Wastewater isn't just water; it's a mix of liquids and various solids, from rags and wipes to grit and organic waste. This can be a major headache for municipalities and industries alike. At Hayes Group, we know that dealing with these solids is one of the biggest challenges in wastewater management.
Standard wastewater equipment struggles with solids. Pumps can get clogged, causing downtime and costly repairs. Valves can jam, disrupting flow and control. Pipes and fittings can also be worn down by abrasive grit or become blocked by fibrous materials. This leads to increased energy consumption, higher maintenance costs, and a shorter lifespan for all components in the system.
One of the most effective ways to manage solids is to simply pump them to a part of the process specifically designed for their removal, such as a settling tank or a mechanical screen. Pumps built for this purpose are called solids handling pumps. Unlike conventional pumps that can easily get tangled or jammed, these pumps are engineered with a specific mission: to pass solids through without a hitch.
Solids handling pumps work by using special impeller designs. Some feature a recessed impeller that creates a vortex, drawing the fluid and solids into the pump and then propelling them out without the solids ever touching the impeller blades. This significantly reduces the risk of clogging and wear. Other designs use a single-vane or two-vane impeller with a large clearance, allowing even large, stringy solids to pass through the pump without getting caught.
While solids handling pumps are crucial, the system's success depends on the downstream equipment's ability to handle the solids as well. If the downstream components aren't designed for it, the solids will simply clog up the system further along the line.
Valves, elbows, and pipe size are all critical. Standard valves can create choke points where solids can accumulate and jam. Sharp elbows can cause turbulence that allows solids to settle out of the flow. And if the pipe size is too small, the flow velocity won't be high enough to keep the solids suspended, leading to blockages.
To ensure your downstream equipment can handle the load, you need to take these steps:
Use full-port valves that have an internal diameter equal to the pipe's diameter to eliminate any constriction points.
Install long-radius elbows to create a more gradual turn, which helps prevent solids from settling and ensures a smooth flow.
Size pipes correctly to maintain a minimum fluid velocity that keeps solids in suspension, preventing them from settling at the bottom of the pipe.
Solids handling pumps are most effective at higher flows. Higher flow rates create the necessary velocity to keep solids suspended and moving through the system, preventing them from settling and causing blockages. While these pumps may have a slightly lower efficiency compared to some clean water pumps, their ability to reliably move solids without clogging makes them the most economical choice for many wastewater applications.
A solids handling pump that pumps wastewater and solids downstream may be a good choice for your application. Utilizing specialized impellers and maintaining a large clearance minimizes the risk of clogs. While these pumps may have slightly lower efficiency compared to other pumps, their ability to move solids-laden wastewater reliably often makes up for this.
For many projects, using a solids handling pump is the simplest and least expensive option. Instead of installing complex and expensive solid separation systems at every point, you can rely on these specialized pumps to move the tough stuff to a single location for processing. At Hayes Group, we provide a range of reliable and efficient solids handling pumps from leading manufacturers, helping you find the perfect solution for your wastewater challenges.