Product category:
Valve positioners and actuators
News Release from: Rotork Controls | Subject: Rotork IQ25 actuators
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 22 March 2004
Heathrow river diversions courtesy of
Rotork
Rotork IQ intelligent electric valve actuators are used in an ecologically important "Twin Rivers Diversion" project associated with the construction of the new Terminal 5 (T5) at Heathrow Airport
Rotork IQ intelligent electric valve actuators are being used in an ecologically important "Twin Rivers Diversion" project associated with the construction of the new Terminal 5 (T5) at London Heathrow Airport Twenty-three actuators operate stainless steel penstocks manufactured by H Fontaine Ltd to control the flows within new open channels, built to divert the courses of two of London's historic rivers around the western perimeter of the 260 hectare Heathrow T5 site
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 4 Mar 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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David Palmer of Black and Veatch Consulting and Rivers Team Leader at T5 owners BAA plc explains: "BAA opted to divert the Longford and Duke of Northumberland's Rivers around the western perimeters of the airport rather than bury the existing courses in culverts beneath the proposed development.
The new diverted channels have been designed with significant ecological enhancements in order to maximise the environmental values of the rivers".
At the head of each channel, off-take structures incorporating seven 1.5 metre wide penstocks are operated automatically by Rotork IQ25 actuators in response to analogue signals from adjacent ultrasonic level sensors installed in the river beds.
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The actuators are fitted with Rotork Folomatic proportional controllers and CPT current position transmitters to enable progressive penstock movement and position signalling to commence when the "bank full" trigger level is approached downstream of the off-take structures.
The actuators continue to shut the penstocks until the water level is stabilised, ensuring that the rivers are kept full but the banks are not breached.
A telemetry link from each installation transmits information on penstock status, positions and upstream/downstream water levels to a central control room at Heathrow Airport.
The Fontaine penstocks feature fully enclosed operating mechanisms with bevel gearboxes, enabling the Rotork actuators to be installed in ergonomically convenient positions.
This facilitates access to the actuators during installation, inspection and maintenance and removes any requirement for high level walkways or temporary scaffolding.
The "Twin Rivers Diversion" project was started in November 2002 and will be completed by 14th May 2004.
Background to the Twin Rivers.
The "Twin Rivers Diversion" project at Heathrow comprises a 2.5 kilometre diversion of the Longford River and a 31/2 kilometre diversion of the Duke of Northumberland's River.
The Longford River, owned by The Crown, was built in the 17th Century by Charles I, taking water from the River Colne to a royal residence at Syon House in Isleworth and a nearby watermill.
The Longford River flows into the River Crane at Twickenham.
The Duke of Northumberland's River was built during the reign of Henry VIII in the 16th century to take water to Bushy Park and Hampton Court Palace, where it feeds into the River Thames.
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