A Reducing Station (RDS) is a minor system of control valves, usually embodied in a single forged Nickel Aluminium Bronze (or Stainless Steel) block, that fulfils the function of the safe control and reduction of high pressure stored/ generated gas down to a lower pressure to suit the specified application. The containment of the control valves within the forged block offers their protection from shock, vibration and mechanical damage, whilst providing a compact space envelope.

Gas Turbine start
This application requires a high flow rate of air at typically 30-40 barg with a limit on the maximum permissible outlet pressure, to avoid damaging the air starting unit.

Diesel Engine & Diesel Generator Start
In the mid-1990’s, the Company developed a range of ‘New Generation Reducing Stations’ (NGRS) – each reducing station feature’s valve inserts from the Company’s Series 30 cartridge valve range. The benefit from using valve inserts is that a faulty valve insert can be quickly replaced by a spare insert and the manifold can be re-pressurised with minimal system outage/ down-time.

High/Low Pressure Cross Connection
Typically the lower pressure requirements on a ship are serviced by taking a reduced pressure air supply from the ship’s high pressure local supply or ring-main.

Torpedo Charging/Weapon System Supply
This is a relatively low flow application, with a relatively high outlet pressure, which allows a spring-loaded controller to be used rather than a dome-loaded pressure controller, with a physically smaller reducing station as a direct result. The NGRS range offers a typically smaller space envelope and light weight, when compared to other such equipment for comparable applications.

Automated Cylinder Filling - ACF
The picture opposite shows a typical layout for an Automated Cylinder Filling (ACF) Panel, where the Company’s vast experience in the design of Industrial Cylinder Filling Plant has been developed to provide military users with a product offering safe, rapid and consistent bottle charging. The hazards from over-pressurising and over-heating are removed.

Bottle Head Assemblies
The air from the main high pressure air reservoirs on a surface ship is typically distributed from the reservoir through a Hale Hamilton bottle head assembly, direct mounted or bulkhead mounted,such as shown below.