PIRANHA
The dredging process has been around as long as trade and commerce have existed in human civilization.
The process mainly involves excavation to remove deposits and hindrances from the bed of water bodies and deposit them elsewhere. The material to be removed could be either human-made debris originating from construction, refuse, plant and animal remains, or other pollutants.
Today's industry focuses on optimizing the process, rather than the development of new dredgers. With the latest advancements in technology, standardization of equipment, superior control, and monitoring systems have improved dredging to a great extent.
If you are looking for the ultimate guide to industrial dredges, you have come to the right place. First of all, the question that comes to mind is –
What is Dredging?
Dredging removes silt and other unwanted material from the bottom of lakes, rivers, harbors, and other water bodies. It is focused frequently on maintaining or increasing the depth of navigation channels, moorings, or berthing areas for the safe passage of boats and ships.
It also reduces the exposure of marine life, of human beings, and wildlife to pollutants. It prevents contaminants from spreading to other water bodies. Water bodies can get polluted with industrial and municipal discharges, sewer overflows, and spills.
Dredge definition: an apparatus for bringing up objects or mud from a river or seabed by scooping or dragging.
Dredging is often utilized to increase or maintain the depth of navigation channels, anchorages, or berthing areas for ensuring the safe passage of boats and ships. Sea-going vessels require a certain minimum water depth to float well. The required depth keeps on increasing for larger ships. As massive ships carry the bulk of the goods imported into the country, sea dredging plays a vital role in the nation's economy.
Considerations Before Selecting Your Industrial Dredge
Having an idea of the project or type of project will help you choose the best equipment to fulfill your requirements. When evaluating a water dredge and before purchase, there are some points that one should keep in mind, and those are:
- Size
- Type
The Dredge size is the most crucial factor before selecting one. Choosing the right size depends on the following factors:
- The appropriate disposal method
- Estimated volume of material that requires dredging
- Pollutant level of sediment
- Dredging Depth
- Pumping distance to the disposal area
- Maintenance, Storage Cost, Insurance, and other costs.
The following types of dredgers are commonly used in the dredging industry:
Mechanical Dredgers
These dredgers are used for doing mechanical work in which sediments are picked up using mechanical tools like grabs, buckets, etc. These are generally used for docks, as these can only work near the shores. Following are some of the mechanical dredging equipment:
- Bucket dredger
- Grab type dredger
- Backhoe dredger
- Bed leveler
Hydraulic Dredger
These dredgers use a pump, removing sediment from the bottom of a body of water. These are generally used for pond, lake, and river dredging. The following are types of hydraulic dredging equipment:
- Suction Dredger
- Cutter Suction Dredger
- Water Injection Dredger
- Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger
- Reclamation Dredger
Different Parts of an Industrial Dredge
An industrial dredge consists of six parts, and those are as follows:
- Pump: These find usage to handle heavy concentrations of highly abrasive slurries. The pump and agitator are surrounded by a protective frame rendering it useful for lined ponds.
- Flotation Platform: The platform at which the dredge is attached helps it float on water.
- Remote Control Positioning System: This system helps to control the dredge from the shore remotely. It comes standard with a capstan traversing, which is remotely controlled from the coast via the master panel.
- Control Panel: Onshore remote control panel loaded with LED indicators, transverse functions like forward, reverse, stop, lower, and manual override button.
- Floating Discharge: Each assembly consists of a rigid pipe, foam-filled floats, and a flexible hose section with quick disconnects couplings at each transition point.
- Electric Cable: A heavy cable used to transmit electricity to the dredge to function according to commands.
What type of work environment calls for an industrial dredge?
Industrial dredging is called upon when the work environment releases a huge amount of industrial waste into seas, ponds, and oceans and needs to be dredged and treated as quickly as possible as to:
- Improve capacity
- Restore efficiency
- Increase the productivity of all types of industrial projects for water treatment plants, mining operations, and power plants.
Uranium mining plants, nuclear power plants, and many other plants and industries release radioactive and contaminated waste into the water bodies, which need to later be cleaned up.
Examples of Different Uses of Industrial Dredging
- Pond
Pond dredging is a type of maintenance. With passing time, ponds, holding ponds, and lagoons at industrial ponds may accumulate sludge, silt, and contaminated sediments. These collected materials reduce the effectiveness and the water storage capacity of the settling ponds, which results in reduced productivity and efficiency of the industrial plant. Conducting regular pond dredging projects can ensure the efficiency of the business.
- Lake
With dredging, sediments and debris are removed from the bottom of the lake. It is a routine necessity in waterways because sedimentation, caused by the downstream washing of sand and silt, which gradually fills channels and harbors.
- River
Rivers carry sediment in their flows, which tends to settle in navigation channels, reservoirs, and deltas. To safeguard a constant navigable depth and capacity, maintenance, the solution is dredging.
- Dock
Dredging can ensure cargo vessels of all sizes can dock and do not run around. Sediment plays a vital role in preparing construction projects such as bridges, docks, and piers by performing the necessary underwater excavation work.
- Sand
Dredging done for beach reclamation can reduce the effects of shoreline erosion for wildlife and humans.
How quickly can you finish your project with an industrial dredge?
Selecting the right equipment will help your company execute projects on time and within budget, increase your project's productivity, restore efficiency, and improve the water body's capacity to release the waste.
A variety of dredging equipment is available in the market to take care of industrial dredging needs involving water treatment, mining operations, power plants, and more.
How We Can Help
Piranha Pumps has been in business since 1961 as a representative for various pump manufacturers. In those years, the pumping industry was still evolving, even as newer technology started finding ways. As time went on, we found the public was missing out on various novel technological advances in pumps as well as equipment. Piranha Pumps then transitioned into a manufacturer for pumps and now boasts an inventory of over 75 different pumps and pumping systems.
If you would like us to evaluate your pumping requirements, please check your product categories of interest below and give us a description of your particular pumping application.
For an immediate response, give us a call at (505) 822-0449.
Our systems come complete with everything necessary for a fully functional system. The system includes:
- Pump: Our severe duty high chrome iron slurry pumps are powered by 1.35 service factor motors enabling them to handle heavy concentrations of highly abrasive slurries. The pump intake and agitator are surrounded by a protective frame rendering it useful for lined ponds.
- Flotation Platform: Foam-filled UV and chemical resistant HDPE pontoons, urethane powder-coated structural steel members, depth control hoist.
- Remote Control Positioning System: Comes standard with a capstan traversing winch remotely controlled from shore via the master control panel.
- Control Panel: Skid mounted onshore remote control panel with push-button controls for automated & manual operation with: pump run hour meter, pump motor ammeter, LED depth readout, traverse functions forward/stop/reverse, pump elevation functions raise/stop/lower with manual override, pump seal moisture indicator light, and pump motor overheat indicator light.
- Floating Discharge: Each assembly consists of a section of rigid pipe, foam-filled floats, and a flexible hose section with quick disconnect couplings at each transition point.
- Electrical Cable: Heavy jacketed, submersible, power and control cable.
- Delivery & Startup: We deliver to your job site and furnish a service technician for the startup.
Whatever the type of project might be, dredging is a challenging and complex undertaking. You can reduce your procurement process more comfortable, and reduce uncertainties and anxieties by working with a reputable dredge manufacturer like us.
We are always interested in helping you to select the right type of industrial dredge. Call us at (505) 822-0449 or contact us.