Biosolids Load Out System Utilizes Vertical Screw Conveyor at Kulpmont WWTP Northumberland County, PA
End User or OwnerKulpmont - Marion Heights Joint Municipal Authority (KMHJMA)
Coal Township, PA
Performance Construction Services, Inc.
Harrisburg, PA
Brinjac Engineering
Coal Township, PA
Kulpmont - Marion Heights Joint Municipal Authority (KMHJMA)
Coal Township, PA
General Description
The Kulpmont Marion Heights Joint Municipal Authority facility is a 500,000 gallon per day wastewater treatment plant located in Coal Township, PA. In 2003, the facility was upgraded to include an innovative sludge aeration system, new 500,000 gallon aerobic digester with a Venturi Aeration process, UV disinfection and reed beds for sludge dewatering. The upgraded facility came on line in late 2004 and met permit limits but over time it was decided to replace the reed beds with a belt filter press and screw conveyor system to allow dewatered biosolids to be loaded automatically into containers for disposal. An existing building was used for the belt filter press with the biosolids loading area located next to the building. KWS Environmental provided a biosolids load out system consisting of a horizontal receiving screw conveyor, vertical screw conveyor and horizontal loadout screw conveyor for filling containers. In addition to the screw conveyor system, KWS Environmental also designed and supplied a starter control panel to ensure a seamless operating system.
Design Parameters
- Product Type: Dewatered Biosolids
- Material Density: 55 to 65 Lbs. per Cubic Foot
- Solids Content: 16 to 23-Percent
- Capacity: 100 Cubic Feet per Hour
- Duty: 24 Hours per Day, 7 Days per Week
KWS Advantages
Space constraints and the close proximity of the Alfa Laval belt filter press to the loading area and containers made the layout challenging. The loading area was adjacent to the dewatering building preventing an inclined conveyor from being used unless the belt filter press was raised significantly. KWS Environmental offered a system design utilizing a series of shaftless screw conveyors. The conveyors would be in the horizontal-vertical-horizontal positions to specifically address the layout constraints. KWS Environmental has numerous successful installations utilizing the horizontal-vertical-horizontal arrangement. The Engineer, Owner and Contractor approved the design offered by KWS Environmental.
Special Features
KWS brought design expertise and a proven track record with shaftless vertical screw conveyors to the partnership which allowed the most compact and economical design for the application. The Alfa Laval belt filter press discharged dewatered biosolids into the horizontal receiving conveyor. A special chute was designed to prevent biosolids spillage. The horizontal receiving conveyor fed directly into the vertical screw conveyor, eliminating a transition point and simplifying the layout. The vertical screw conveyor then discharged to the transfer screw conveyor so roll-off containers could be loaded and sent to disposal. The screw conveyors were constructed from 304 stainless steel with the KWS-MicroAlloy 340 shaftless spiral, the hardest, strongest and toughest spiral in the industry. The shaftless screw conveyor system was designed for long life with almost zero maintenance. KWS Environmental provided a complete system including shaftless screw conveyors, instrumentation, controls and startup/commissioning services.
Testimonial
"The system was very easy to install with no fit up issues. We were concerned that some controls integration issues may have remained after design review by the Engineer and were glad the KWS service representative and the Alfa Laval service manager worked through everything in a timely and constructive manner."
Nick Mastrippolito, Project Manager – Performance Construction
