As the challenges of cost-effective wastewater disposal grow, many new solutions are being offered for liquid waste haulers to control their own destiny by processing collected wastewater.
Whether you’re looking into a permanent treatment facility to dewater many thousands of gallons per day or a smaller scale mobile unit to handle certain waste streams the municipal plants won’t accept, manufacturers are stepping up to provide products tailored to your specific needs.
Here’s a look at a number of products being offered to help pumping professionals take disposal issues into their own hands:
Custom Dewatering System
The Sludge Mate and Poly-Mate from Flo Trend Systems Inc. form a simple-to-use sludge dewatering system. The Poly-Mate conditions sludge through addition of polymer prior to the dewatering process, which occurs in the Sludge Mate. The units are designed to dewater sludge from many waste streams, including septic tanks, industrial sumps and lagoons, grease traps, car washes, water and wastewater treatment plants, rendering and food processing plants. The Sludge Mate and Poly-Mate are available in a variety of sizes and configurations, and are also built to custom specifications. 713/699-0152; www.flotrend.com.
Mobile Dewatering
Fluid Technology Inc., a mobile contract dewatering service, sizes the proper equipment for each project to deliver maximum efficiency and minimum disruption to workforces. Staffed by professionals, the company’s 1.7- and 2.2-meter mobile presses operate in most climate conditions without significant loss in production. 888/844-7824; www.fluidtechnologyinc.com.
Equipment Protection
In-line Muffin Monster grinders from JWC Environmental shred large rags, rocks, plastics, trash and other solids into tiny particles that flow harmlessly through pumps, pipes, digesters, centrifuges, belt presses and dewatering equipment. The homogenous particle size enhances the efficiency of centrifuges. Design improvements in the dual-shafted units include a unibody housing and hex-shaped mechanical seal. 800/331-2277; www.jwce.com.
Dewatering Box
An ADS 30-yard open-top roll-off dewatering unit from Aqua-Zyme Disposal Systems Inc. replaces six standard drying beds. The filter container processes 22,000 to 25,000 gallons of sludge, septage or grease trap waste at 1.5 to 2 percent solids in about two hours. Dewatering reduces volume by 80 percent and BOD, COD, FOG and TSS by 98 percent. Clear effluent can return to the head of the plant. After draining the unit for 24 hours, workers can empty it at a landfill or composting facility. 979/245-5656; www.aqua-zyme.com.
Turnkey Systems
Prepackaged on self-supporting skids or trailer-mounted for quick, portable operation, belt filter presses from Bright Technologies, a division of Sebright Products Inc., exceed the requirements of municipal applications. Frames, rolls and pans are 304 stainless steel. A radius wedge and drainage roll allow for higher throughput and increased total output. The first large-diameter fabricated pressure roll has 50 percent open area drainage for the upper and lower belts. As the drainage roll rotates upward, it channels water to the outside, washing out solids so they do not impede drainage in subsequent operations. The wing roll also cleans easily. The pneumatic steering and tensioning system is safe and easy to operate. The programmable logic controller and touchscreen controls integrate with SCADA systems. Ancillary equipment includes a rotary lobe solids pump, belt wash booster pumps, air compressor, polymer system and solids meter. 800/253-0532; www.brightbeltpress.com.
Efficient Dewatering
The model NT-8000E dewatering container from NewTech Inc. is made of mild steel. It is equipped with 750 micron filter screens along both sides and a double screen down the center, mounted on a steel frame. The filter screens allow water forced from the solids by the flocculation process to flow through and out the drain ports in the bottom front.
The screens hold the solids in the container for later disposal. A full-width (hydraulic open/close, lock/unlock) rear door allows dumping of the solids after dewatering is complete. The rear door is equipped with 4-inch drains to aid in wash-up and to discharge partially dewatered sludge. A filler pipe, through which the container is charged with material, is located on the front. All ports are threaded to NPT standards. An attached ladder gives easy access to the top of the container.
The container can be tilted to dump loads. The mild steel is sandblasted, primed and coated on the inside with an epoxy and outside with the color specified. Dimensions are 20.4 feet long, 8 feet high, 8 feet wide. The unit weighs 6,000 pounds. 800/210-2361; http://dewater91.com.
Rotary Press
Prime rotary fan presses from Prime Solution Inc. are compact, efficient units with low maintenance and operating costs. The continuous dewatering process is totally enclosed, eliminating odor and reducing corrosive exposure to nearby equipment. Self-contained skid, mobile and modular units require little supervision and have a semi-automated self-clean cycle. They install easily, and lower utility requirements to cut building costs. Presses are available with 18-, 24-, 36- and 48-inch screens.
The process flow is controlled from inside the press. Material moves slowly toward the outlet, forming a cake. An adjustable, two-piece pneumatic restriction plate controls pressure at the outlet. The frictional force of the slow-moving filter plates and controlled outlet restriction produces cakes as dry as 60 percent solids. 269/673-9559; www.psirotary.com.
Solid-liquid Separator
The high-flow IFRS 36 separator from Accent Manufacturing Inc. is a 36-inch rotary stainless steel screen for thickening and dewatering. Available in 3/4-hp electric or hydraulic drives, the friction-drive system uses rubber-coated stainless steel wheels for positive traction and long life. The automatic cleaning system prevents clogging and ensures consistent flows. A bypass chamber, variable speed control, high-torque starting, and Delrin bearings eliminate flow control valves, maximize flow, optimize dewatering, and reduce maintenance and operating costs.
Simple to install, the separator operates manually or automatically. As a permanent receiving station, it reduces waste sludge costs by 30 percent. In its mobile configuration, the separator removes inorganic and nonbiodegradable materials from septage and digester waste. 877/855-4890; www.accentmanufacturing.com.
Container and Filter Frame
Dewatering containers from Bakers Waste Equipment Inc., or BWE, are offered with a removable filter basket that promotes better cleaning of internal structures and eventual replacement. The filter frames can be ordered in protected mild steel, fully galvanized mild steel or stainless steel assemblies. A durable 330-micron monofilament polyester filter media allows liquids to flow through, while retaining particulate solids.
The BWE containers come in 10- to 40-yard standard capacities. The company also offers a full line of waste-handling equipment. Polymer injection systems are available to promote flocculation of solids, yielding faster dewatering of wastewater, including septage, grease trap waste, industrial and food-processing waste. 800/221-4153; www.bwe-nc.com.
Polymers
A full array of water-soluble polymers from Aqua Ben Corp. are designed to optimize the operation of any dewatering system used to process septage and other wastewater. For 33 years, Aqua Ben has offered a diverse, specialized product line including coagulants such as DADMAC, polyamines, ACH, ACH polymer blends, PAC and PAC polymer blends; flocculants including cationic, anionic and non-ionic polyacrylamide emulsions, solutions and dry powders; and odor control products.
The company also offers polymer feed equipment, both off-the-shelf and custom systems. 714/771-6040; www.aquaben.com.
