Hydraulic dredging system packs heavy punch
Kent UK based electrical submersible pump specialists Euroflo Fluid handling Ltd have launched a Hydraulic Dredging System which is built to rival its competitors despite its relative size.
It packs a real punch when it comes to dredging, with the hydraulic pumping systems able to reach depths of over 100m from hull dimensions as small as 12m by 6m.
The dredging systems, manufactured by Dragflow, claim some of the lowest operating costs on the market. The dredging unit, connected to a hydraulically powered dredging pump equipped with agitators and excavation arms, can be submersed underwater at depths of 100m, combatting problems at source, meaning some 10% to15% solid content can be pumped from rivers, lagoons, marinas and harbours quicker and more efficiently. A typical cutter suction dredging system starts at 15m in width, reaching depths of about 30m.
In comparison to a typical cutter suction dredger, which has a suction tube with a cutting mechanism, the Dragflow dredging system, equipped with agitator and excavator arms is able to agitate material such as sludge and silt in a lagoon or river, and create a slurry which is then pumped on to its destination directly. This results in significantly less power usage than an average 700kW per hour dredging system.
Coupled with a minimal draught, these dredgers can easily operate in shallows, the minimum being approximately 1m. Conventional dredging equipment can only function in greater water depths.
Euroflo’s hydraulic dredging systems are able to pump the material at source, which means less suction is required, resulting in 30% less fuel consumption than other cutter suction dredgers on the market which use a suction tube. This requires materials to be re-pumped, using more power.
The use of simple parts and provision for easy maintenance results in quicker recovery and less downtime in the event of a breakdown. Where a conventional dredging system would have to be taken away for repair then redeployed, these hydraulic dredging systems can be fixed on site, decreasing costs further.
The entire system can be transported in a regular sized truck, and the set up time is also quicker, largely down to the simple components all from the same source. The hydraulic pumping system can be assembled in 5/6 hours, compared to other dredging systems where the components for the system come from different sources and can take days or even weeks to arrive and be assembled.
Built to according to RINA specifications, these dredgers are suitable for a multitude of dredging applications in difficult conditions.
