Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/1223154
Conveying the right message The Talk: opinion A t a time when concern for the environment has never been more in focus, it is a great pity that in the UK, compliance with regulations means that vertical conveyors aren't specified. For sludge handling, instead of having so much site space taken up with horizontal and inclined conveyors, carbon footprint would be vastly reduced if vertical designs were permitted under Water Industry Me- chanical and Electrical Specifications (WIMES). As well as the expansive space re- quired across a treatment plant for non-ver- tical designs - resulting in capital and civils costs for concrete slabs and much more, there is also the need for larger motors, larger gearboxes, increased maintenance – all of which goes against the grain of totex. If the industry does truly believe in reducing its carbon footprint, then maybe the time is now for water companies, contractors and the supply chain to discuss reviewing this particular stipulation of WIMES. Discussing this move to vertical con- veyors isn't a sales pitch from a company that only produces such a design – we supply inclined, horizontal and vertical, a combination of which was recently installed for a large WWTP in Saudi Arabia. The design has contained odour and mess, lowered power consumption and prolonged the life of the equipment – so it begs the question that if a vertical conveyor works perfectly well there, as they do at hundreds of sites worldwide, then why not in the UK? The word 'innovation' is very much at the forefront of industry-speak, so if there is a real desire for technological innovations, then the current UK belief about vertical conveyors must be challenged. Bespoke design That big focus on the environment also includes the large investment being made by the water industry in renewable energy. The increasing use of Thermal Hydrolysis Process (THP) plants is rightly seeing sewage sludge utilised as a source of renewable fuel or biogas, which in turn helps reduce site energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Conveyors are playing an important part in this sludge handling process, not just for you prefer, 'plain common sense') ahead of failure detection and notably improved overall efficiency. Conveyors designed with- out intermediate and end bearings reduce the need for major maintenance work. As with all mechanical equipment, health and safety measures are important, which is why we introduced a dual-wear indicator for conveyors. A simple colour scheme with a red sacrificial liner provides a clear visual warning that allows operators to stay safe and minimise maintenance. This warning is seen when the liner colour switches to yellow, giving ample time to take the necessary measures. Working responsibly to do the right thing for the environment by reducing carbon footprint isn't just a phase. It is here to stay - as it should be, an integral part of our outlook – so together with preventa- tive maintenance, let's work together on conveyors to show the major benefits that can be achieved. Shyam Mallen from Spirac discusses industry challenges with screening. water companies, but at any waste-to- energy site, especially for food waste. As the water industry pushes forward with THP, it shouldn't just tick that one box for renewables, but look at every aspect of good practice for reducing its carbon foot- print. This includes – based on standard designs – bespoke conveyors in order to bring about optimum configuration. If you are only being offered off-the-shelf sizes such as 3m, 4m and 5m, you are almost certainly going to be using more material than is actually necessary. Bespoke design will also provide a better interface with existing equipment, saving time on instal- lation, but in most cases provide a neater transfer of product from one orientation to another. Preventative maintenance is nothing new, but again, more than ever, we hear about how critical asset management is – yet so much more could and should be done to encourage 'actionable intelligence' (or if 10 | APRIL 2020 | WWT | www.wwtonline.co.uk A space-saving vertical conveyor.