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A dedicated sub team is needed to research and create a data base of float valves. This information will need to eventually be incorporated into the design tool so that the appropriate sized valve is selected for each application. The person persons working on this part of the team will therefore also gain experience in the design aspect of AguaClara.
As the CDC design evolves and final decisions are made, it is important that appropriate materials are selected along the way. The CDC administers chlorine, alum and in the future saturated lime, making material selection a critical part of this design. Additionally, there are a plethora of fitting styles available on the market. Cost, longevity, ease of use and availability are all important considerations. It is important to have a working knowledge about materials, pipes, tubing and fittings before any decisions can be made. This information should be posted on the wiki as a reference for future teams.
Key points to consider:
*Compression fitting are for use on rigid tube. They are currently in use to connect the float valve in the CH Tank. Elimination of compression fittings is ideal as they are made up of a nut and two small ferrules which must be installed the correct way in order to obtain the seal. It is too easy for one of these components to get lost, dropped etc, rendering the fitting useless.
*Quick-connect fittings are also used on rigid tube. Their longevity is in question as is their availability outside of the US. Use of PEX rigid tubing is becoming increasingly more popular in water distribution systems and improvements on fitting styles and availability is likely to follow.
*Barb fittings are quite stout, easily available and are fabricated from many different materials. They are used on flexible tubing (based on the ID of the tubing, not the OD.) The biggest drawback to a barbed fitting is that they can be difficult to remove from the tubing once assembled, especially after a long period of time. It is not uncommon to have to slice the tubing off from around the barbed fitting. This is not necessarily a show stopper, especially if a connection doesn't need to be undone very often.