The heart of ARMAC's operational flexibility resides in the pump shed's water control system—a set of copper pipes, motorized valves, sensors, and manual controls that enables five distinct operational modes.
Water enters under pressure from the pump through a DN50 (2-inch) fire-rated reinforced hose, rising into a horizontal DN50 copper control pipe that forms the main distribution header.
This header incorporates multiple branches and control elements before exiting to the sprinkler feeder pipe.
FOUR MOTORISED VALVES:
The flow control system employs four remotely operated valves of specific types:
RV1 (High/Reduced Flow Control) - A 3-way motorized brass valve normally configured in A-B position for reduced flow. In this position, water is forced through a DN20 branch containing a preset ball valve adjusted to restrict flow to approximately 170 L/min. When high flow is commanded, the valve switches to A-C position, directing water through a DN50 bypass loop that allows unrestricted flow approaching 250 L/min. This arrangement provides rapid mode switching without requiring pump speed control or complex pressure regulation.
RV2 (Shed Cooling Control) - A 2-way motorized valve normally closed (A-C position) that, when energized to A-B position, diverts a controlled portion of flow through a manual ball valve and DN12 copper pipe to the five shed cooling spray nozzles.
RV3 (Intermittent Cycle Recirculation) - A 3-way motorized valve normally in A-B position for flow to sprinklers.
RV4 (Fire Retardant Gel Injection) - A solenoid on/off valve. This part of the system is still under development with the addition of a small electric motor on the inlet side of the Dosatron and reconfiguration with a check valve still to come and be tested.
THREE MANUAL VALVES:.
There are also three manual valves - a three way ball valve prior to outlet to the sprinklers which either directs water to recirculate to the tank for test purposes, or proceed to the sprinklers, a two way ball valve which turns on and off (also primarily for test purposes) the shed sprinkler system and allows its flow to be regulated, and finally a ball valve on the reduced flow branch which enables the rate of flow to be adjusted.
Externally each sprinkler is equipped with a ball valve to enable its flow to be regulated, and a ball valve is placed between the tank and pump shed to allow the tank to be isolated.
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