Festo South Africa was recently sub-contracted by Bateman Engineering Technologies to supply and install a state-of-the-art pneumatic system for Meulwater Water Treatment Works (WTW), a newly constructed purification plant located in the ecologically sensitive Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve, and designed by Aurecon.
The plant, capable of treating eight megalitres of potable water per day, is situated beneath the Paarl Rock and overlooks the Paarl valley below. To ensure the beauty of the surrounding landscape remains undisturbed, Meulwater WTW required a system that would be both aesthetically pleasing, and environmentally friendly.
Environment friendly pneumatic equipment
“We supplied and installed automation equipment for the plant filtration and backwash recovery systems. The components form part of a concept that ensures the plant can use a hybrid centralised and decentralised approach to control, implementing a ‘best of both worlds’ approach. This is something we are very proud of,” says Festo product manager, Brian Abbott.
The pneumatic equipment boasts quiet operation and uses clean compressed air technology. The valve actuators are simple in construction with few moving parts and long life expectancy. The system also features low energy requirements, all of which contribute significantly to the ‘green’ aspects of the system.
“Festo installed key products where reliability and the ability to minimise maintenance requirements were important,” notes Abbott. The system comprises of polymide air reticulation piping from compressors to valve terminals to minimise air leaks, simplify installation and increase longevity through its high corrosion resistance, as well as MPA valve terminal technology from Festo that ensures that all pilot valves controlling compressed air to the actuators are centralised and protected from the harmful elements of the environment eg, weather, UV lights and moisture. Festo PLN flexible tubing from the valve terminals to the actuators also offers high resistance to UV sunlight, thus increasing durability even more. Service units and automatic moisture purge valves were installed at key locations to maintain instrument air quality at all times.
“The Meulwater WTW installation is another example of the type of complete automation solutions that Festo is proud to offer customers in addition to our traditional pneumatic products,” concludes Abbott.
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