Home - Tideflex Mixing Systems (TMS)  - TMS Operating Principle

Figure 1: TMS Inlet Nozzles

Figure 2: TMS Waterflex Valves

Figure 3:
Separated Inlet & Outlet Configuration

Figure 4: Tideflex Inlet Nozzle

Figure 5:
Tideflex vs. Fixed Orifice

Figure 6:
Tideflex Nozzle Configurations

TMS Operating Principle

    The Tideflex Mixing System (TMS) is a multi-port manifold piping system comprised of Tideflex Inlet Nozzles Figure 1 and Waterflex Outlet Check Valves Figure 2. The TMS accomplishes two important design goals: 1) it separates the inlet and outlet and 2) achieves complete mixing. The TMS is custom-designed for each tank based on tank style, dimensions, volume, hydraulic conditions, and typical tank turnover. The Tideflex and Waterflex valves are NSF61 Certified, are completely passive, and operate solely on differential pressure.

    Figure 3 is a simple schematic of the operating principle of the TMS. During a fill cycle, the pressure from the distribution system is greater than the tank head. This closes the Waterflex Valves, which face into the manifold pipe, and produces turbulent jets that are injected into the tank water thru the Tideflex Inlet Nozzles. During a draw, the distribution system pressure drops below the tank head. This closes the Tideflex and opens the Waterflex to allow water to be drawn into the manifold pipe then out into the distribution system.

    The TMS accomplishes inlet/outlet separation with one pipe and two sets of check valves. This eliminates the need and the high cost of a two-pipe system with two tank penetrations.

    The focus of distribution tanks needs to be on complete mixing, not just inlet and outlet separation. The TMS has been extensively CFD modeled and scale modeled and we utilized the manifold configurations that were proven to produce rapid mixing. The effectiveness of the TMS has been field-validated for every tank style by utilities that have conducted sampling and monitoring inside of the storage tanks.

Variable Orifice

    The key to the TMS generating rapid mixing is the variable orifice characteristic of the Tideflex Inlet Nozzles that produces a strong jet (Figure 4). The Tideflex progressively open/close with the increase/decrease in flow. At lower flows, the effective diameter of the Tideflex is lower so the jet velocity is maximized, (Figure 5). This variable orifice characteristic is analogous to pressing your thumb over the end of the hose. Distribution storage tanks typically experience a wide flow range. It is difficult to mix a tank at low flows with a fixed-diameter inlet pipe because the velocity is low. Tideflex Inlet Nozzles optimize jet velocity which results in complete mixing.

    Tideflex Inlet Nozzles optimize jet velocity at all flow rates compared to fixed-diameter pipes and ports. The higher jet velocity maximizes momentum which makes mixing much more rapid.

Tideflex Relative Stiffness

    Of critical importance in optimizing the design of the TMS for every tank is not only to select the quantity and nominal size of the Tideflex Inlet Nozzles, but also select their REALATIVE STIFFNESS (Hydraulic Code). Within each Tideflex nominal size, we can change the geometry, the amount and durometer of natural and synthetic elastomers, and the type and placement of fabric reinforcement to change the hydraulic characteristic [tfvar.jpg] of the Tideflex Nozzles. There are over 50 different hydraulic variations per size of Tideflex Inlet Nozzle. Since the 1980’s, Red Valve has continually conducted independent hydraulic testing on Tideflex ranging in size from 2” to 48” in numerous relative stiffnesses in each size. This amount of testing was critical in developing the hydraulic modeling programs used in the TMS design.

    There are four important tasks that Red Valve engineers carry out for every tank project: 1) selection of the appropriate TMS configuration based on the style, volume and dimensions of the tank, 2) Run Manifold Hydraulics Models thru the range of fill and draw flow rates to optimize the quantity, size, and relative stiffness of the Tideflex and Waterflex, 3) Run Mixing Analysis Models that shows the water utility how they need to fluctuate the tank to ensure complete mixing, 4) Run Jet Rise Height models to determine the trajectory and ultimate rise height of negatively buoyant inlet jets to ensure they reach the water surface. The jets must reach the water surface for the Mixing Time Analysis to be valid. See the “Engineering Support” section.

US Patent No. 7,104,279
Canada Patent No. 2,409,009