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a direct acting pressure reduction valve
that would have the capacity to be an
off-the-shelf-product in the future.
The test rig used by Houman and his
team allowed for individual isolation of
the valves to create parallel and serial
configurations. Noise levels were also
recorded as part of the testing. All
Pumps Sales & Service developed a
pumping system to deliver a flow rate of
up to 5L/s at 1,800kPa.
Using a range of flow rates and
pressures, the test rig showed that a
single stage setup created significantly
higher noise levels than a double stage
arrangement. The report concludes
that “the dual stage pressure reduction
valve setup can perform at considerably
higher pressure ranges where the
conventional single stage designs fail to
deliver the required performance.”
For the high rise building in Sydney,
this means that a solution has been
found to manage pressure reduction
throughout the building without the
need for staged storage tanks. The
knock-on effects that David eluded to
can be minimised and noise levels within
the building would be maintained to
comply with the acoustic requirements
for the project.
“If we didn’t use this system,” says
David, “we would have to work out other
ways and means to reduce the pressure.
There are other design philosophies that
could have been adopted, but I think we
would have experienced more pipe work
that would not necessarily be cost-
effective.”
The system has been designed to
give a pressure reduction breakout on
alternate floors, with smaller systems
to cater for the next floor above.
“Using this configuration actually
makes it easier for the facilities
manager to maintain the system as
any pressure drops can be quickly
identified within a two floor location,”
says David. “We no longer need plant
rooms at regular intervals, and access
to the valves can be achieved through
a services cabinet. Ultimately it could
be wired up to a BMS system for
monitoring and alarm notifications.”
Plumbing contractor for the Sydney
apartment building, Andrew Khadi
owner of AK Plumbing, is confident that
Houman’s design will be successful.
“It is a new way of approaching
pressure reduction and it takes a bit
to follow the concept, but once you
understand it, it makes a lot of sense.”
says Andrew.
“On the odd floors, we have the
pressure reduction system Houman
has designed with low flow diversions to
the even floors. The system will be used
for the first 18 floors, after that, the
pressures aren’t such a problem.”
The building, due to be completed
by year’s end is well under way and the
building and plumbing contractors are
confident that the solution Houman
and his team found will be more than
satisfactory.