Innovative grit chamber cleaning for old grit channels

Grit chamber cleaners are generally reliable and safe, working around the clock, come rain or shine. Nevertheless, the ravages of time take their toll on the structure. After 30, 40 or even more than 50 years, even carefully maintained and well-looked-after cleaners eventually reach the end of their service life.

Paving the way for the future

It is wise to plan for the future cleaning of your longitudinal grit trap early on and with foresight. As is so often the case, there are various solutions available for this. However, before addressing the issue of grit channel clearance, it must first be clarified whether the old concrete grit channel still meets current requirements – in terms of separation efficiency, for example – and what condition the concrete structure is in. This will determine whether a new build or a possible refurbishment (retrofit) without costly civil engineering works is required.

If the decision is made to carry out a retrofit, one either seeks a suitable replacement for the grit channel cleaner or explores a new, innovative method of removing the grit from the grit channel. Unfortunately, replacing the cleaning system presents many difficulties, as a one-to-one replacement is usually not possible. On the one hand, many of the manufacturers of those scrapers are no longer on the market, and on the other, alternative products are completely unique.

Optimal results with modern grit traps 

HUBER offers an innovative alternative: the HUBER Longitudinal Grit Trap ROTAMAT® Ro6 with a grit removal screw. What makes it special is the robust screw conveyor at the bottom of the grit channel. This screw, with its hollow shaft, extends along the entire length (up to 42 m) of the grit channel and conveys the sediment step by step to the grit pump (centrifugal pump or pneumatic lift). Blockages in the grit pump, as is often the case with blade-type scrapers, are a thing of the past, as the grit is fed to the pump in small batches.

Thanks to the use of the grit removal screw at the bottom of the grit channel, bridge-mounted scrapers are a thing of the past, and the grit traps can now be fully covered to prevent odour emissions. HUBER can, as usual, supply other internal components, such as aeration or grease removal systems, in stainless steel to suit the specific concrete structure. We also provide a comprehensive engineering package.

If the old grit channel is to be optimised not only for grit removal but also in terms of separation efficiency, HUBER offers the ideal solution in the form of the innovative HUBER Grit Trap GritWolf® with an integrated lamella separator. In this case, however, the cross-section of the grit channel must be adjusted accordingly.

In recent years, HUBER has successfully supplied the solution with the grit removal screw at the bottom of the channel. Among other projects, large mechanical treatment stages have been commissioned in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Lithuania and the USA, either as new builds or retrofit projects. This impressively demonstrates that HUBER offers the right solution for every grit separation application.