Using Hydraulics to Create Artificial Waves
A Need to Power a Wave Shaper to get Artificial River Currents Moving
Exotic Automation & Supply and Parker delivered high-quality, long lasting components ensuring waterpark entertainment for years to come.
Challenge
The customer contacted Exotic for help powering the Wave Shaper with hydraulic engineering and components. The Wave Shaper would be a 30 foot block of steel submerged below the water designed to move up and down to create artificial water rapids when water flows over it. The customer relied heavily on Exotic & Parker’s expertise as the project required a custom power unit and hydraulic cylinder, as well hoses and fittings.
Exotic made several trips to the site, spending approximately 60 hours and over 3 years on the project. They engineered, manufactured and installed a custom solution which consisted of two cylinders attached to each end of the Wave Shaper and a hydraulic power unit that would actuate the cylinders up and down to create the rapids.
Solution
Partnering with Parker, Exotic designed and manufactured several custom solutions including power units, cylinders, hoses, fittings that would get the 30 foot steel Wave Shaper moving. The project included more than 60 hours of engineering, design and installation.
Benefits
A new waterpark planned along the Des Moines River needed to build a Wave Shaper to create artificial waves that would be used for surfing, kayaking, canoeing or wakeboard.
Featured Products
- Parker’s GlobalCore 777 Hose: This hose offers a light weight, more flexible option than other 4,000 psi hose. The increased flexibility makes it easier to route the hose during installation and it performs better on articulating joints.
- Parker Tube Fittings: These fittings provide a reliable leak-free metal-to-metal connection perfect for underwater applications.
- Parker Gen II Series 2H, 3H Family Hydraulic Cylinders: Parker’s superior design and high-quality materials deliver efficient service with low maintenance requirements, guaranteeing high productivity throughout the cylinder’s life.
