Float Valves for Africa

Typical examples of the application of float valves are: animal drinking troughs, roof tanks A “float valve” or “ball valve” is a mechanical device for maintaining fluid reserve (normally water) at a particular level in any container. The fluid reserve may be intermittently tapped into for human, animal or machine consumption (it may also evaporate or leak away slowly if the container is not properly sealed).

The immediate advantages of this concept, in the simplest terms, are:
1) a reserve in the event of intermittent supply
2) a reduction in pressure to a constant lower level, and elimination of surges
3) opportunity to treat with chemical dosing of some kind
 
Typical examples of the application of float valves are: animal drinking troughs, roof tanks in houses and toilet cisterns. Less common applications are industrial tanks, water distillation and purification plants, water features, swimming and spa pools, catering equipment etc.
 
The pressure of inlet water varies from very high (20+ bar) down to very low (0.5 bar) depending mainly on the head (elevation difference) between the bulk storage facility and the user. The cleanliness of the water also varies. Typically a source such as a municipality will supply clean, treated water at a reasonably high pressure. Conversely, farm dams or concrete tanks are often open to the elements and the water therein may contain silt, insects, algae and many other types of debris. Because most of the world population is urbanized, the majority of float valves are designed with SMALL apertures. When presented with water containing debris, blockage is a frequent and major problem.
 
The Aqua-Brooks range consists of three different coloured, compact models which all work with same cantilevered float. The main difference between them is the size of the inlet jet.
 
The three models are as follows:
White body: clean water at any pressure up to 25 bar
Red body: water with fine gravel up to a pressure of 8 bar
Black body: water with debris up to a pressure of 2 bar
 
Typical applications of each model are as follows:
White Body: Pet drinkers attached to a municipal tap. Very little flow is required. They are particularly useful for watering pets over weekends and holidays when the owners are away. They are easy to clean. Evaporation is often a significant factor.
Red Body: Sheep troughs. Fresh water is required daily, but consumption is low. In hilly areas water is sometimes obtained from a natural spring and piped down in a narrow pipe at a pressure of 2 to 4 bars.
Black Body: Troughs fed from elevated tank (up to 8m). Very flat rural areas in which tanks are intermittently filled by a windmill or manually operated pump. Often very isolated cattle posts are visited weekly or even less frequently by personnel.
 
Significant features of the Aqua-Brooks range are their low cost, simplicity, robustness and longevity. They are constructed of UV resistant plastics, stainless steel hinge pin and durable acetal standard “half-inch” fittings. They need to be protected from animals, but that is a universal requirement as animals are attracted by fresh water and noise.
 
Aqua-Brooks valves have been on the market since 1984 and have an enviable record of reliability and long service. Approximately 250 000 have been sold, mostly in Southern Africa.
 
For further information please visit our website : http://www.aqua-brooks.co.za