A yacht sailing company use a dredger for gathering up silt and clearing the pathway in the sea, for sailing their boats.
There are two different sizes in the pipework on the dredger, so two different bore sized AKO Pinch Valves, DN50 & DN100 have been installed to shut off and open the flow of sea water and silt travelling through the pipelines.
VF model, air operated, aluminium body, aluminium flanges PN10/16 with mild steel bushings, natural rubber sleeve.
Dredging is usually carried out underwater, in shallow seas or freshwater areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and widening as in the Erie Canal. This technique is often used to keep waterways navigable and creates an anti sludge pathway for boats. It is also used as a way to replenish sand on some public beaches, where sand has been lost because of coastal erosion.
Product: Sea water & silt
Temperature: Ambient
Pressure: 4 BAR
The Pinch Valves are normally closed.
Amount of Cycles per day: Approx 100 cycles.
The company have been using Pinch Valves for about 5 years. The VF type white epoxy powder coated Pinch Valves with flanged connections were already installed on the dredger when the company purchased it. They now replace the rubber sleeves inside the Pinch Valves themselves, which takes place approx once every few years.
The operator of the dredger says that the AKO PInch Valves are easy to operate, and “do the job fine.”
