Hydro International incorporates future-proof design for Hydro-Brake® Optimum

Hydro International, an industry leader in water management products and services, is redefining the standard for hydraulic efficiency and adjustability with an upgrade to its most popular and highest performing flow control. Its Hydro-Brake^® Optimum Hydraulic Efficient vortex flow controls will now incorporate an adjustable inlet as standard. 

The adjustable inlet will enable engineers to future proof their drainage design with up to plus or minus 20% change in design flow should additional developments or urban creep cause an increase in flows, saving the cost of a replacement flow control.

When using the free Online Design Tool, the adjustable intake will be automatically included on units designed with the default ‘Hydraulic Efficient’ objective.  The tool will output a unique triple head/discharge curve showing the maximum and minimum flow rate range.  The initial setting of the designed unit will be the centre line, shown in blue. 

Post-installation, the unit can be adjusted to any flow rate within the minimum/maximum range. 

Using the Online Design Tool, engineers designing in a Hydro-Brake^® Optimum are able to select from a range of different objectives to meet their design requirements. 

These objectives include…

– Hydraulic Efficient – this design passes forwards as much flow as possible early in a storm event, enabling engineers to reduce the amount of upstream storage volume required. Now with the adjustable inlet as standard.
– Minimise Blockage Risk – this option makes the inlet and outlet openings as large as possible while still delivering the same design flow.
– Linear Discharge Profile – this design generates a discharge as close to linear as possible, providing similar hydraulic performance to an orifice plate, but with internal clearances approximately two to four times larger.

Engineers designing Hydro-Brake^® Optimum units in modelling software such as Autodesk, Site3D and Causeway Flow, should contact Hydro International for the triple head/discharge curve and design outputs.

Ben Puddy, Product Manager for Hydro International, comments: “With the ability to adjust flows post-installation as standard, Hydro-Brake^® Optimum can help designers be prepared for the effects of climate change, urban creep, or changes in regulations.

“In addition, saving money with the ability to adjust to future flow rates, without the expense of fully refitting the system and ensuring projects can be delivered on time, every time. At Hydro International, we have 40 years’ worth of expertise which has gone into to development of this feature, ensuring risk is mitigated.”

With over 40 years of research and development into developing Hydro-Brake^® vortex flow controls and other water management products and services, Hydro International leverages its expertise to deliver exceptional flood protection and sustainable drainage systems, ensuring it is at the forefront of industry development, time and time again.

To find out more about this forward-looking vortex flow control, visit hydro-int.com/optimum-fp or try some designs on the Online Design Tool – hydro-int.design.