THICKENER – Explained
Inside-Out | May 24, 2021
What is a thickener?
A thickener is generally used in slurry applications and in waste water management where large scale separation of unwanted fine-grained solids and liquids is required.
The thickener from Propel Industries produces high density underflow slurry and clear overflow water. Up to 85 to 90% water is recovered from the feed. The recovered water can then be re-used for further washing application.
The automation of the thickener has certainly ensured efficient operation and has lessened the dependency on man power.
Technology decoded – Key points
- A thickener facilitates gravity feed from the washing plant to ensure rapid settlement of solids in the thickener tank. The pumped feed and the turbulence caused by it is neglected.
- The feed well tank design at the centre further reduces the turbulence and feed to the centre of the tank makesmaximum available time for material settling.
- The integrated flocculant dosing system (FDS) pumps pre-mixed flocculant (coagulant) to the material in the feed tank to ensure rapid settlement of the slurry.
- A single hydraulic motor drivingthe integrated rake mechanism ensures even settling of the sludge with optimum sludge conditioning. This maximises the performance and efficiency of the thickener.
Propel AVTH Thickener
The AVTH Thickener from Propel Industries has a simple yet robust design, lesser space is required to accommodate settling ponds and maximum settlement of solids happens in the smallest area.
Salient features
- Almost 85% to 90% of water is recycled.
- Propel AVTH Thickener series can be used as clarifiers for removal of minerals or fines from the process water.
- Gravity settling supported by rake mechanism allows even settlement of the sludge in the discharge area and provides clear overflow which can be directly reused for washing process.
- The elevated tank ensures easy, quick and safe access to the cone section, slurry pump and auxiliaries, thus minimizing the time required for maintenance.
- Electrically driven agitator allows easy maintenance and reduces inventory for parts.
- Automatic functioning of thickener (Slurry pump& gate valve ON/OFFafter the rake arm pressure reaches the defined pressure and the preceding operation)neglects the settling problem of sludge and pump failure.
- With flocculent dosing system, it ensures optimum settling of the solids and provides efficient water recovery.
- Optimum separation of slurry due to flocculant addition reduces the amount of sludge outlet which helps to reduce the size of settling ponds.