Massive Change To Water Coaster Efficiency At Schlitterbahn Galveston
Schlitterbahn Galveston is having one Massiv summer. Last month they unveiled Massiv, a new water coaster to celebrate the park’s tenth anniversary. The new ride reigns as the WORLD’S TALLEST WATER COASTER coming in at 81 feet 6.75 inches. Riders who are brave enough to take on this ride will climb an 123-step staircase before plummeting down the 926 foot long ride. This ride video gives you an idea of what its like to ride the world’s tallest water coaster.
Not only is Schlitterbahn paving the way for height, they’re changing the efficiency of rides too. It’s no secret that it takes a lot of power to push riders up the inclines of the Master Blaster. WhiteWater, one of the lead manufacturers of innovative water ride products has developed the latest technology to improve this issue.
The new technology uses variable frequency drives (VFD) and a proprietary control algorithm to adjust pump speeds while the ride is in operation. Instead of having the motor run at a constant speed the whole time the ride is operation, this technology cranks up the motor speed only when it’s needed to propel riders uphill. With as many inclines as Massiv has this technology makes a big difference!
Data collected from Master Blaster testing over a 20 day period showed a 55% power savings compared to the previous system. This technology has lessened the wasted energy by increasing the “power factor”, a measure that tells us how much of the power supplied to the ride actually goes toward propelling riders up the rides multiple inclines. Not only does this technology improve efficiency, it also cuts down on the wear and tear on the ride itself. Because the motor doesn’t have to run at full speed all the time, less stress is put on it which means less maintenance and more rides for thrill seekers brave enough to take on Massiv.
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