Manufacturer and supplier of float valves, Keraflo, has launched an electronic tank management system that it says provides, via one integrated ‘package’ for the first time, a simple way to monitor water level and temperature in cold water storage tanks.
Until now, it claims, these tasks have either had to be undertaken manually by lifting the tank cover, or by scrutinising readings from several different sensors fed to a variety of hardware and software. Unveiled to journalists – appropriately, since the high profile event venue is one of the first users – at London’s ‘02’, the Tanktronic system can also manage and control tank filling, and feed back data on, for example, water level and temperature, to a building energy management system, thus alerting estates personnel immediately, for instance, to any overflow risk, or to water temperatures that could increase the potential for proliferation of Legionella or other waterborne bacteria. Keraflo MD, Geoffrey Gestetner, explained that Tanktronic was not only the company’s first major new product for six years, but would also take it into a new market, moving it from being solely a float valve manufacturer to a complete tank management system provider. He and sales manager, Neil Watson, explained that, in developing Tanktronic, Keraflo had harnessed over 25 years’ expertise as a specialist mechanical valve manufacturer for water storage tanks. A video shown at the launch emphasised that Tanktronic is designed to be simple to both install and use. The system combines a main control unit incorporating a user-friendly interface – via which all the main functions can be controlled, and key parameters such as temperature and water level monitored – with a pressure and temperature sensor, which is continuously submerged inside the tank. The sensor provides accurate readings on water depth and temperature delivered via the interface. A programmable alarm function informs users if volume or temperature levels exceed pre-set criteria. As an option, tank filling can be completely controlled; when the water in the tank reaches the minimum required level, a signal opens the valve. Similarly, when the water reaches the designated full level, a signal closes it. The delay between the open and close level provides delayed action filling, which Keraflo says helps to avoid water hammer, and gives maximum water turnover. A single Tanktronic main control unit can regulate and control two tanks, while, for applications with more than two, subsidiary units can be added. Tanktronic can be used with all Keraflo delayed action valves, either retrofitted, or installed as part of a new build project
