Mobile pump sets for desludging work in Swansea

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 26, 2001

At the state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant at Swansea, Hidrostal has provided ten mobile pump sets to undertake the periodic desludging of the six lamella separators

The state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant at Swansea is a landmark, both locally and in the evolution of treatment technology.

The totally enclosed, five storey facility, which is the size of two football pitches, has now been operational for almost two years and upgrading of the lamella desludging arrangements has recently been completed.

Sludge transfer operations are located in the basement of the building and Newbury based pump manufacturer, Hidrostal, has provided ten mobile pump sets to undertake the periodic desludging of the six lamella separators which deal with the secondary, biological, stage of treatment.

The operational requirement is to remove sludge simultaneously from ten places on each tank.

The operation takes about a day and has a return frequency of 2 to 3 weeks.

Hidrostal have provided ten mobile pump sets to carry out the desludging duties.

Each unit is trolley mounted and consists of a close-coupled electrically driven pump, a control panel and short lengths of suction and delivery hose fitted with rapid couplers.

The sixty operating positions each have valved connections for linking the pump sets to the 80mm lamella suction pipework, and the 200mm diameter common sludge discharge main.

The power supply for the sludge mobiles is provided through an isolated plug connection at each location.

Although the desludging pumps are mobile units they have all the capabilities that would be expected of a fixed installation, including air relief systems, and reflux valves to limit spillage.

Hidrostal engineered the complete installation including all mobiles, power distribution, stainless steel pipework, and valves.

The installation has now operated for several months without any problems whatsoever.

At the heart of each sludge-mobile is a Hidrostal pump fitted with the famous screw centrifugal impeller.

The sludges being pumped at Swansea have wide variations in both density and viscosity, and Hidrostal's unique pump design is well able to deal with all fluid conditions, including any accumulated fibrous material, the cause of so much out of service time from blockages and bearing failures.

The screw centrifugal impeller outperforms non-clog variants of centrifugal pumps and is very effective on applications which previously needed a positive displacement pump; features that are at the heart of trouble free operation.

Neil Tyler, of Hidrostal, comments, 'At Swansea, we are proud to contribute to the operation one of the most advanced wastewater treatment plants in Britain.

Our client sought equipment of the highest quality and durability, in order to deal with a wide range of wastes and pump duties.

Stringent operational requirements had to be met and Hidrostal was able to fully comply and deliver a reliable, robust and flexible solution in a very short time.

A successful project for all involved.

With trouble free installations worldwide, international pumping specialist Hidrostal has a great deal of experience in the wastewater treatment needs of utility companies.

To deliver the maximum possible benefits Hidrostal provide a full design, installation and commissioning service.

The pumped liquid is assessed by experts, the correct pump materials are used, and the Hidrostal pump design ensures that the best possible efficiency is delivered and, most importantly, is sustained.