BERMAD Waterworks

Large-diameter control valves are essential components in municipal water systems and key water supply infrastructure, such as dams, reservoirs, and large-scale irrigation networks. These control valves are designed with specific features that enable them to handle substantial water flow, making them essential for efficient water distribution and management. Their role is pivotal in maintaining reliable operations, ensuring smooth maintenance, and upholding the overall integrity of water supply systems. The use of large control valves ensures that these vital systems can handle high-volume demands and prevent disruptions in service.

A well-known fact is that in many municipal networks, water loss may reach alarming levels of 40% or higher, turning into non-revenue water, leading to a significant waste of water and financial resources.

In our recent webinar, we discussed the advanced pressure management solution that tackles this issue. We introduced our full modulation controller DELTA, and EPSILON data logger, both designed to establish a highly efficient approach. Many interesting questions were raised during the webinar, so we chose a few to answer and share.

Severn Trent Water is undertaking a comprehensive program to improve air valve performance in high grease and fat conditions across their network. This is part of a wider work program to ensure that all the Sewage Air Valves on the Severn Trent network meet a minimum and maintainable standard. This case study explores the implementation of BERMAD C50 air valves, focusing on their operational efficiency and the challenges faced during the upgrade process.

Tapping Into Efficiency: The Unseen Potential of Non-Revenue Water - In the vast and intricate world of water utilities, a significant challenge persistently affects the efficiency and sustainability of water systems worldwide. This challenge is known as non-revenue water (NRW). 

In our recent webinar “BERMAD Air Control in Sewage & Wastewater Applications”, our waterworks expert, Wes Caudle, discussed the importance of air valves in sewage & wastewater systems for efficient operation and protection from vacuum conditions and surge pressure. Our discussion covered the design, selection, and operation of air valves in sewage & wastewater systems. If you are interested in learning more, you are welcome to watch the webinar recording.

From its inception 57 years ago until today, BERMAD, a world leader in water flow management and control, continues to operate its business with a strong focus on sustainability.
The company develops and manufactures unique standout products and solutions, in terms of their quality and suitability for customers' needs, long service life and minimum cost of ownership as well as in terms of their hydraulic and energy efficiency.

In our recent webinar “BERMAD Large Hydraulic Control Valves - Specification and Selection”, our waterworks expert, Micha Baer, talked about the History and the need for Large Control Valves, discussed the Various types, Pros and Cons, Requirements and Specifications, Features and Benefits, and presented Case Studies of Large Hydraulic Control Valves Projects.

Proper valve sizing is a vital factor in water system design. Accurate sizing is critical to achieving optimal efficiency, stable operation and system/valve longevity. That said, choosing the right valves can be a complex and time-consuming task as water system designers need to take multiple factors into account. In this webinar, we learned how to use BERMAD's Sizing software.

In a recent BERMAD webinar on Smart Metering with Electromagnetic Flow Meters, Elad Orenstein, Smart Metering Product Manager talked about the benefits of using electromagnetic flow meters in collecting accurate data and making it available anywhere, anytime.

Air valves are commonly used in sewage and wastewater systems to increase the system's efficiency by evacuating large volumes of air during pipeline filling and releasing entrapped air and gas pockets during pressurized operation. Air valves provide protection from vacuum conditions by enabling large volume air intake; protecting pipelines during draining or bursts; and providing controlled air relief to reduce potential damage during water hammers or surge pressure.

A GUIDE FOR SYSTEM DESIGNERS

The presence of uncontrolled quantities of air in water systems can seriously affect their performance, causing inefficient filling and draining procedures and flow reduction, while increasing energy costs. It also disrupts the operation of some of
the system’s components.

In a recent BERMAD webinar, “How to Design & Implement a Pressure Reducing Station for Extreme Pressure Difference,” Micha Baer, our Waterworks Application Engineer, talked about the challenges in dealing with extreme high pressure in a water supply pipeline.

In a recent BERMAD webinar, “Smart Metering with Electromagnetic Flow Meters,” our Smart Metering Product Manager Elad Orenstein talked about the benefits of using electromagnetic flow meters to collect accurate data and make it available anywhere, at any time.

In a recent BERMAD webinar, “Optimal Air Valve Selection for Water Systems,” our application engineer Tal Levi presented tools to optimize the selection of air valves, parameters affecting performance, and premature kinetic closure. 

Function of a Pressure Reducing Valve

Designed to withstand even the toughest environments, the pressure reducing valve (or PRV) is a hydraulically operated, diaphragm actuated control valve that reduces higher upstream pressure to lower constant downstream pressure—regardless of the fluctuating demand or the varying upstream force. Essentially, the valve maintains a steady state of pressure downstream, heedless of flow.

In a previous blog post, we described how as a result of rising awareness about energy savings and environment protection, water supply and distribution systems need to be more efficient and be able to operate optimally at minimum pressures. While single-chamber control valves were traditionally used in these systems due to their cost-efficiency, their functionality is limited in such low pressure conditions.

Since the turn of the last century, hydraulic flow control valves that utilize line pressure as the energy source for their operation have been used in water supply systems. These valves are used for specific control functions that include pressure and flow control, water level control in tanks and reservoirs, remote open and close, and more.

Water hammer, or hydraulic shock, is a major concern in bulk water supply systems. It is even more of an issue when dealing with high pressure systems where failure may have a catastrophic impact. It is caused when fluid moving through the system is forced to suddenly stop or change direction, creating a pressure wave that can create vibration and noise, damage pumps and other system components, and even collapse pipes.

What’s the connection between control valves and smooth take-offs and landings at Berlin Brandenburg Airport?

The Berlin Brandenburg Airport is a 14.7 km² airport that is situated 18 km south of Berlin, Germany, and is currently under construction. The 6.8-billion-euro project began in 2006 and includes two parallel runways, a six-floor passenger terminal, a 32-meter observation tower, and a museum and gift shop. The facility is designed to handle about 65 aircrafts, with a passenger capacity of up to 27 million per year. The airport is expected to open in autumn 2020.