AWARD OF MERIT: Special Projects Category

Repair of Return Activated Sludge Pumps

Menands, New York

Submitted by Structural Preservation Systems, Inc

In a waste treatment facility, the owner needed to replace the “Archiamedes” pump screw that moves the sewage from the influent tank below, up a 28-degree angle channel into the processing holding tanks. This facility has the 3 largest types of these pump screws in the world. In conjunction with the pump screw replacement, a full repair of the concrete channel in which the effluent moves upward, was done, as this channel showed severe deterioration of the concrete from abrasive wear and chemical attack. 

Because of the tight tolerance needed between the pump blades and the channel walls, forming the channel and subsequently pouring to those exacting tolerances was essentially prohibited. The method employed was to first install the pump screw to an operational status and then use the operating screw to place the repair concrete exactly where it needed to be. Once it had set to the point where the masons could finish, the pump was turned off and the finishers rendered the surface to the point where an epoxy coating could be applied. 

This project was unique because of the unconventional nature of the delivery/placement of the material where the synergies between repair and service were utilized to make a successful repair strategy. Continuous operation was essential. The ability to stage, mix and deliver in a continuous operation was helped by having a material that had the working time capable of doing the project.

Owner
Passaic Valley Sewerage Authority
Newark, New Jersey

Project Engineer/
Designer
Engineering Department
Passaic Valley Sewerage Authority
Newark, New Jersey

Repair Contractor
Spectraserv
South Kearney, New Jersey

Material Suppliers
Degussa Building Systems
Shakopee, Minnesota

Siegel Brothers Supply Company
Brooklyn, New York