Problem: Trash was clogging pumps daily in the sewer system in Palestine, Texas. Items including wipes, plastics, clothing, rags and trash bags caused the clogs and led to catastrophic downtime. The items clustered to form rag balls. The system included three return activated sludge pumps that required manual cleanout 21 times a week, costing $3,000 weekly. The process was time-consuming and dangerous, as team members had to shut down the pumps, pull them up and manually dislodge blockages from the sharp impellers.
Solution: The city installed three DERAGGER systems from Industrial Flow Solutions to monitor the pumps’ amperage, voltage and hertz outputs and sense potential overloads. If a clog is detected the pump impellers reverse direction, eliminating the clog or rag. The technology is available in four models, providing intelligent data monitoring and analytics to meet specific application needs.
Result: Eight months post-installation, there were no shutdowns, and the city saved over $100,000.
860-631-3618; www.flowsolutions.com
