Shaftless Screw Conveyor to Convey Hydrocarbon Condensate Reterro, Inc. in Livermore, CA

Plant Name and Location

Reterro, Inc.
Livermore, CA

General Description

Reterro, Inc., provides solutions for hydrocarbon waste streams by using a patented Evaporative Desorption Technology (EDT) to remove a wide range of hydrocarbons from contaminated soil. The process utilizes low temperature thermal treatment to extract hydrocarbon vapors. The result is clean, reusable soil and hydrocarbons that can be used as a fuel source.

As part of the Reterro patented EDT process, a pipe system is designed to carry wet hydrocarbons from one part of the process to another. Part of this piping system would plug up with heavy condensate, causing the complete process to shut down. Reterro reached out to KWS to help them with a solution and keep the system operating with no down time.

Shaftless Screw Conveyor to Convey Hydrocarbon Condensate for Reterro, Inc. in Livermore, CA - KWS

Flanged Gland Seal Holds Vacuum Inside
KWS Shaftless Screw Conveyor

Design Parameters

Product Type: Condensed Hydrocarbon Condensate
Material Density: 50 Lbs. per Cubic Foot
Capacity: 12 Cubic Feet per Hour
Product Inlet Temperature: 500-Degrees F
Pressure Rating: -10 PSIG

KWS Advantages

Since the EDT system was already in use at the site in Livermore, CA, Reterro needed a quick and robust fix to their problem. KWS designed and manufactured a small diameter shaftless screw conveyor to fit the ID of the process piping. As the hydrocarbons condensed, the shaftless spiral would rotate and scrape the sticky condensate off the walls of the pipe and convey it back to an area for reprocessing. KWS designed, manufactured and delivered a custom shaftless screw conveyor in only three weeks. KWS supplied Reterro with accurate design concept drawings at the beginning stages of the project to ensure both companies understood the scope of supply and to expedite the engineering process.

Special Features

Reterro needed a compact design for the shaftless screw conveyor that could fit into the existing process piping with minimal modification. The new shaftless screw conveyor would be subjected to 500-degrees F operating temperature and -10-psig working pressure. KWS utilized a pipe housing design with special flanges on each end to match the existing piping. A KWS flange gland seal was used on the drive shaft for holding vacuum. The seal was rigorously tested to +/-15 PSIG in the shop to prove that there would be no problems in the field. The drive unit was mounted on a KWS bulkhead trough end to keep it away from the high heat of the process.