Waimea Dam – Discharge Control Valves. A critical piece of infrastructure for the region, marking one of the most significant irrigation projects in the area.
Dams, Reservoirs and Hydropower.
Waimea Dam – Discharge Control Valves
Waimea Dam is situated on the Lee River in the Lee Valley, southeast of Brightwater, in New Zealand's South Island.
The project was commissioned by Waimea Water Authority, with Humes as the AVK agent..
The Waimea Dam is a critical piece of infrastructure for the region, marking one of the most significant irrigation projects in the area. It is also New Zealand's first large dam construction in 25 years.
The scope of work involved supplying three Fixed Cone Valves (S857) with Rotork Electric Actuation with valve sizes being DN800 (2) and DN300 (1).
Challenges:
The project faced several challenges, including difficult ground conditions, the complexities of the contractual framework and New Zealand's seismically active environment.
AVK also encountered disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which impacted their production timeline.
AVK Response, Solution and Outcome:
To overcome these challenges, AVK set up a temporary scaffold (to replicate site conditions) at their factory to test the valve extension spindle setup and measure the operating torque figures, ensuring the proper functionality of the Rotork electric actuators.
They also conducted a seismic analysis to confirm that the valves could withstand the specified earthquake forces, a crucial client requirement.
During testing, AVK identified an issue with the initial torque measurements, which led to adjustments in the actuator/gearbox selection, avoiding potential delays and costly site remediation.
Additionally, AVK provided technical support to the project by performing a Seismic Hazard Analysis, ensuring the valves met the necessary seismic requirements and preventing further complications.
This proactive approach prevented further complications and helped achieve the positive, desired outcome.
