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Pioneering helium valves elevate airship
A CIRCOR subsidiary has been selected to partner up with FLYING WHALES to develop and produce valves essential for the helium management of the LCA60T airship .
Text by CIRCOR International , Inc .
Mr Gréhal , VP General Manager of CIRCOR France , and Mr Guibout , Vice CEO of Flying Whales , signing the helium valve contract . Image courtesy of CIRCOR International , Inc .
About FLYING WHALES FLYING WHALES is a French company headquartered in Suresnes ( France ). Created in 2012 , the company is developing an ambitious and unique program thanks to its innovations and the quality of its teams and industrial consortium : the LCA60T , a rigid airship for heavy load transport with a carrying capacity of 60 tons . The LCA60T ’ s unique hovering loading and unloading characteristics will provide solutions to numerous logistical and landlocked problems around the world , with a very low environmental footprint . In addition , FLYING WHALES is also developing FLYING WHALES SERVICES , the operating company for the LCA60T .
CIRCOR International , Inc ., a leading manufacturer and marketer of differentiated technology products and sub-systems , announces that its subsidiary CIRCOR Industria has been chosen by FLYING WHALES , a pioneering aeronautical company , as its partner for the development and production of critical helium valves essential for the LCA60T airship . These valves facilitate the controlled release of helium from the airship ’ s cells as needed during operations . A total of twenty-eight such valves will be meticulously integrated into the airship ’ s helium cells .
Partnering up
This strategic collaboration is the culmination of an extensive and collaborative effort spanning over a year between the dedicated teams at CIRCOR and FLYING WHALES , culminating in the signing of the contract in February 2023 . A crucial co-engineering phase in 2021 allowed for precise specification and alignment regarding this pivotal helium management component within the airship . “ We are delighted to seal this partnership with a major aeronautical industrial player . The proactivity of CIRCOR ’ s teams was decisive in our choice . For example , the creation of a scale model of the valve allowed us to anticipate the problems related to the size and optimization of the equipment ,” explains Benoit Beaubier , Program Director at FLYING WHALES .
Fuel system
Furthermore , CIRCOR has been entrusted with providing a comprehensive integrated fuel distribution , storage , control , monitoring , and gauging system for the LCA60T turbine generators . The fuel management system will also be compatible with the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels ( SAF ). The collaboration discussions commenced in August 2021 to evaluate potential synergies for the fuel management system supply . Extensive dialogue and assessments led to the identification of optimizations to harness the innovations presented by CIRCOR . The proposal put forth by the CIRCOR team emerged as the most effective , ultimately resulting in the contract ’ s signing in September 2023 .
About CIRCOR International , Inc . CIRCOR International , Inc . designs , manufactures and markets differentiated flow control products and sub-systems for Aerospace & Defense and Industrial customers . The Company has a diversified product portfolio of recognized , marketleading brands ( Allweiler ® , Houttuin™ , Imo ® , Hale Hamilton , Aerodyne Controls , RTK ® , Schroedahl ® , Tushaco ® , Warren ® and Zenith ® ) that fulfill its customers ’ mission critical needs . www . valve-world . net Valve World February 2024
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