Barnes SITHE Chopper Pump – Hamilton, AL

SOLIDS-LADEN WATER ENTERING THE LIFT STATION

Solids in the lift station

Lift Station Details:

The station has high solids content and the City had to pull out pumps monthly due to clogging. Typically rags, hair, mop heads and debris were clogging the pumps. The lift station at Hamilton’s waste water treatment plant has an unique application, as sewage from across the city is pumped onto incline screens in the treatment plant. Water from the screenings along with rain-water and debris is collected in a sump. This water is again pumped back to the screens in a closed loop and the station evidently has high solid content. The city had to de-rag the non-clog pumps on average every month. These pumps were unable to handle solids like mop heads, rags, greasy hairballs, plastics and debris.

Installation:

Ron Hylton, Hamilton’s treatment plant supervisor, approached Pump & Process Equipment (PPE) for a permanent and cost effective solution for his clogging problems. PPE and CP&S worked together and provided a Barnes Sithe 4SCMD 7.5 HP chopper pump in June 2017. It’s been 8 months since the Sithe’s installation and it hasn’t clogged once. The first time it was pulled was for a 6-month regular checkup. The Sithe Chopper pump’s stainless steel heat treated blades were found in pristine condition and had retained sharpness. It continues to operate as the lead pump in the station obliterating even the biggest and toughest of solids

Key Takeaways:

Pain Points:

• The lift station has a high solid count
• The existing pumps were unable to handle solids like mop heads, rags, greasy hairballs, plastics and debris
• The city had to pull out pumps monthly to unclog

Solution:

• CP&S developed and provided a 7.5HP Barnes Sithe Chopper pump with a mono-vane impeller
• In 8 months of installation the Sithe hasn’t clogged
• When it was pulled for the 6-month check up the stainless steel blades were in pristine condition