Problem:

The City of Lake Worth, home to 37,000 residents, encountered major operational issues caused by a 400HP (300kW) pump. This pump was plagued by frequent clogging issues, occurring approximately once a day. The constant clogging disrupted the pump’s functionality and resulted in persistent vibrations within the building. In addition to being a nuisance, these vibrations posed a potential safety hazard to the building’s structure and the personnel working nearby.

Constantly dealing with these clogs consumed valuable operator time, pulling focus from other essential tasks and reducing overall efficiency and productivity. Furthermore, the manual removal of clogs introduced safety risks for employees, mainly due to the physical strain of lifting and handling equipment.

Additionally, the problem was intensified by the daily accumulation of rags and debris, which worsened maintenance challenges and increased the likelihood of mechanical failures. It also extended periods of downtime, further disrupting operations.

In June 2014, the City of Lake Worth implemented DERAGGER® to address the ongoing pump clogging issues.

Solution:

With the implementation of DERAGGER®, the reduction in downtime has significantly increased productivity and efficiency in the wastewater treatment process.

This advanced solution utilizes Real Time Pump Protection™, a technology designed to detect rags and other debris before they aggregate into more extensive blockages. Upon detecting a potential obstruction, the system automatically reverses the impeller blades’ direction, clearing any detected blockages without requiring manual intervention. This effectively prevents pump shutdowns and ensures the continuous operation of the wastewater treatment process.

Since the installation of DERAGGER®, there has been no pump ragging, and the system maintains a clean and efficient pump performance. Additionally, there has been a notable reduction in electrical consumption, with the current drawn by the pump decreasing from 425 amps to 410 amps. This highlights the efficiency of the DERAGGER® system and contributes to cost savings and reduced operational strain on the equipment.

The DERAGGER® solution has successfully mitigated the issues related to pump clogs and vibrations, enhancing both the safety and efficiency of the wastewater treatment process.

“It is working great for us, and we have not had any ragging issues on that pump since it was installed…”

– David Laperna, Lift Station Supervisor, City of Lake Worth