Clarification

Cast Iron Bridge Supported Drives

All Kusters Water clarifier and thickener drives are designed in accordance with the latest AGMA (American Gear Manufacturers Association) standards to ensure the absolute highest quality. Assembly and inspection of every unit is performed at Kusters Water’s Power Division production facility prior to shipment.

Centrifugally cast bronze or ductile iron worm gear drives enclosed in ASTM A-48 cast iron housings offer superior corrosion resistance and exceptionally long service lives. Worm gear units are offered in many standard sizes up to 30″ main gear pitch diameter. Commonly used in municipal, industrial and mining clarifier and thickener applications.

Advantages

Ductile Iron or Bronze Main Gears
Corrosion Resistant Cast Iron Housings
Replaceable Strip Liners (some models)
Replaceable Ball Bearings (some models)
Condensation Removal System
Easy Maintenance
Robust Design
Can be rebuilt to factory new tolerances in the field

Cast Iron Pier Supported Turntables Drives

Internal tooth spur gear drives fully enclosed in ASTM Class 40 Cast Iron housings are offered in 5 standard sizes: 30″, 42″, 60″, 80″ and 100″ main gear pitch diameters. For use in municipal, industrial and mining clarifiers and thickeners. Every unit can be equipped with worm, helical, planetary or cycloidal gear reducers.

Advantages

Split Main Gear Design
Corrosion Resistant Cast Iron Housings
Replaceable Strip Liners
Replaceable Ball Bearings
Exceptionally Deep Oil Reservoirs
Condensation Removal System
Ductile Iron or Cast Steel Main Gears
Can be rebuilt to factory new tolerances in the field

Hydraulic Clarifier Drives

Hydraulic Powered Bridge Supported Drive Units (Type-H)
Technically advanced hydraulic powered Type H drives are available in a wide range of operating torques and output speeds. Power is introduced through a standard “C-Face” mounted motor connected to a low speed, high torque hydraulic power system with integral valves, pump, hydraulic motor, filter and appurtenances fully enclosed in a 304 Stainless Steel housing / oil reservoir.

All Kusters Water clarifier and thickener drives are designed in accordance with the latest AGMA and / or ISO standards to ensure the absolute highest quality. Assembly and inspection of every unit is performed at Kusters facility prior to shipment.

Overload Protection
Precise torque monitoring is a major advantage of the Type H drive system. The overload system includes alarm and motor cut-off switches that are activated by an increase in operating pressure in the hydraulic system that is directly proportionate to the torque load on the rotating mechanism. Each unit includes a maximum torque pressure relief valve which takes the place of the less accurate mechanical shear pins and allows the unit to gradually stall without damage to the rotating mechanism. Torque is monitored with a liquid filled gauge that reads in actual operating torque (Ft-lbs) or (N-m).

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Advantages

Gauge Readings in Actual (Ft-lbs) or (N-m)
304 Stainless Steel Housings
External Oil Filter with Replacement Gauge
Accurate Glycerin Filled Torque Gauge
Max Torque Pressure Relief Valve
Directional Valve
4-20mA Output for Remote Monitoring
Increased Protection to Clarifier Mechanism
Eliminate chains and sprockets
Eliminate shear pins
Low Maintenance
New or Retrofits

Materials

Painted Steel
304 or 316 Stainless Steel
Hot Dip Galvanized Steel
Specialty Stainless Materials

Flocculating Clarifiers

Kusters Water flocculation clarifiers are particularly effective for flocculation and clarification of municipal and industrial water supplies, screened primary sewage, wastes with high grit content, and industrial wastewater containing heavy settleable solids. Units can also be adapted to Tertiary waste treatment as well as potable coagulation.

Individual flocculators, or dual concentric turntable style flocculators are available. Properly sized paddle area and accurately computed energy gradients ensure optimum performance.

Advantages

Simple Operation
Low Maintenance
Independent Mixer Design
Low Shear Flocculation
Feedwell Baffles for Improved Flocculation
New or Retrofits

Materials

Painted Steel
304 or 316 Stainless Steel
Hot Dip Galvanized Steel
Specialty Stainless Materials

LA-EDI Clarifier Inlets

The Los Angeles Energy Dissipating Inlet, (aka. LA-EDI) was developed to address short circuiting issues common within the clarifier center well. The patented inlet design promotes flow impingement, enhances flocculation and minimizes short circuiting; the net result is the ability to handle higher flow rates through the clarifier basin. For more than 15 years, Kusters Water has been providing customers around the world with superior clarifier designs utilizing LA-EDI inlets. LA-EDI designs are offered in two configurations. Type I –Separate LA-EDI well, located within a feedwell. Typically installed on larger clarifiers >60ft. Type II– Integral LA-EDI, which incorporates the feedwell baffles into one well. Typically installed on smaller clarifiers < 60ft.

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Advantages

Enhances flocculation of activated sludge particles
Improves formation of flocs when using polymers
Eliminates the “rat-holing” due to turbulence in area below the centerwell
Optimizes the separation and settling of suspended solids particles
Minimizes the carry-over or solids ordinarily transported by density currents
Enhances the uniform formation of sludge blanket
Increases treatment capacity over conventional “scooped” or “gated” EDI’s

Solids Contact Clarifiers

Kusters Water’s units employ proven recycle solids contact principal for highly efficient flocculation, sedimentation, and clarification in a single compact basin. Solids contact units are widely used for the removal of turbidity for lime softening, and for chemical coagulation in municipal and industrial applications.

The slow speed, large diameter impeller recirculates large quantities of fresh precipitate through the recirculation drum, achieving superior solids and complete chemical reaction. The formulation of settleable floc particles occurs in the large, slow mixing reaction cone. An automatic sludge discharge system maintains an optimal solids volume along the clarifier bottom for efficient solids contact within the mixing zone.

The throughput follows a spiraling downward path to the outlet under the edge of the skirt. That is followed by circumferential, vertical rise clarification – Free of density currents and short circuiting, making possible an unusually clear overflow and dense underflow in an easily controlled, hydraulically and chemically stable system. As the flow passes upward, the decreasing upflow velocities of the floc particles cause dynamic separation of the solids from the treated water.

Radial launders provide uniform effluent discharge while maintaining the upflow pattern. The radial launders are available with v-notches or submerged orifices.

Advantages

Central Draft Tube, Side or Bottom Feed
Low Shear Recycle Mixer Design
High Efficiency, Low HP Recycle Mixer
Variable Speed Mixer for Optimized Performance
Stainless Steel Impeller and Shaft
Axial Flow Mixer (Improves Recycle, uses less power)
Independent Mixer and Rake Drive
New or Retrofits

Materials

Painted Steel
304 or 316 Stainless Steel
Hot Dip Galvanized Steel
Specialty Stainless Materials

Spiral Blade Clarifiers

Kusters Water spiral blade clarifiers are commonly used in primary and secondary clarification. The logarithmic spiral curve and deep blades provide a more effective means of sludge transport. Variable rotational speeds are recommended to allow for optimizing sludge removal and overall clarifier performance.

Clarifiers are offered in sizes ranging from 20′ to 250′ ft diameter. Primary, Secondary and Final clarification are typical applications. Every unit includes a worm or spur gear drive unit designed in accordance with the current AGMA standards to ensure the absolute highest quality and a minimum 20 year service life.

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Advantages

Rapid and Efficient Sludge Transport
Deep Spiral Blades
Higher Tip Speed (10-22 fpm)
Single and Dual Blade Design
Simple Operation
Low Maintenance
New or Retrofits

Materials

Painted Steel
304 or 316 Stainless Steel
Hot Dip Galvanized Steel
Specialty Stainless Materials

Standard Scraper Clarifiers

Pier supported scraper clarifiers are designed for all applications involving sludge removal. Flow enters through the center pier then discharges through outlet ports located at the top of the center column into either a controlled energy inlet or feedwell. The energy inlet / feedwell dissipates the influent energy, minimizes density currents and enhances settling. Solids are collected at the bottom of the basin and raked to a collection sump located in the tank floor. The clarified effluent exits over the weir plates and out of the basin.

Clarifiers are offered in sizes ranging from 10′ to 250′ ft diameter. Primary, Secondary and Final clarification are typical applications. Every unit includes a worm or spur gear drive unit designed in accordance with the current AGMA standards to ensure the absolute highest quality and a minimum 20 year service life.

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Advantages

Simple Operation
Low Maintenance
No Mechanical Seals
Low Capital Costs
New or Retrofits

Materials

Painted Steel
304 or 316 Stainless Steel
Hot Dip Galvanized Steel
Specialty Stainless Materials

Suction Lift Clarifiers

Kusters Water rapid sludge removal clarifiers are specifically designed to provide quick and uniform removal of return activated sludge (RAS), Model HBSL collectors utilize collection pipes located at multiple points along each arm. Suction generated by a differential head developed from the partially submerged return sludge well located at the center of the clarifier. Each collection pipe is equipped with a return flow variator that controls the rate of sludge return and provides a visual indicator of the quality of RAS. Every pipe discharges into the rotating center return sludge well, then by gravity exits through a vertical steel pipe located inside the center pier. The size and quality of pipes are selected according to the RAS flow rates.

Vertical Tube, Suction Lift Clarifiers (HBSL-S)
Model HBSL-S, featuring vertical draft tubes and rotating sludge collection troughs simplify operations. The unique design of the vertical RAS pipes are less prone to clogging, easy to clean, provide better visibility of RAS flow, and improve surface scum collection via the rotating RAS trough, resulting in no scum pits required, no scum pumps, etc.

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Advantages

Uniform sludge removal over entire basin
Minimizes “rat-holing”
Visual indication of RAS
Individual control of each RAS line
No scum skimmer or scum trough required (Model HBSL-S)
New or Retrofits
Optional Mid-Radius Baffle can be added

Materials

Painted Steel
304 or 316 Stainless Steel
Hot Dip Galvanized Steel
Specialty Stainless Materials

Tapered Header Suction Clarifiers

Kusters Water rapid sludge removal clarifiers are specifically designed to provide quick and uniform removal of return activated sludge (RAS), each clarifier utilizes a rotating tapered sludge collection header and manifold assembly to remove activated sludge. Settled solids are collected through orifices located along the full length of the header. Varying orifice size and spacing are computer generated to provide the desired velocities throughout the entire assembly. Suction is typically provided by direct connection of the return activated sludge pumps to a central draw-off manifold at the tank bottom. An optional rake arm opposite the sludge header is available to collect any remaining solids. Sludge headers are offered in either single or dual configurations.

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Advantages

Uniform sludge removal over entire basin
Low profile sludge collection header, less likely to disturb sludge blanket
Simple Operation
Low Maintenance
Minimizes “rat-holing”
New or Retrofits
Independently Tested and Verified Header Design.

Materials

Painted Steel
304 or 316 Stainless Steel
Hot Dip Galvanized Steel
Specialty Stainless Materials

Traveling Bridge Clarifier

Kusters Water traveling bridge clarifiers are designed for installation in new or existing concrete basins for the removal of settled solids and floating material.

The sludge collector mechanism is supported from the traveling bridge and spans the width of the basin. Skimmers can be included for the collection and removal of scum. Power supply is provided in the form of a collector slip ring or festooning system. UL Listed Controls can be provided for a fully automated systems, requiring minimal operator attention.

Maintenance is simple, with the majority of service items located at the bridge level, above the liquid. Lower scrapers need only be inspected semi-annually. Materials of construction that can be offered include: Galvanized Steel, Painted Steel, 304 Stainless Steel or 316 Stainless Steel.