our facility allows simulation of three alternative methods of demand management using variants in the Cla-Val range of control valves: dual-stage pressure reducing, electronic full range pressure reducing, or the flow modulated fully hydraulically controlled pressure-reducing valve,” Myburgh said.

Besides exhibiting the various valves in operation, DFC’s new facility is able to demonstrate hydraulic phenomena such as cavitation and water-hammer, which visitors can see occurring under controlled conditions within sections of transparent pipe.

Delegates can also see how air enters the air valves.

“The digital flow indicators and pressure gauges in the loops create a feel for how hydraulic conditions change in pipelines according to varying demand – in other words what happens to the pressure in a water network when the flow changes,” Myburgh continued.

“During a typical training session, we first cover the theoretical operation of the valves, then move across the room to see a live demonstration. In the case of demand management, we induce high flow and observe the pressure, then we reduce the flow to simulate the lower demand which occurs at night, and let students see how the valve modulates based on this lower flow to physically seal the loop, all while actually noting read-outs of flow and pressure.

“We can run a typical day’s cycle in five minutes, and watch the valve change the flow according to the pressure within the loop.”

Myburgh emphasised that expertise in valve operation and maintenance is as important as knowledge of the products available for any particular application.

“Our new facility can be used for both. So, during the sales cycle we demonstrate valve capability and effect. Then, after the sale, we bring in the operating personnel for training that includes fault diagnosis – symptom, cause and cure – and valve maintenance.

“It’s a comprehensive capability which we expect to use with increasing frequency,” he concluded.