Gravity Sludge Thickener Bridge Mounted

Thickeners are used in water and wastewater applications to take solids from other liquid solids separation processes and thicken the solids prior to further dewatering and/or digestion. The drive is mounted on the walkway or bridge. The rotating portion of the drive turns a structural torque tube or shaft, which in turn rotates the solids removal mechanism.

ADVANTAGES:

1. Can develop high torque in compact units.
2. Torque tube is generally more economical than a torque cage in smaller units.
3. Can be installed in concrete or steel tank configurations. Generally, most economical in tanks less than 50’ in diameter.
4. Generally the most economical way to provide lifting of rake arms under severe torque loads.
5. Lifting device option allows for heavy sludge loading.

DISADVANTAGES:

1. Walkway or bridge must span the tank and support the weight and torque of the mechanism, the bridge will be more expensive than for a center pier supported unit.

Thickener Shaft Drive Bridge Mounted with Lift Option
ClearStream shaft driven and bridge supported thickeners can be supplied in sizes ranging from 8’ diameter pilot type units to large mechanisms in excess of 150’ in diameter.

Shaft Drive with Lift

• Pickets
• Blades on Posts
• Feedwell / Energy Dissipating Inlets
• Center column or shaft driven mechanisms
• Skimmers
• Influent diffusers
• Coated steel , stainless, or FRP construction.
• Drive lifts

Thickeners are used in water and wastewater applications to take solids from other liquid solids separation processes and thicken the solids prior to further dewatering and/or digestion. The drive is mounted on a stationary center pier. The rotating portion of the drive turns a structural torque cage, which in turn rotates the sludge removal mechanism. The drive also supports the walkway and center platform.

ADVANTAGES:

1. Can handle extreme torque conditions.
2. Bridge has shorter unsupported span and is less expensive in units
   over 50 feet in diameter.
3. Center column doubles as a walkway support and influent pipe.
4. Lifting device option allows for heavy sludge loadings.

DISADVANTAGES:

1. The influent pipe must be buried beneath the thickener basin.
2. Tanks are generally concrete to adequately support the centercolumn.
3. Center column and cage are more expensive than shaft driven rakes in smaller diameter tanks.

Thickener Cage Driven and Center Column Mounted with Lift Option

Cage Drive with Lift

ClearStream can design Cage Drives with lifts to accommodate applications with high or heavy sludge loads.

These drives with lifts can be either single drives or dual drives. Dual drives are most commonly used in Solid Contact Clarifiers or Flocculating Clarifiers.

These drives use the same robust primary and secondary reducers and precision main gear/bearings. They also include the same torque measurement display with an easy-to-read torque dial.