WATER AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT CLEARING THE PIPES


How specialist cleaning nozzles can eliminate pipe obstructions


A


lthough chemical plant processes vary broadly, plant dusts, grease, slag, metals, residues, and


cementitious particulates generated during manufacturing can make their way into the wastewater stream of many chemical processes. There they can accumulate and harden in underground pipelines. As a result, chemical plants conduct periodic maintenance to fl ush debris and sediment from pipes, including breaking up hardened obstructions, to prevent blockage and protect downstream wastewater treatment equipment from excessive loading. Bill Benner, senior project manager


for Seattle-based Ventilation Power Cleaning (VPC), a fi rm that provides vacuum truck services to remove industrial debris from wastewater said: “If this kind of debris is transported


by pipe to onsite clarifi ers, digesters, sewer vaults, or treatment plants, it can disrupt and overburden the process as it collects and hardens.” According to Benner, most wastewater


pipes are typically 300-500’ long and 12- 46” in diameter. Special nozzles are used to propel a hose connected to a vacuum truck down the pipeline and back using water jets. The nozzle must supply enough force to dislodge any debris and carry it back using water pressure to be suctioned out by the vacuum truck. “Industrial plants cannot aff ord production downtime, so we rely on


Left: A demonstration of high effi ciency nozzles Right: An Aluminium nozzle and a Duce nozzle


high-performance nozzles to get the job done quickly and reliably,” he says.


OPTIMISING PERFORMANCE Industry insiders know that there are diff erent tiers of nozzles rated for performance. Low-performance Tier 1 nozzles tend to use only 30% of the available energy, wasting 70% due to excessive turbulence. Tier 2 nozzles are more eff icient but still inadequate for tougher jobs. By contrast, the most eff ective Tier 3 nozzles have tight water patterns that eff iciently clean the pipe fl oor/wall. In addition, the units create a powerful water stream that not only moves debris long distances but also propels the nozzle. “We rely on the highest-eff iciency


Tier 3 nozzles by KEG because they help us move the hose and nozzle down the entire length of pipe to the debris location and push the debris out of the line with water pressure so that we can remove it with the vacuum truck,” says Benner. KEG Technologies is a manufacturer


of industrial, sewer and storm line products including Tier 1 to Tier 3 nozzles, fl oor cleaners, and chain cutters, it is also a member of NASSCO - the National Association of Sewer Service Companies. What sets the most eff icient


Tier 3 nozzles apart from others in the category is fl uid mechanics engineering on a par with the


aerodynamics of race cars or jet fi ghters, according to the company. In the case of KEG’s Tier 3 nozzles, the high-performance fl uid mechanics design leaves little room for power losses and excessive turbulence.


FLOOR CLEANER NOZZLES For wastewater applications, VPC prefers fl oor cleaner and spinning style nozzles. “Floor cleaner nozzles are designed


to ride on the bottom third of pipe so have the most dynamic eff ect for removing heavy debris, sand, and rock that has accumulated,” says Benner. For example, KEG’s Torpedo Nozzle uses two diff erent water jet angles to ensure superior sand, mud, and debris transport from the pipe fl oor in diameters from 6-16”. VPC also uses a unique rotating


nozzle to remove stubborn debris from pipes. “Specialist cleaning nozzles


are necessary to eff iciently clean industrial pipes and lines of debris. This commitment to quickly getting the job done well has earned us repeat business and helped to keep plants running without incident or downtime,” says Benner.


For more information visit: www.kegtechnologies.net


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