‘SPIROFLOW’ DOSING SYSTEM KEEPS THE WATER SWEET

Spiroflow 19/10/2009

143 2 minutes read

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As an approved supplier to United Utilities, Spiroflow Ltd were well placed to bid for the Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) dosing system required for the new Cowm water treatment plant at United Utilities’ Watergrove Water Treatment Works, at Wardle near Rochdale.

Procurement of the dosing system was through the Integrated Alliance+ South Delivery (IAS), an integrated group of main contractors comprising Galliford Try and its joint venture partners Costain and Atkins. Together they have formed GCA and are working together to deliver United Utilities’ AMP4 Capital Investment Programme. Spiroflow’s bid was successful on price and according to Darren Glover of GCA, “The equipment is very good. We had an initial teething problem caused by unexpected clumps of PAC which Spiroflow quickly remedied by fitting a vibrator to the collection hopper. The system has worked well ever since”.

The dosing system comprises a ‘Spiroflow’ Bulk Bag Discharger, with integral lifting hoist on a runway beam for the easy loading of bags of PAC into the discharger, and a Flexible Screw Conveyor to transfer PAC from the discharger up to a volumetric metering feeder with buffer hopper above, from here it is transferred to a second buffer hopper, which maintains a constant head of material above a ‘Transvac’ venturi ejector. It is in this educator that PAC is drawn under vacuum from the second buffer hopper and metered proportionately into a by-pass water stream to form a slurry that then re-enters, and is mixed, with the main water flow into the water treatment works and subsequently the distribution system that serves homes and businesses in the Rochdale area.

Spiroflow Ltd works closely with Transvac Systems Ltd when supplying dosing systems for water and effluent treatment applications. Transvac are world leaders in ejector technology and supplied the skid mounted components that introduce the solids into the water stream. The second buffer hopper that feeds PAC into the ejector incorporates ‘high’ and ‘low’ level probes which, along with the flow sensors in the by-pass pipe-work, make up the highly reliable monitoring system developed by Transvac to shut-down the dosing system and to trigger an alarm in the event of a foreign body causing a disturbance to the balance of the treatment process.

The reason that the PAC is added to the water is to neutralise a naturally occurring material known as Geosmin, which literally translates as ‘earth smell’. It is an organic compound produced by microbes and algae which gives untreated water a harmless yet undesirable earthy taste and aroma.

The ‘Spiroflow’ Bulk Bag Discharger is complete with a bag outlet clamping system which enables the operator to untie the neck seal of the bag within the dust cabinet below the bag, to close the doors and then to open the clamp remotely allowing the PAC material to discharge in a totally contained manner – protecting both the operator and the working environment. This is particularly important when handling light, fluffy powders such as PAC that readily become air-borne.

Bag massagers are fitted to the bag support dish so that, in the event of a well compacted bag whose contents are reluctant to flow, they are automatically operated to break any bridges and ensure a continuous flow of PAC.

To learn more about ‘Spiroflow’ Bulk Bag Dischargers, and their ranges of Flexible Screw Conveyors, Aero-Mechanical Conveyors, Pneumatic Conveyors and Vacuum Conveyors and also about their Bulk Bag Fillers and too, visit their web site at www.spiroflow.com or call them on +44 (0)1200 422525 to discuss your specific requirements. To learn more about Transvac Systems Ltd, visit www.transvac.co.uk.

Contact Details

Spiroflow Limited

01200 422525
sales@spiroflow.com
http://www.spiroflow.com
Lincoln Way, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 1QG GB

About us

Continuous product development allied to a thorough understanding of customers" process needs and objectives has kept Spiroflow at the forefront of the bulk handling industry since the mid 1970s. From our early beginnings supplying flexible screw conveyors, mainly to the plastics industry, Spiroflow is today one of the world"s leading manufacturers of a full range of equipment for handling dry bulk solids and ingredients in powder, granule, pellet and flake form, across the whole spectrum of process industries.

Commitment, quality, reliability and service Spiroflow conveying and weighing systems are in operation worldwide and are acclaimed for their outstanding versatility and prolonged working life in the most demanding environments. In food and pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and chemicals, minerals and plastics, Spiroflow"s experience and proven capability is providing the answer to every conceivable handling need. The leading design principles behind all Spiroflow equipment are: dust-free handling and hygienic operation.

Our range includes not only the latest automatic conveyor systems, but also fully compatible weighing equipment for a wide variety of applications, from batch processing of ingredients, to the filling and controlled emptying of bulk bags or sacks. Behind all Spiroflow products is a dedicated design, manufacturing, testing and installation facility, backed up by a rapid spares and service network. Our high standards are sustained through an on-going development programme utilising CAD design facilities and material testing procedures.

Our conveying and weighing systems are designed with a minimum of working parts for maximum reliability in operation. Simple to operate and easy to clean and maintain, their robust construction ensures a long working life with minimum downtime. Willingness to meet customer"s specific needs A cornerstone of our success is our eagerness to design and develop equipment to meet the needs of individual customers. Not only has this enabled our customers to operate in ways that best suit them, it has been the driving force behind our product range today. Our Engineers like nothing more than a challenge!

Where we supply to

Europe

Industries we supply to

Automation, Chemicals, Consultants, Components Electronics, Energy and Power, Food and Beverage, Glass Ceramics Cement, Metals and Minerals, OEM, Paper and Pulp, Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Toiletries, Plastics and Rubber, Recycling, Textiles, Tobacco, Water and Wastewater

This is Spiroflow

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Spiroflow 19/10/2009

143 2 minutes read