Tube Valve Replacement Project

The original outlet works for the Deer Creek Dam and Power Plant include two 54” tube valves. Placed in service in 1941, these valves have served well beyond their original design life. The Association and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation have determined to replace these two very large valves. A procedure was undertaken to ascertain the best design and configuration for the replacement valves with various types of valves considered. Ultimately, it was agreed that plunger-type valves would provide the best combination of physical fit with the existing outlet works, ease of operation and maintenance, efficiency and reliability.

A request for proposals was conducted and Cascade Consultants representing Erhard Valve LLC was selected to manufacture and supply the plunger valves for Deer Creek Power Plant. Bowen Collins and Associates was selected as the project design engineer and VanCon was selected as the contractor to purchase and install the new valves. As expected, the valves were delivered in late 2019. One valve was installed during the winter of 2019-20 and the second valve was scheduled to be installed during the winter of 2020-21.

The valves are required to provide a maximum emergency release flow of 750 cubic feet per second (cfs) to comply with Reclamation’s standard operating procedure for Deer Creek Dam. After installation and field testing, the first valve did not meet this requirement. Installation of the second valve has been postponed as Reclamation, Bowen Collins and Associates, VanCon, Cascade and the Association have been working to diagnose why the first replacement valve failed to perform as expected and to determine a resolution to complete the project. Cascade has committed to provide two new valves at its cost to complete the project. The project team has again reviewed various valves and has determined that a special-order plunger valve from Armacon GmbH will best meet the flow requirements of the project and best fit in the available space.