The McBride site, specializing in detergent manufacturing, approached our partner APUMAS with an uncommon and technically challenging situation. The wastewater treatment plant had a covered buffer tank accessible through a single opening. This tank was equipped with a single, improperly sized mixer. The machine provided insufficient mixing and no aeration, leading to numerous breakdowns and unpleasant odors.
To address this issue, Apumas enlisted the services of Aquasystems to find a custom solution. The tank’s configuration posed a significant constraint: the 18-meter diameter buffer tank is covered and has only one 80x110cm opening at the tank’s edge. Additionally, the client could not drain the tank and needed a solution that could combine aeration and mixing or provide mixing alone.
Several site visits and meetings followed to determine the most suitable solution for the client. The AER-SL ballast-mounted system emerged as the ideal product. Apumas also supplied an electrical cabinet connected to the mixer and aerator, ensuring optimal equipment performance at all water levels (1 to 4 meters) in both aeration and mixing modes. A foam level sensor was installed to prevent overflow risks.
The results after two months were unanimous: the issues related to the buffer tank were finally resolved. The tank is thoroughly mixed, and old sediments have been resuspended throughout the basin thanks to the powerful mixing capacity. The oxygen supply, fluctuating according to needs, proved effective. Moreover, the AER-SL demonstrated its compatibility with detergent-laden effluents: the foam level sensor installed two months ago has not yet been triggered.
For more info on AER-SL: https://www.sfa-enviro.com/products/aer-sl/
