Truss-type suction dredger

• Product Overview

The gantry-type sludge suction machine is a sludge discharge equipment manufactured by our company, designed for rectangular or square horizontal flow sedimentation tanks. This equipment features a mobile gantry structure that moves back and forth along the track on the tank roof, driving the suspended sludge suction pipe system below to continuously and uniformly discharge the settled sludge from the tank through siphon or pump suction.

This design is engineered for large-span, long-travel rectangular sedimentation tanks, with adjustable working travel length. Compared to manual sludge scraping, the suction method minimizes disturbance to the sediment layer, preserving the sludge's original characteristics. It serves as an ideal solution for water treatment, sewage processing, and industrial wastewater treatment where specific sludge discharge requirements exist (e.g., reduced disturbance and maintained sludge activity).

• Structure and Working Principle

1. Core structural composition

The main body of the equipment consists of a mobile steel structure truss truck and a sludge suction system, which primarily includes the following components:

• Walking mechanism: Located at both ends of the gantry crane, it drives the entire machine to reciprocate along the track laid on the roof of the pool. It typically includes a drive motor, reducer, driving wheel, driven wheel, stroke limit, and anti-collision device.
• The main beam (truss) serves as the primary load-bearing structure connecting the two end beams. Typically constructed as welded steel box beams or truss structures, it provides sufficient rigidity and strength to support the mud suction system.
• Sludge removal system: the core working component of the equipment.

• The main and branch suction pipes are fixed under the main beam, which are composed of one or more transverse main suction pipes arranged along the width of the pool and several longitudinal suction pipes connected with them perpendicularly, forming a "fish bone" or "tooth comb" distribution.
• Sludge suction nozzle: installed at the end of each sludge suction branch pipe, typically in a duckbill or flat-mouth shape, positioned close to the pool bottom.
• Sludge discharge manifold and siphon system: The sludge suction main pipe is connected to the fixed pool-side sludge discharge manifold via flexible connections or rotary joints. The system generates suction force based on the siphon principle (requiring a vacuum generation device) or an integrated submersible pump assembly (pump suction type).
  • Track and power supply: heavy steel rails laid on both sides of the pool roof, and safety sliding contact wires or cable reels to power the mobile equipment.
  • Electrical control system: The control box integrated into the gantry crane enables automatic/manual control, walking speed adjustment, and linkage with vacuum pump or sludge discharge valve.

2. Working Principle

The device runs automatically according to the preset program:

1. Operational sequence: The gantry truck departs from the pool's starting end and proceeds to the terminal end at a preset speed (typically slower). During movement, the entire sludge suction pipeline moves synchronously.
2. Sludge suction: Siphon-type equipment relies on a pre-formed vacuum siphon, or pump-type equipment depends on the operation of a submersible pump. Through uniformly distributed sludge suction nozzles, sludge from various points at the bottom of the tank is simultaneously drawn into branch pipes and converges into a horizontal main sludge collection pipe.
3. Sludge discharge: The collected sludge is conveyed through the sludge collection main pipe and flexible connecting pipe into the fixed sludge discharge main pipe on the side of the tank, and finally discharged out of the tank by gravity or pumping.
4. Return trip: After the sludge suction machine reaches the terminal, it can pause or quickly return to the starting point according to the program to prepare for the next work cycle. The entire suction and discharge process can achieve continuous operation.

• Core technical features

1. Ideal for rectangular free-flow tanks: Specifically engineered for long rectangular sedimentation tanks, it ensures full-length mud collection along the tank's length.
2. The sludge is relatively uniform and disturbed less: the sludge suction nozzle is arranged along the width of the tank, and the sludge in a cross section can be sucked at the same time during the walking, which is helpful to keep the sludge interface of the whole tank bottom uniformly descending, and the disturbance to the settled sludge is relatively small.
3. The sludge concentration is relatively stable: by adjusting the opening of the sludge suction nozzle or the vacuum degree/pump speed, the concentration of the sludge suction can be controlled to a certain extent, which is conducive to the stable operation of the subsequent sludge treatment unit.
4. The structure is independent: the equipment is a mobile structure that runs independently on the track, and the dependence on the structure of the middle part of the pool is low, and the main load is applied to the track foundation on both sides of the pool top.
5. The main beam of the truss can serve as a maintenance access channel on the pool surface, facilitating inspection and maintenance of the facilities inside.

• Main technical parameters

• Typical Application Fields

The gantry-type sludge suction machine is primarily designed for sludge discharge scenarios in rectangular sedimentation tanks.

• Water treatment: The horizontal flow sedimentation tank in waterworks, especially when high turbidity of the effluent is required.
• Municipal sewage treatment: The secondary sedimentation tank (also known as the second sedimentation tank) in a sewage treatment plant is designed to ensure the stable discharge and recirculation of activated sludge.
• Industrial wastewater treatment: Rectangular sedimentation tanks or clarifiers in wastewater treatment plants for industries such as chemical, papermaking, and food processing, particularly suitable for process steps requiring reduced sludge agitation.
• Other: Sludge discharge operation for sedimentation tank with flat bottom structure.