Volute Dewatering Press

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Volute Dewatering Press

Innovative sludge dewatering technology


offering many advantages over conventional
sludge management methods
Volute Dewatering Press
CONCEPT too much as it will extrude through the openings. The
The PWTech™ Volute Dewatering Press is a unique product, result is that screw presses generally do not achieve good
originally developed in Japan, that offers many advantages cake solids.
over current sludge management practices. Patented world- Unlike traditional screw presses, the Volute Dewatering
wide, the Volute Dewatering Press is presently used in over Press features the unique “dewatering drum.” Spacers and
850 installations. fixed rings are held in place on tie rods. Moving rings, slightly
The key to the process is the “dewatering drum.” This drum smaller than the outer diameter of the screw and slightly nar-
can achieve both thickening and pressing (dewatering) of the rower than the spacers, are located between the fixed rings
sludge in a single, compact operation. Thus the Volute and are moved by the screw. The constant movement of the
Dewatering Press can take sludge as dilute as 0.1% solids moving rings cleans the fine gaps between the moving and
directly from a treatment process, such as an oxidation ditch fixed rings, preventing clogging. The moving rings also cut
or clarifier, and produce a cake of over 20% solids. Separate into the sludge cake, allowing additional surface area for
thickening, storage, and conditioning processes are eliminated. the release of moisture.
In addition, the need for operators, continuous use of wash The initial section of the dewatering drum is the thickening
water, and high power consumption are eliminated. zone. The filtrate is discharged here. The pitch of the screw
narrows and the gaps between the rings decrease towards
the end-plate where solids are discharged. Pressing of the
UNIQUE DEWATERING DRUM DESIGN sludge occurs here.
Screw presses are a neat, simple way of conveying and dewa-
tering sludge. They typically have a single bearing or bushing
at one end and a gear drive at the other end–simple, robust,
PROCESS DESCRIPTION
and low maintenance. However, the screws for dewatering Sludge is fed into a mixing tank where polymer is thoroughly
typically have a casing with openings in it to allow fluid to mixed in. The sludge then passes through a flocculation tank
escape from the sludge as it is pressed. If these openings are where gentle mixing and flocculation occurs. From there, the
too small, they constantly plug with solids, preventing fluid sludge overflows into the dewatering drum and is pressed.
from leaving the sludge. Therefore, the openings are usually The entire operation is controlled by the Volute Dewatering
fairly large, which means that the sludge cannot be pressed Press control panel.

Moving Fixed
Spacers Rings Rings

Flocculated
Sludge In

Thickening Dewatering
Zone Zone

Filtrate Pressate Dewatered


(Recycled) Cake
THE VOLUTE SYSTEM • Flexible–can deal with feed sludges from <0.2% to >4%
The Volute Dewatering Press is designed to be a fully automated • Rapid installation
system capable of starting up, operating, and shutting down with
no operator intervention. This is possible because the control panel
is designed to control the automated polymer feed system, the OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
unit sludge feed pump, and any conveyors required to remove The Volute Dewatering Press requires very little operator atten-
dewatered cake, all in addition to the Volute Dewatering Press tion, other than periodic inspection and chemical replenishment.
itself. Thus, all components of the dewatering system work together, As a fully automated process, it controls the operation of wast-
automatically starting up, operating, and shutting down as required. ing sludge directly from the biological process or clarifier, chemi-
PWTech can provide complete systems or work with other suppli- cal make-up and dosing, flocculation, and then dewatering.
ers to provide an integrated package. In addition, unit operating Depending on operating conditions, a partial overhaul of the
and alarm outputs for connection to plant PLC/SCADA systems dewatering drums may be required every three years. This
are standard. two-hour operation is undertaken in the field, with minimal
disruption to plant operation.

ADVANTAGES
Results Achieved with the Volute Dewatering Press
• No need for thickeners, sludge storage, or separate
Polymer Use
dosing facilities Feed Solids Cake Solids Solids (lb/dry ton of
Sludge Type Recovery
(%) (%) (%) solids)
• No need for regular operator attendance Municipal & Biological
• Produces high-quality filtrate, does not need to return to the Waste Sludge 0.2-1.5 17-25 98 10-22
head works (i.e. high solids recovery) Digested/Thickened 1.5-6 16-28 97 10-16
Primary 1-4 25-40 95 6-12
• Extremely low power consumption–up to 95% less than
many other dewatering processes
Potable
• Low noise and odor generation Ferric Sludge 5-10 35-45 95 5-10

• Low wash water consumption Alum Sludge 1-2.5 20-30 95 4-8


Lime Slurry 2 25-38 97 4-10
• Able to handle oily sludges

Model KD-202 Volute Dewatering Press, above, (capacity up to 150 pounds An example of the solids generated by the Volute Dewatering Press.
per hour dry solids) is available for pilot studies. Interested parties who
would like to see the unit in operation or who have a site available for pilot
studies should contact PWTech.
APPLICATIONS A REVOLUTION IN MUNICIPAL SOLIDS HANDLING
The PWTech Volute Dewatering Press has been installed The PWTech Volute Dewatering Press can be set up to achieve
to handle a wide range of sludges. It is especially useful both wasting and dewatering of sludge in a single operation. By
when sludges have a high oil and fat content that would either connecting the Volute Dewatering Press directly into the
blind filter materials. biological process or into the RAS piping the unit can automati-
Other sludges the Volute Dewatering Press has been shown cally switch on and waste and dewater the sludge in one opera-
to work well on include: tion. Key benefits of this include:
• DAF float from slaughter houses and other agricultural • Reduction in operator time with the wasting operation
processes • No need for sludge storage tanks and additional pumping
• Food processing and wash-down wastes facilities and odor control–can be used to free up existing
sludge storage facilities for other uses
• Oil sludge from machining operations
• Increased process stability (wasting can occur over long
• Wastes from textile processing periods of time or several times a day)

Standard Volute Dewatering Press Models


Dimensions Weight
Maximum Capacities
(in.) (lb) Power Requirement
Model
(kW)
GPM Dry lb/hr L W H Dry Operational

ES101 4 20 72 27 54 485 665 0.35

ES131 8 38 85 27 54 578 792 0.35

ES132 15 75 93 31 54 705 1,120 0.4

ES201 14 80 114 39 54 1,320 2,288 0.8

ES202 28 160 114 43 57 1,580 2,575 1.1

ES301 35 350 134 39 66 1,700 2,750 1.1

ES302 70 700 145 50 66 2,530 4,224 1.5

ES303 105 1,050 153 63 68 3,570 6,089 2.0

NOTE: All capacities, dimensions, and weights are approximate. Dimensions and power requirement do
not include polymer make-up and dosing systems.

410-238-7977 • volute@PWTech.us • www.PWTech.us


Copyright © 2007, Process Wastewater Technologies LLC

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