Seawater filtration uses El-O-Matic actuators

Emerson supplies valve automation solution to ensure reliability and quality of the South African uShaka Island aquarium, dolphinarium and seal stadium tourist attraction

uShaka Island Marine World, located in Durban, South Africa, is a new world-class entertainment and tourism destination containing an extensive aquarium, a dolphinarium and a seal stadium.

Emerson Process Management has supplied a complete valve automation solution to control the flow of seawater to the filtration units and to maintain tank levels.

"We are delighted to have supplied equipment on this prestigious project" said Martin Horsfall of the Emerson Valve Automation Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, "the uShaka Island complex is very important to the tourism industry for South Africa.

The Marine World exhibit is an essential part of the overall complex and it is important that it stays operational.

El-O-Matic actuators guarantee virtually the longest working life of any actuator in the industry, helping to ensure the water supply systems will not let them down".

Water quality is very important, both in respect of chemical and biological quality and of clarity; the target for clarity is that there should be over 50 metres of clear visibility in each of the exhibits.

Because of these stringent requirements, it is necessary to have extensive filtration systems.

SAME Water Projects, who designed and installed the filtration systems, will use the Emerson solution for filter feed and backwash control as well as controlling level in the tanks and isolating the piping system.

235 of the EPDM rubber lined butterfly valves are automated with Emerson El-O-Matic E series actuators, 25 of which have modulating positioners.

The valves range in size from DN80 to DN600 and have nylon coated discs to suit the sea water application.

The remaining actuated valves are fitted with Namur compatible solenoid valves and switch boxes.

The actuators are mostly double-acting and range in size from ED40 to ED1600, there are also two PD2500 fitted to DN600 valves.

As part of the customer acceptance process, valves were randomly selected and subjected to extensive cycle testing.

The valves were immersed in seawater and operated a minimum of 600 times, at six second intervals.

This simulated the valve cycling requirements for approximately 3 years of operation.

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