Conveying Activated Carbon at Water Treatment Plant

General Description

Activated carbon is a porous absorption media with extremely high internal surface area, making it a great filter media for water treatment. Activated carbon starts off as lignite coal, wood, peat, or coconut shells and is then modified using physical and chemical manufacturing processes to create and enlarge pores. The result is a porous structure with a large surface area per unit mass that trap contaminants while allowing water to pass through.

Activated Carbon is Conveyed from Bulk Bags

Design Parameters

Product Type: Activated Carbon
Material Density: 7 Lbs. per Cubic Foot
Capacity: 20,000 Pounds per Hour
Duty: 24 Hours per Day, 7 Days per Week

KWS Advantages

KWS and Spiroflow Systems worked together to ensure the KWS screw conveyors and Spiroflow bulk bag discharges would fit within the plant layout. Spiroflow provided KWS with 3D models of the bulk bag dischargers so KWS could integrate them into the system model to check for design and interference issues. Spiroflow played a crucial part by providing KWS with all the information needed to ensure smooth equipment installation.

KWS Special Features

KWS designed and manufactured a horizontal screw conveyor that transitioned to a 40-degree incline screw conveyor. A special u-trough section was designed to transition from horizontal to the desired angle of 40-degrees. In addition, two cantilever screws were utilized at the transition section to effectively convey the activated carbon material up the incline from horizontal. Utilizing the special transition section not only helped minimize the footprint but also eliminated any potential maintenance points from the use of tail end bearings and seals.

With activated carbon being very light and fluffy, it has the tendency to aerate when conveyed. To efficiently convey the activated carbon up the steep incline, KWS engineers designed the incline screw conveyor to have half pitch flighting and non-standard close clearance between the screw and tubular housing to prevent material fall back.