Low Cost & Space Saving De Hoxar Spiral Separators
Ian Loader
Traditional Methods of Sludge Separation
The limitations associated with conventional sludge separation methods are widely acknowledged. Traditional approaches typically rely on large settlement tanks, which require extensive land areas, or lamella clarifiers, which can also be oversized and space-intensive.
In both cases, once the sludge has been separated, it must undergo further thickening prior to transportation to anaerobic digestion facilities. This additional thickening stage requires extra process equipment and dedicated building infrastructure, resulting in significant capital expenditure as well as ongoing operational costs.
The De Hoxar Spiral Separator
The spiral solids separating technology, performs the same task as traditional settlement tanks, but requires as little as 3% of the space. It also has the added advantage of producing thickened sludge which saves the requirement for additional thickening equipment. Therefore the capital investment can be greatly reduced – saving money as well as space.
Space Saving Solution
The aerial view below shows the size of the spiral separators in yellow, compared to the settlement tanks in red.
The spiral solids separating technology, performs the same task as traditional settlement tanks, but requires as little as 3% of the space…
The Plantwork Systems spiral technology can save on capital and operational investment and helps in the delivery of a low carbon future…
Applications
Municipal wastewater treatment
- Primary settlement of conventional domestic wastewater
- Primary settlement with co-settlement of return activated sludge or other recycled sludge streams
- Final settlement in activated sludge treatment processes
- Humus tank clarification following biological filtration processes
- Secondary clarification and solids separation duties
- Settlement and clarification of sludge liquors and return streams
Non-municipal wastewater treatment
Commercial and industrial applications where there is high bio-chemical oxygen demand to treat the wastewater effluent from the manufacturing process, before returning to the waterways.
Examples:
- Dairy processing
- Breweries
- Distilleries
- Vegetable processing and washing
- Meat & poultry plants
- Agriculture and food waste plants
- Livestock plants
- Mining and quarrying
Potable water treatment
As a clarifier or for wash water recovery:
- Removing suspended solids
- Reducing sludge volumes
- Improving backwash recovery
- Minimising footprint and operational cost
Benefits
- 3% of the site area is required when compared to conventional tanks and only about 25% when compared to lamella separators
- Thicker sludge is produced – typically 6% dry solids (thicker can be produced if required). In many cases, this saves one stage of sludge treatment
- Low cost to cover for odour control – once covered the volume of air needed to be treated is typically 1% compared to conventional tanks
- Reduced visual impact makes it suitable for urban sites and sites next to areas with public access
- Anaerobic Digestion – ideal solution for efficient extraction of high calorific primary sludge for Anaerobic Digestion as part of utilities CHP programs
Plantwork Systems Chief Engineer, Dave deHoxar, invented the Spiral Separator whilst working at Southern Water, taking it from concept, all the way to market ready technology. Several Spirals were delivered on sites in the UK and Japan, ranging from small 1.5m diameter units, up to 7m diameter units performing primary settlement for wastewater treatment works serving populations >50,000 PE.
Please get in touch for more information [email protected]